Berger Calls for Ban on Driving Aids

Gerhard Berger, the BMW motorsport director, has backed plans to ban driver aids from Formula One ahead of next week's crucial meeting between the sport's powerbrokers.

Max Mosley, the president of the sport's governing body the FIA, will meet with the 10 Grand Prix team bosses next week to discuss last-minute ways to reduce costs for the coming season.

Berger, whose company supplies engines for last year's runners-up Williams, believes plans to cut out expensive electronic systems - which were only fully introduced in 2001 - would not only save money but also liven up the show.

"Electronics and technology must be reduced," Berger told Swiss daily Blick. "We need to get rid of driver aids such as traction control and power steering because they are genuine show killers.

"In the past the wheels used to spin and you had to work hard with the steering wheel but today everything works automatically. Drivers can come in and immediately set competitive times - and that is absolutely not right."

The sport's bosses are aiming to reduce costs to prevent more teams going to the wall after Arrows followed the now defunct Prost Grand Prix into receivership last month.

They are also keen to stop World Champion Michael Schumacher from dominating again this season and the removal of two-way telemetry - which Ferrari used to ensure the German's car finished every race last year - could be a solution.