FIA considers driver aid clampdown

Motorsport governing body the FIA is making a last-ditch attempt to introduce cost-cutting measures this year by calling a meeting of the 10 F1 team bosses for two weeks' time.

AUTOSPORT understands that the FIA may consider taking a strict line on banning driver aids, which would over-rule the fact that traction control is effectively allowed in the techical regulations.

The stance could also make expensive electronic systems like telemetry illegal if they are judged to be driver aids.

Other considerations include a stricter enforcement of scrutineering rules to ensure that teams cannot change major parts on their cars, including items like brake ducts, between qualifying and the races.

A radical proposal to make F1 a single-engine supply formula could also be put forward for 2004.

FIA president Max Mosley is pushing hard to reduce costs in F1. He was disappointed that the teams failed to agree on any meaningful and immediate cost cuts in a meeting last month.

BAR team boss David Richards has backed Mosley's stance on cost-cuts. "We have got to be open-minded about it," he said. "A group of people so close to the coal face as the team principals sometimes don't come to the right conclusions. And sometimes you need a facilitator from the outside to assist you in that process."