Dennis, Williams Give Ultimatum to Mosley

Formula One team bosses Frank Williams and Ron Dennis have responded to Max Mosley's letter from last Monday, stating again their intention to take the FIA to arbitration in Switzerland claiming the sport's ruling body is in breach of the Concorde Agreement.

FIA president Mosley last Monday responded to a letter from the team bosses - in which they accused Mosley of 'dumbing down' the sport - saying that Dennis' and Williams' response was "unfocused," also likening them to "the old guard in a failing company".

In another letter that was circulated to the media today, Dennis and Williams threatened to begin arbitration proceedings by close of business today unless the FIA seek the agreement of all current Formula One teams over the introduction of the sweeping new rules.

"We do not intend to be drawn into an unseemly public debate," said the letter. "We made our position entirely clear in our letter to the FIA of 20th February. We believe that the FIA is in breach of contract, we disagree with a number of the changes you have imposed and we are concerned that the F1 Technical Working Group members have expressed a view that the changes could increase the safety risk.

"In the event that the FIA does not confirm that they will seek the agreement of all Teams with respect to the recent changes to the Technical and Sporting Regulations that they intend to introduce by close of business today, we will commence Arbitration proceedings under the Concorde Agreement which will resolve these issues in a confidential and dignified manner.

"WilliamsF1 and McLaren are passionately committed to Formula One, our goal is to ensure that the future of the sport is stable, well run and professionally administered. To that end we remain willing, without prejudice to our legal position, to have a formal, private meeting with the FIA at any time to discuss how we can improve Formula One."