FIA Impose Radical Changes to F1

The Formula One governing body, the FIA, imposed radical changes for this year's World Championship at a meeting in Heathrow on Wednesday when they announced several significant measures for cost cutting.

The 10 team bosses met for the crucial meeting after they failed to concur on initial proposals for the 2003 season and FIA boss, Max Mosley, delivered a stern message for the future.

"Despite the disappearance of two Formula One teams in the past twelve months nothing has been done to save money," the FIA said in a statement. "The teams themselves had several meetings but produced nothing."

The FIA have now banned telemetry to and from the car and have outlawed pits-to-car radio as part of a series of changes to be introduced by the start of this season.

They have also promised to ban traction control, launch control and fully automatic gearboxes by the end of the season and outlawed the use of a spare car, preventing any driver who crashes during qualifying from competing further.

Not only that, but the teams will be forced to use a standard braking system and rear wing in 2004 and will use long-life components, while the manufacturers involved in the sport will be forced to supply all the teams.

By 2005 engine life will be extended from one race, which will be mandatory in 2004, to two and components will be required to last even longer while there will also be stricter penalties for engine changes.