Interview: Williams was Desperate to Race
Formula One teams who boycotted the US Grand Prix were so desperate to race they would have waived their right to score points, Frank Williams said on Monday

The team owner said the governing FIA must share the blame for a fiasco that left irate fans and a worldwide television audience of millions watching Sunday's 'race' of just six cars.
BMW-powered Williams, who earn 60 percent of their commercial revenues from North America, were one of seven teams on Michelin tyres that dropped out before the start for safety reasons after failures in free practice.
"The teams were desperate to race, to put on a show," Williams said in a telephone interview. "Racing in North America is fundamental to Formula One's commercial health.
"We wanted to at least entertain the crowds. We were prepared to race for no points and give them all to Ferrari. I can't stress enough how desperate we were."
He said that the response from the team's sponsors had been "understanding and sympathetic", pointing out that US-based open wheel series such as Champ Cars regularly call off races due to rain.
Mosley Veto
The teams, with their tyres unable to withstand the pressures of the final banked corner, had wanted a temporary chicane installed to slow the cars down but the FIA rejected the idea.
Williams said Indianapolis promoter Tony George and Formula One commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone had both agreed to the chicane in a meeting with teams on Saturday night but FIA president Max Mosley had vetoed it.
"Bernie called (FIA race director) Charlie (Whiting) on Saturday night and said get on with it," said Williams, who pointed out several precedents including the 1994 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
He said it was to be expected that the FIA would blame the teams, with all seven summoned to a World Motor Sport Council meeting on June 29 for acts prejudicial to the interest of the competition.
However, he pointed out that the teams did not make the tyres and said Michelin had informed them late in the day of the problems.
Williams, who has been in Formula One four decades and won nine constructors' titles, said he had never encountered a similar situation and defined it a "rare screw-up."
But he emphasised that he was not prepared to make any compromises on safety.
"With this particular team, in 1970 Piers Courage was killed in the Dutch Grand Prix," he said.
"Ayrton (Senna) died (in a Williams) in 1994. Ralf (Schumacher) narrowly escaped permanent paralysis (at Indianapolis) when he hit the wall. We take responsibility for safety extremely seriously."

Previous article
Ferrari "Never Involved" in Chicane Talks
Next article
Ferrari Totally Innocent, Says Williams

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Teams | Williams |
Author | Alan Baldwin |
Interview: Williams was Desperate to Race
Trending
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Driver Ratings
A frantic wet race at Imola produced plenty of excitement and drama as drivers scrabbled for grip. Amid the hatful of mistakes and incidents that ensued, who kept their noses cleanest?
How the Emilia Romagna GP result hinged on three crucial saves
Rain before the start of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix promised to spice up the action, and the race certainly delivered on that. Max Verstappen got the best launch to win from Lewis Hamilton, but both got away with mistakes that could have had serious consequences
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS