Teams to Meet in Preparation of Hearing

With the teams clearly concerned about the possibility of major punishments being handed out, especially with FIA president Max Mosley publicly refusing to rule out race bans, the teams are hoping to agree on a course of action that will serve to limit the possibility of draconian penalties being issued.

Mosley has made it clear that he holds the Michelin teams fully to blame for the events at Indianapolis, where they withdrew their cars before the start of the race over concerns about the safety of their tyres. But has said they could limit their chances of being punished if race fans and Indianapolis are fully compensated.

It is understood that the teams want to try and seize the initiative by heading into the meeting with a pro-active response to Mosley's suggestions of compensation, which would serve to appease the governing body's decision makers.

The meeting of the teams comes in the wake of comments from Minardi boss Paul Stoddart that there is a possibility of a boycott of this weekend's French Grand Prix if teams are heavily punished for their part in the Indianapolis controversy.

He told BBC Radio Five Live at the weekend: "In the worst possible situation of some kind of draconian penalty, would the other teams race? I think we would have a meeting and you wouldn't guarantee it.

"If it is anything more than a reprimand [then it would be wrong]. The teams were totally innocent victims, as was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as were the American public."

Other teams have refused to be drawn on whether Stoddart's comments are in line with their beliefs, however.

Most teams issued a simple 'no comment' about the boycott threat when contacted by Autosport-Atlas, while a BAR spokeswoman said: "We're waiting until Wednesday, there will be nothing to say until then."