FIA to Present Teams with Proposed Changes for 2005

Formula One teams are likely to have 'drastic' measures imposed on them from 2005 to make racing safer and cheaper, FIA president Max Mosley warned on Friday.

Mosley, who is standing down from his International Automobile Federation job in October, told a French Grand Prix news conference that the FIA would send teams a blueprint for the future in the next two weeks.

The measures will be adopted if the teams fail to come up with proposals of their own in the next two months - a situation that Mosley considered unlikely.

"I think the chance of them producing a proposal is remote," he said. "There are 10 teams and they have to agree by a majority of at least eight. So what we are going to do, in order to help them, is furnish them within two weeks of a precise set of regulations that they may wish to adopt.

"They will know that if they don't do anything then these will be the measures that we will adopt," he added.

The teams and engine makers have previously failed to agree on changes despite repeated meetings since Mosley announced plans for wholesale change in April.

The FIA president has warned repeatedly that speeds have become dangerously fast, with Germany's Ralf Schumacher and Brazilian Felipe Massa involved in big crashes in North America last month.

The FIA's new package - substantially different to the one outlined three months ago - covers engines, tyres and aerodynamics.

Tyre Limits

French tyre supplier Michelin has proposed severely restricting the number of tyres used in testing and at race weekends, a plan that Mosley clearly endorsed. He said the FIA intended to limit teams to two sets per weekend per driver - one set for Friday and Saturday practice and one for qualifying and the race.

Plans to enforce a single tyre supplier, ending the current 'tyre war' between Bridgestone and Michelin, had been effectively shelved as a result, he added.

Engines would have to last for two races from 2005, instead of one at present, with the capacity reduced from three litre V10s to 2.4 litre V8s from 2006. However those smaller teams that were not in partnership with an engine manufacturer would be allowed to continue to run V10s with a 'rev limiter' to ensure that they remained less powerful than the 2.4 litre ones.

On aerodynamics, Mosley promised a 'significant package' for 2005 with precise details to come.

"It is our duty to act before someone gets seriously hurt or killed," said Mosley.

The Briton was confident that the measures would ensure Formula One had a healthy future with a full grid of 12 teams likely by 2006.

"I'm very optimistic for the future. I think it will be successful and we will get new teams in," he said. "It is drastic what we are about to do but they are necessary measures and once they are done it (Formula One) will be set on a sensible course."