Williams Plays Down Rival Series Threat

Team boss Frank Williams believes the teams will sign a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone within the next year that will see them staying in Formula One, despite signing a letter of understanding with the GPWC earlier this month.

The ten teams competing in Formula One met with the automakers' company, GPWC, and were asked to sign a commitment to join the GPWC's new racing series as of 2008, when the Concorde Agreement ends. All ten teams agreed to commit to the GPWC's breakaway series, however Williams admits this was primarily a negotiating ploy with Ecclestone.

"To everyone's surprise the ten teams signed an agreement with the GPWC," Williams said, "but I think it was just the teams stating a position that unless Bernie has a better offer - because he's not very good at making great offers, Bless Him - for the long term after 2007, then we'd rather go with GPWC.

"But we all realise there's going to be a lot of water running under the bridge before GPWC becomes a real series, and we all also know that one series is better than two series. So there's a hardball activity going on right now."

FIA president Max Mosley stated on Thursday that the new breakaway series appears more likely to happen than ever, however Williams shrugged this off, saying: "Everyone seems to me to get a bit tense about the GPWC and the split and this and that.

"But there are four more years to go in the contract! If I had four more years of contract with BMW I'd have my feet up on the table, I'd show up late for work, I'd be relaxed so to speak. I mean, what's the fuss?"

Asked what he feels will be the outcome of the GPWC's threats of breakaway series and the teams' wish to negotiate with Ecclestone, Williams said: "There'll be a deal [with Bernie], a new deal, probably in the next 12 months."