Stoddart: “capacity reduction can't happen”

Stoddart said at Silverstone: "Stability under the Concorde Agreement is clear until the end of 2007. They'd never get unanimity for a capacity change. Myself, Eddie Jordan and probably Sauber would just sit there with our arms folded."

Stoddart says that the cost implications of a capacity change to reduce car performance is so laughable that it is not even worthy of consideration by the smaller teams.

To implement change for 2005, of course, unanimity would not be needed prior to October 31 this year, but a high majority vote in the F1 Commission instead.

"They wouldn't get a commission vote through unless they buy someone off," Stoddart said. "That is not going to happen in the life of this Concorde Agreement unless something is done for the smaller teams. It's hard enough down this end of the pit lane, which is our problem admittedly, but when it comes to something as fundamental as changing the size and capacity of the engine, it is a complete change of everything.

"Instead, they should do what should have been done a long time ago and make sure that no team pays for its engines in F1. That is the biggest handicap there is. Sort that out and I'm sure myself and Eddie would vote it in hands down."

Stoddart claims that the actual cost to a manufacturer of supplying a second team is nowhere near what it is portrayed to be.

"We're talking about a single-engine per race rule next year, so you're talking about a maximum of 48 engine lives, plus whatever you do in testing. So I would say right, your 48 engines are free and you pay for your testing, which is fair because each team will have a different view on how much testing they are going to do. If that was on the table I'm sure there would not be a problem with any of the teams agreeing to changes..."