Renault Threaten to Quit F1 Over Engine Rule

Several Formula One teams will pull out of the sport unless the governing body, the FIA, modify their radical new regulations, Renault Formula One chairman Patrick Faure has warned.

Speaking at the launch of the team's R23 car in Switzerland, Faure said the future plans for the introduction of engines that must run for six races could have disastrous consequences.

The new regulations, proposed by FIA president Max Mosley, were due for approval by the sport's Technical Working Group last Friday, but they failed to come to a conclusion and will meet again tomorrow.

The changes were criticised on Friday by GPWC Holdings, the company which has proposed the rival Grand Prix World Championship involving Renault, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Ferrari and BMW, for diminishing the sport's technical prowess.

"The plan for an engine for six races is the end of Formula One," warned Faure. "We will not stay in the Championship with these kind of rules, clearly, none of us. What the communique of the GPWC is also saying is that the way things have been announced is slightly aggressive and I do not think it is a way to behave.

"We are hoping to find some clarifications on when the measures are going to be implemented. There is still some need for discussion and refinement. The only thing totally unacceptable for us is the engine for six races. The rest we can discuss."

Renault managing director Flavio Briatore backed Faure's suggestion that eradicating traction control from the sport should take time but admitted that the regulation changes could lead to some teams cheating the rules.

"We don't want somebody cheating again because this is dangerous for the sport and we need to be sure before we do anything," said Briatore. "We are in a big sport and have a big responsibility and I believe we need to have a referee who has the possibility to police. If we can't do that in 2004 we will do it in 2005.

"If you have a rule, you must have the possibility to police the rule, and we need to be very careful with the new regulations. We need to look very carefully at when we apply the new regulations because a lot of time in Formula One anything you move costs much more money, especially now, one month before the start of the season.

"I think we can do it in the middle of the season or in 2004 because if you rush into it now the cost will explode again."