Brawn: Ferrari Prepared to Embrace Change

Champions Ferrari are open to measures proposed by Formula One's governing body to slow cars down, even if they have to scrap plans already underway for 2005.

"Certainly we can comply and I think the philosophy, the strategy, is that even if they are not quite what you want, people would much rather get on and do something than deliberate until it becomes too late," said Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn.

"Because that is expensive then."

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) will present team technical directors on Wednesday with a two-month ultimatum to come up with measures to reduce speeds on safety grounds or have changes imposed.

The FIA will also use the meeting at Silverstone to give them its own vision of the future - the changes that will be implemented if teams fail to agree anything.

"We want to slow the cars down," said Brawn after Sunday's French Grand Prix. "We all agree with that and we want to do it in a way which doesn't give an advantage to or disadvantage any specific team.

"We may turn up on Wednesday and everyone says 'no, we're happy with what's been proposed and let's get on with it'.

"If we turn up on Wednesday and a lot of the teams say 'we are not prepared to accept this', then you're in a judgment call as to whether you think what (FIA president) Max (Mosley) has said he will accept is going to be the final solution or whether there is an alternative.

"Generally speaking, with a few qualifications, we can go along with the new regulations. Certainly nothing better has been proposed," added the Briton.

Substantial Implications

Brawn said teams could not afford to wait until October for definitive 2005 regulations.

He said the FIA had effectively offered teams a choice between immediate certainty and a two-month wait with no guarantee that the teams' proposals would be accepted.

The FIA's proposed measures include a drastic restriction in the number of tyres used at race weekends and making engines last for two races each. A 'significant package' of aerodynamic measures has also been promised.

"We have started designing next year's car for quite some time now so the changes will have substantial implications," said Brawn. "It's unlikely that the car we've designed is suitable.

"So it has massive implications - but it's a reflection on the fact that quite frankly the teams find it difficult to agree on anything."