Traction Control Likely to Return

Traction control is likely to return soon, after the Formula One Technical Working Group voted unanimously in favour of its return on Thursday.

The FIA banned traction control amongst other electronic 'aids' for the 1994 season, in an effort to return the driving of the car back to the driver's hands and feet. Since that time however, there have been constant rumours that one or more teams have used traction control despite its illegal status. Recently, the FIA have stated that it believes one or more teams used traction control during recent seasons.

The policing of such electronic systems is so complex that despite the FIA's attempts before Silverstone this year to simplify Formula One car electronic systems, the technical directors of all the Formula One teams believe reintroducing traction control would be the best solution to the problem.

"I am in favor of such a development," said McLaren technical director Adrian Newey. "I am no great fan of traction control as such, but the fact that you have fuel and ignition systems on any car means that, in my view, if you have the mindset to cheat and use traction control, then the basic tools are in place for you to do so.

"I think it is a pragmatic and positive thing to do, because races have clearly been won in the past by cars using traction control, and this is an unacceptable situation."

The matter will be discussed at the meeting of the Formula One Commission in Monaco on December 7, where it is likely that approval will be given. Although FIA president Max Mosley is against aids that lessen the driver's input into the performance of the car, he is likely to agree with the teams' decision, as it could see accelerated development of electronics that can be passed on to cars driven by the average motorist.