FIA proposes driver team swap idea

Formula 1 drivers could find themselves swapping teams throughout the season and driving every car on the grid, if a radical idea from motorsport governing body the FIA is adopted

Oct 9, 2002, 8:25 AM

The controversial rule is one of the proposals put together by the FIA and sent to the F1 team bosses. Along with the weight handicap system, it is likely to come in for ferocious criticism when discussed at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

FIA president Max Mosley spoke of the idea at a ceremony in Bahrain yesterday (Tuesday), where construction on an F1 circuit is about to start.

"There is a large number of very radical proposals that have been circulated to the teams for discussion," he told the Daily Telegraph. "Some of these are very speculative ideas and we have to talk to the teams about them, but we mustn't sit there and not talk about things."

"There is an argument for each driver driving each car once. This has an advantage because then we would see who are the best drivers and teams and if there are means to make it more interesting for the public then we have to talk about them."

The proposal will be discussed at the next F1 Commission meeting on October 28.