Schumacher: HANS Should Not be Compulsory

Formula One drivers are set for a dispute with their governing body, the FIA, because they are desperate to ditch the mandatory HANS safety system at next month's Australian Grand Prix.

Several drivers have complained about the device - which has been deemed dangerous after causing bruising during test sessions - and World Champion Michael Schumacher has backed a boycott if any driver is uncomfortable.

"For me, I am happy because I feel quite comfortable with it - but I do not think it should be obligatory," said Schumacher. "As long as people feel uncomfortable I feel we should not force them to race with it.

"I would choose to race with it because from a safety point of view it makes sense and I have no problems with making it comfortable. But if someone does, it is not right to force them to wear it."

But the FIA are taking a firm stance on the matter and warned that they will refuse to back down from its mandatory introduction even if drivers claim it is dangerous to race with in Australia.

"Given that they have had a whole season of knowing it is coming in as a mandatory requirement you would have thought the teams would have been able to sort it out," said a source at the FIA.

"It is working well in motorsport in the United States but if you brought it into Formula One as an option nobody would use it."

Asked if drivers would threaten to boycott the race if they could not force the FIA to change their minds, the source added: "I don't think the drivers would do that. I would be very surprised if that happened."

It is understood, however, that the new device has created a problem with drivers' insurance - and that could prevent the system being forced through at the Australian Grand Prix.

An insider at one team said: "It is not yet cleared up because there is a problem with administering blame if an incident occurred - so I am not sure whether the FIA can force the drivers to wear it at the moment."