Technology vital to F1 future, says Fry

The sport will switch next season from 3.0 litre V10 engines to 2.4 litre V8s in the latest move to curb speed, one that could see the quickest cars in the lesser GP2 series outpacing the slowest F1 cars.

Fry recognised the need to balance safety with the push for speed but he said Formula One should remember that manufacturers, who could yet launch their own rival series from 2008, wanted to work at the cutting edge of technology.

"Clearly, we have to respect safety," he told reporters at the Global Motorsports Congress near Frankfurt.

"It's very difficult to understand sitting outside just how brutal the cars are.

"On the other hand, the important point is the application of technology. Companies like Michelin, Honda, BMW, Mercedes are in this for development of technology.

"If technology was taken away, if it was a much lower tech formula, I think the interest of F1 to Honda, BMW, Mercedes and companies, technological partners and indeed many of the sponsors would be reduced significantly."

Fry, who said technology in Formula One was over 20 years ahead of the aircraft industry, said speeds would improve over the course of next season as teams squeezed more performance out of the less powerful engines.

"Formula One must remain at the pinnacle of motor sports," said the Briton, whose team will be renamed next year when Honda take complete control.

"We do have a concern that the front-running GP2 cars could probably be as quick if not quicker than rear-of-the-grid F1 (cars).

"We need to make sure F1 is a formula for heroes. These cars should not be too easy to drive.

"The concern will be at the beginning of next year when we're learning. I think most manufacturers have a target of 750 horsepower and that will be difficult from a 2.4 litre engine with even further restrictions on the use of materials.

"But I have 100 percent confidence that we'll get the performance back very quickly," added Fry.

The best V10 engines this year were producing around 940 horsepower.

Fry said he was hopeful that a recent FIA survey confirming great interest in technology among fans would make the sport's governing body see the value in innovation.

"There's a constant battle that goes on...(but) things have maybe moved on a little bit. The recognition that technology is important is now here," he said.