Parr says diffuser controversy not bad for Formula 1

The British Grand Prix was somewhat overshadowed by the row over the rules on diffusers, with the teams eventually agreeing to return to the original regulations as established before the Silverstone race.

Although the controversy was criticised by senior F1 figures who believed it was hurting Formula 1's image, Parr denied it was bad for the sport.

He actually thinks these rows generate more interest and highlight how competitive Formula 1 is.

"I hate when everyone says it's really bad for the sport," said Parr. "A couple of years ago a really serious journalist sat in front of me talking about something else, and said, 'this is really bad stuff...' I said yes, it's really bad stuff, so why aren't you covering darts in Wales?

"The fact is, it's the intensity of the competition, the brutality of it, and the fact that it's across so many dimensions, including the rules, the money, the politics, as well as the little bit that happens on the track. That's what makes Formula 1 so compelling.

"Whether it's good or not I don't know, it's just the way that it is. Nobody's ever said to me, 'Adam, we'd like to interview you but please don't say anything controversial'."

Parr also believes the fact that rules changed in the middle of the season should be 'irrelevant' and he feels no sympathy for the teams hurt by the changes.

He hit out at teams who protested the likes of Williams in 2009 because of the double diffusers used that year.

"It's irrelevant. I have no sympathy," he said. "It really annoys me that I sat in Paris, in the Court of Appeal, with certain teams saying 'these cars are dangerously fast.' Some plonker put in his affidavit, 'this car is dangerously fast.'

"This is a person who is famous for making fast cars, continued to make fast cars and I've never heard such drivel. Anyway, my point is this: do they say 'well, poor old Williams and Toyota and Brawn, they've spent all this money developing the double diffuser, their whole car is built around it, we must let them have it for 2009 and then we'll change it? Like hell they did.

"They protested in Melbourne, they protested us in Malaysia and then they went to court in Paris. So it's bull***t. There's a couple of things that really irritate me and rank hypocrisy is one of them."