Renault Support F1 Speeds Reduction

The Renault team have expressed their support to the idea of reducing the speeds in Formula One.

The FIA's World Motorsport Council required the F1 Technical Working Group this week to devise measures to reduce speeds in Formula One after the debate on speeds intensified following Williams' Ralf Schumacher and Sauber's Felipe Massa's accidents in the US and Canadian Grands Prix respectively.

Renault's executive director of engineering Pat Symonds today voiced his support for change.

"Although recent performance increases have been matched by safety improvements we cannot afford to be complacent," said Symonds. "The rate of development must be arrested before the level of performance becomes unacceptable.

"Tyres and chassis are the areas to look at for 2005 and engines after that. In the medium term, the 2.4 litre V8 would reduce spending once initial development costs have been absorbed, and represents a backward step in power.

"The only practical thing to do to the engines for 2005 would be to extend their life, but this it not an effective brake on performance. For periods such as qualifying, we would still see the same power outputs as we have this year, and that does not help safety."

Italian driver Jarno Trulli, a member of the Grand Prix Drives Association, said he was hoping the laptimes would increase around four seconds next year if the right measures are taken.

"Right now, we are gaining one and a half, maybe two seconds each winter," said Trulli. "For next year, I think we should be slowing lap times by four seconds."