Legal Threat Looming Over First Three Races

Formula One is facing a new controversy over the introduction of the new sport's regulations with speculation that the results of the first three races of the season could be annulled if Williams and McLaren win their arbitration case against the sport's governing body, the FIA.

The two leading teams have already begun proceedings against the FIA for the way in which they introduced the sport's new regulations at the start of the year and a spokesman for the FIA confirmed that if the rules were introduced illegally there could be serious repercussions.

"We are very confident in successfully defending our position in the arbitration with McLaren and Williams but if we did not then it would be theoretically possible for a team to challenge the first three races," said the spokesman, admitting the 2003 title race could be decided in court and not on the track.

The teams unanimously agreed at the last race weekend in San Marino that the new regulations will stay for the rest of the season after they proved to be a success in levelling out the field and the FIA claim that agreement means that only the first three races of the season could be declared void.

But one team insider claimed the situation is irrelevant because it is understood that McLaren and Williams are contemplating cancelling the arbitration fight and even if they do not, the outcome is unlikely to rule that the way the new rules were introduced was unacceptable rather than deeming the rules illegal.

If the arbitration case was successful, any team would have the right to lodge a protest against the results of the first three races, which saw McLaren build up a significant points haul with victories in Australia and Malaysia.