Brawn says poll is a warning

Reacting in particular to the continued belief that removing driver aids would improve the racing, Brawn claimed it was time that F1 explained better how minor an impact such a move would have on making the sport exciting.

"We're here for the public and we should never forget we are not here as an indulgence," he said. "It is a sport where we enjoy ourselves but which also has to appeal to the public.

"I think we're doing a very bad job in explaining the influence of driver aids if the public believe that taking away driver aids will improve the racing. I don't believe their removal would do that.

"If you look at formulae that don't have those aids - F3000 is a good example, there's no traction control there, or diff control - there's no difference in the racing. I've been in racing when there has been driver aids and when there hasn't and experience tells me there is no real difference."

Although there remains a widespread misconception that removing traction control would lead to cars sliding out of corners, Brawn makes it clear that the complex nature of modern F1 car physics is more a reason for cars looking as though they are easy to drive.

"Over the years we have built up a much fuller picture of the dynamic control of the car's performance and the car is now a much more stable platform. That is why you're seeing the cars on rails - it's not traction or diff control. If we took those things off they'd still look like that and nor would the racing be significantly affected. "

When asked what factor he believed would help improve overtaking Brawn claimed that there was not a simple answer and that a number of factors needed addressing.

He added: "We all want more overtaking. We need to look at the circuits, the race formats and most of all we need two or three competitive teams. In 1998, 1999 and 2000 there was some great racing as you had two guys really going at it."