Todt Urges Caution on Introduction of Changes

Ferrari team principal Jean Todt supported the radical new rules to limit hi-tech driving aids but warned today that they should not be rushed through.

The sport's governing body, the FIA, on Wednesday moved to outlaw a series of electronic aids to drivers and said telemetry and team-driver radio contact would be banned from the start of the upcoming season.

But Todt said it was unrealistic for other changes to be introduced in time for the start of the 2003 season.

"The proposals may appear provocative but they are going in the right direction," Todt told a news conference at the Dolomite resort.

"They should be implemented at the right time. You should not expect to see (races) at the start of the season without traction control and launch control - there are only two months to the start of the season, that would be totally impossible," said the Frenchman.

Many of the details of how to implement the changes are expected to be thrashed out in London on Friday but Todt said he was not sure what would come out of that technical meeting.

"I don't know what the positions of the teams will be. Yesterday we saw the document and tomorrow there will be a clearer understanding of what rules will be followed for 2003. It is clear that one team might be in favour of one modification but not another, with another team adopting the opposite view.

"We will have to reach an agreement which suits all parties involved. The only thing that is certain is that a reduction of costs is in the best," said Todt, who suggested the changes were not as radical as some have claimed.

"When you look at the details you can see it is not such a big revolution but it is important to see when they will be implemented. There is a desire to cut costs but we have to be careful that the introduction of the changes does not actually incur additional costs.

"We will have just one engine for qualifying and the race and work with it from 11h00 to 14h00 on Saturday, then the warm-up should not take place on Sunday, even if this is one thing that has yet to be decided.

"The spare car can only be used in cases of emergency, but these have yet to be defined. The teams can also sell individual components to other teams under a clear commercial agreement."

Todt said he was against the ban on radio communication.

"I am not in favour of all the items. Radio is not a cost and there are safety reasons why I think it is important and there is also technical data from the car which is useful to us," said the Ferrari chief.

Todt stressed there was broad agreement within Formula One that there needed to be a reduction in costs and an improvement in entertainment value largely due to the global economic situation.

"We can't just say that football or Formula One are going through a difficult moment - the world is going through difficult times. It is harder for everyone to find sponsors and we cannot be closed within our world".

Ferrari will unveil their new car for the upcoming season on February 7 at their Maranello headquarters but Todt said it would not be ready for the opening Grand Prix in Australia.