Richards Ready to Vote Against Driver Aids

BAR-Honda boss David Richards has promised to vote to outlaw driver aids for the good of the sport at a crucial meeting in London's Heathrow Hilton on Wednesday.

Richards and the other nine team principals will meet with Max Mosley, the boss of the Formula One governing body, the FIA, to discuss proposals to reduce costs this season by limiting the use of complex electronics.

The teams have a block vote on the World Council, which votes for changes in Formula One regulations, so six of the teams must vote for the ban to ensure the motion is passed.

But Richards promised: "I would give up anything if it meant we were all on a level playing field. This is about the future of Formula One. The sport comes first and I will be voting for it, that's for sure.

"If some of the ideas benefit the sport as a whole then we should embrace them. It won't be unanimous because some get too involved in personal interests and it takes a facilitator from outside to bang on the table and get things done."

Ferrari stormed ahead of the chasing pack last season as they wracked up 15 victories from 17 events but the top teams have pleaded with the sport's bosses to allow them to catch their rivals fair and square.

There is a genuine fear that more viewers will turn off and the sport could be in crisis if Ferrari continue to play out boring one-two finishes with ease this season.

Richards revealed that is the reason that has brought about the meeting, and that cost-cutting, despite the pleas of the struggling back-of-the-grid teams, is a virtual impossibility.

"There are two very separate issues," said Richards. "The first is about how to improve the show for the fans and the second is about escalating costs and disparity between the top and bottom of the grid.

"I am afraid that whatever you do you cannot address the second. If Max Mosley comes in and says we're changing things Ferrari's budget won't change, our budget won't change.

"We have got to take a few steps backwards and really bring back the pure racing into the sport. I think if we do that, we will address so many of our critics. We must be open-minded to change as well. We shouldn't just look at our own narrow view of things and our own vested interests."