Team Bosses Discuss New Shape of F1

A new age and new image for Grand Prix motor racing was under debate at a private gathering of all the Formula One team chiefs on Thursday as the sport responded to urgent calls for cost-cutting.

The Formula One Commission will meet in Paris next Tuesday when a Max Mosley's vision of a two-day race weekend with restricted numbers of engines could be approved for introduction next season.

Minardi team owner Paul Stoddart welcomed the possibility of Mosley's suggestion and insisted that the restricted engine move will bring equality to the grid.

"It was a bit of a scrap and I think it is going to be a very close call on what happens next," Stoddart said on Thursday. "There are some manufacturers who want to see things differently so it is going to be an interesting time for us all in the next few days.

"That's what this is all about. Let's liven Formula One up a bit, I think. The time is right. No one is going to argue against seeing Michael Schumacher starting a race from 16th on the grid if he has an engine failure in qualifying - surely not," Stoddart said.

"It will be great for the sport. It will be just the kind of shake-up it needs and it will cut the costs. I cannot think of any sensible reason to stop it. But this is Formula One and so I am not going to say too much except that it is going to be a very close-run thing next week. And I wouldn't dare to bet on the outcome."

Stoddart, who was one of the bidders for the assets of the Prost Grand Prix team, was also happy with the FIA's decision to not allow the new Phoenix squad to compete in this year's Championship.

"I just hope Formula One is the winner like it was this last week with the Phoenix and Prost thing," he added. "The decision not to allow them into the Championship was absolutely right and proper and was one of the best things to happen to this sport in a long time."