Williams hopeful of no breakaway
Team boss Frank Williams has echoed the belief of FIA president Max Mosley that he believes Formula One is edging closer a solution to avert the threat of a breakaway championship after a series of meetings this week


Sources have told Autosport-Atlas that Williams was present at a meeting with Mosley, Bernie Ecclestone and BMW's Burkhard Goeschel in Paris on Sunday to try and make progress in bringing the FIA and the manufacturers together to secure Formula One's future.
And following another meeting in London on Monday morning, which also involved Renault boss Flavio Briatore, plus the widespread support for rules changes in the Formula One Commission meeting, Williams has said that he believes there is now a real chance of a unified future.
"The meetings that took place in Paris and the other one before the F1 Commission meeting were important, useful steps towards a harmonious eventual conclusion," Williams told Autosport-Atlas.
"There was a view taken to try and sort out the differences and close the gaps to prevent there being two series because soon there will be (a breakaway) if there is no agreement. And that would be just a disaster for those of us with truly vested interests in F1. It has got to he headed off at the pass, hasn't it?"
Although there seems to be a growing consensus about the future technical regulations for F1, there is still believed to be some differences of opinions between the manufacturers and the sport's governing body about the FIA's ruling over the sport.
In particular, sources close to the talks claim that there remain problems, for example, with the manufacturers' scepticism about the true independence of the FIA's own Court of Appeal and the decision-making process in F1.
Outgoing Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has said he doubts that there is enough common ground yet to believe the breakaway threat is finished - and claims that the rule changes agreed on Monday will actually have done little to ease the situation.
"I think there is a better way and I am not convinced that the manufacturers en masse will see today as a positive step," he told Autosport-Atlas. "That is for them to decide, but my gut feeling is that they won't. And what was not discussed this week was the future beyond 2008.
"I am not convinced at the moment that under the existing regime we have averted the worst possible nightmare from F1 which is two series. I don't think we have done enough towards that.
"We haven't addressed the position of Ferrari in all aspects of the championship, we haven't addressed the independence or not of the Court of Appeal or embodied full dialogue in the way the regulations are designed."
FIA president Max Mosley said immediately after the F1 Commission meeting on Monday that he believed the meetings with the GPMA representatives had been encouraging.
"We have not reached agreement but we have got a lot closer to seeing a way forwards," he said. "So it looks like it will all come together in due course."
Latest news
The “solemn promise” that cost quiet hero Brooks an F1 title
After two terrifying crashes, one of the best British racers of the 1950s retired before his career peaked. But that’s why GP Racing’s MAURICE HAMILTON was able to speak to Tony Brooks in 2014. Like his friend Stirling Moss, Brooks was regarded as one of the best drivers never to have won the world championship. Here, as our tribute to Brooks who died last month, is that interview in full
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix