F1 Teams Given Chance to Veto Changes

Formula One team bosses have been given until Friday evening to protest against the radical proposals introduced by the sport's governing body, the FIA, at a meeting in Heathrow on Wednesday.

FIA president Max Mosley laid down the law by outlawing communication between car and driver, promising stricter enforcement of the current rules will lead to the abolition of driver aids and banning the spare car.

But the new regulations are understood not to have received a unanimous agreement and Mosley has given the teams the right to fight back against the proposals - if they can prove they cost money to introduce.

Minardi team boss Paul Stoddart was delighted by the moves, which will help his underfunded back-of-the-grid team fight for survival against the major manufacturers. But he admitted there is still chance for change, and added: "Not everyone is happy about everything so Max has left the door open to come back to him and contest the ideas."

The sport's technical working group, made up of top designers and engineers from the 10 teams on the Grand Prix grid, will meet on Friday to discuss the feasibility of the controversial new ideas.

Teams have already purchased their 2003 telemetry equipment - which allows the pit crews to monitor the car's systems from afar - and argue that banning its use during a race weekend will cost more than it will save.

"This is a serious attempt to push the sport forward and there are some quite radical proposals but if the teams can prove it will not save money then there is the right to veto them," said Stoddart.

"The technical working group will meet on Friday to discuss the mechanics of how the changes will be introduced and they have until then to take their complaints to Max."

It is, however, unlikely that the teams will be able to change the minds of the FIA, who have taken a tough stance on the matter, and the changes, which have been dubbed the most radical in years, are expected to stand.