F1 bosses meet over Stoddart protest threat

F1 team bosses met at Magny-Cours on Sunday morning after European Minardi principal Paul Stoddart threatened to throw the British GP into chaos by running his cars without 'driver-aids', such as traction control, and protesting those that don't. Stoddart would use the leverage implicit in the need for unanimity to change regulations, in order to force through the 'fighting fund' and cheaper engine packages he believes were promised to the smaller teams in January

Jul 7, 2003, 8:39 AM

Following the meeting, Stoddart said: "We agreed this wasn't the right forum to discuss procedural changes for 2004. We did agree we have made quite a few improvements for this year but need to build on that and make more improvements for next year.

"Some proposals were tabled and we need to get everybody to agree unanimously. If that happens over the next few days, then I believe that we can quickly do an amendment to the 2003 regulations and have them in place for Silverstone.

"We have made good progress. Will it come to satisfactory conclusion? Well, I have been hurt before, thinking we had an agreement only to find out we haven't, so I will reserve judgement. But I am hopeful because it was discussed in detail. It is within the power of the team principals to put all this behind us and everyone has agreed to give up a full day to discuss all the issues: the fighting fund, the engine package and the regulations for the remainder of 2003 and 2004."