Mosley confident on safety measures package

The sport's rule-making body, the FIA World Motor Sport Council, issued a statement earlier this month stating that if the F1 think tank, the Technical Working Group, can come up with a way to guarantee a limitation on more devices being introduced to the sport - as well as ways of implementing certain safety devices - traction control and fully automatic gearboxes could be allowed back in time for the Spanish Grand Prix on April 29, 2001.

"I am very hopeful," said FIA president Mosley. "The Technical Working Group should certainly be able to agree a package of electronic safety measures which will be very beneficial to F1.

"This is what we have asked them to do as part of a package which would then include the traction control and fully automatic gearboxes which they have recommended."

Mosley's feelings are backed up by McLaren technical director Adrian Newey, who sees no reason why the Technical Working Group would not be able to come up with what is required.

"In terms of the safety devices which have been mentioned by the FIA, like the radar proximity device and speed limiter, it is all perfectly feasible," said Newey. "They will need adapting to make them suitable for F1, but there should be no big dramas.

"I think we will also be able to find an answer to stop additional electronics being used as driver aids. The way to do this is to limit where electronics can be used, such as preventing them having a role in the brakes and power-steering. Electronics need to be used in the engines, so that is why we have to allow traction control."

While many drivers are against the re-introduction of traction control in principle, there is a general feeling that they should be allowed to ensure a level playing field amid speculation that some teams have been running illegal devices.

Teams have already begun testing the new systems in preparation for next year.