War of Words Breaks Among Team Bosses in Montreal

Struggling Formula One team principal Paul Stoddart was today told by McLaren team boss Ron Dennis to leave Formula One if he "can't stand the heat" after an open war of words was waged in a press conference ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.

Stoddart, who has run Formula One's poorest team Minardi for two and a half years, spoke with a wavering voice as he made an emotional public plea for a $16 million (USD) 'fighting fund' which he believes is rightfully his, but which has failed to come to fruition after it had been promised in January.

But as Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone watched on from the back of the packed room Stoddart, who revealed earlier in the day that he had vetoed the 2004 rule changes last Friday, received strong resistance from Dennis.

"If he can't stand the heat then get out of the bloody kitchen," said Dennis, staring straight ahead as he spoke into the microphone. "You are damaging Formula One by your actions. We do not have a soup kitchen in Formula One. You are not entitled to any of this money."

Dennis, who had instigated the idea of a 'fighting fund' to prevent the field dropping below 20 cars, argued that Stoddart was not entitled to the money because a clause in the agreement, which demanded fixed technical regulations, had not been kept by the sport's governing body, the FIA.

Stoddart had been left alone as the conference began while Dennis and fellow team principals Sir Frank Williams, Eddie Jordan and David Richards, of BAR-Honda, had a last-minute meeting. The exiled Stoddart protested: "Nothing has been done. Talk is cheap."

Williams refused to be moved on the subject but said initially: "I resent being set up. It was a set up before we got to the circuit."

While Stoddart accused Jordan of going back on prior agreements to back his stance on the fighting fund, of which Jordan was due half the amount.

"Jordan will never take charity," said Jordan, whose team is also one of the struggling privateer outfits, before jibing: "I need ten teams for the credibility of what I am doing. Right now Paul is keeping us off the back of the grid and I would not want to be there."

Richards insisted Formula One should take a "long-term view" of the situation while Ecclestone intimated afterwards that the meeting had been a web of lies. Stoddart, drawing on a cigarette, insisted his team will still fight on to the end of the season but admitted they will struggle to keep pace.