Tech men: 'Monza speeds are no problem'

If the year-on-year percentage speed increase matches that seen at Spa a fortnight ago, the record will go - unless there are poor weather conditions or a safety car period. Inevitably, that has raised further questions about speeds and safety in F1 but the sport's major technical brains deny that there is a problem to be addressed.

British American Racing technical director Geoff Willis said: "The issue is not so much the average speed but what the cornering speeds are. In a way it's a shame that we have only one race like Monza left [after Hockenheim was changed this year].

"Slowing the cars down is quite difficult because we've seen quite an increase in engine power over the last two years with the same aerodynamic regulations, so either its got to be the aerodynamicists' job to slow the cars down or it's got to be a change in engine regulations," he added.

Ferrari engine chief Paolo Martinelli said: "I like Monza because it has tradition as a high-speed circuit but in terms of how to lose the speed, on the engine side we try to improve year-by-year. However, in 2004 maybe we are compelled to reduce the performance having less engines that must last for a longer time."