Dennis: British GP threat just destabilisation

Minardi boss Stoddart declared yesterday that he feels that new FIA rules effectively ban traction control from the British GP onwards. Although the team's had agreed to waive the rules, doing so was dependent on them agreeing to cut engine costs, something that Stoddart feels has not been done.

"It's difficult to actually understand the motive," Dennis said. "One could surmise that it has its roots in the desire to continue the destabilisation process and try to cause disharmony between the teams and the governing body. But the reality is that the facts are being misrepresented. There was a unanimous agreement regarding the issues of traction control and the use of electronics. A document on the day it was discussed was generated and signed by every team principal, the FIA and FOA, so effectively an interpretation was clarified and it was agreed."

Stoddart, however, insists that agreement was dependant upon the availability of a cheap customer engine package and support for the small teams.

"It is true that within the same document there was a desire to link it to a 10 million Euro engine package," Dennis admitted. "And I know that there is more than one manufacturer working to fulfil that obligation. The issue is how it can be achieved for 2004. As has been reported (in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine), there is an offer from Ford to at least cover the 2004 season.

"There are plans and discussions taking place that should see, between the Ford Cosworth proposal and those teams working on it, the obligations being met. I do believe that there will be an engine supply agreement available at the cost of 10 million Euros."

Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug added: "There are nine team principals trying to find a constructive way forward and it's a shame that one guy stands still or goes backwards."