Smaller teams back FIA stance

Smaller teams back FIA stance

Stoddart says the changes will help teams like Minardi

Minardi and British American Racing have sided with Formula One chief Max Mosley in the debate over his controversial new rule changes.

Mosley came under fire from McLaren and Williams on Thursday when the teams joined forces to announce that they intended to challenge the rules.

But Minardi boss Paul Stoddart rejected claims that Mosley had "dumbed down" F1, and BAR team principal David Richards said he was "horrified" by the latest development.

"We have to remember that F1 is a business first and, sadly, a sport second, but that is just how it is," said Stoddart, whose team has the smallest budget.

"But I do believe the changes that we've made, particularly those suggested by Max, are really in the interests of the sport.

This is the last thing the sport needs at the moment

BAR boss David Richards

"We have actually achieved a livening-up, for want of a better word, of the race weekend. We are going to see much better qualifying.

"The testing on Fridays is going to be beneficial - it's going to be fantastic for the viewers, for the spectators at the track.

"I think we have done enough. We haven't gone too far but we've done enough technically to make the sport more challenging, more interesting.

"And I think we are going to see a fantastic world championship in 2003."

F1 teams challenge new rules

Stoddart insisted action had to be taken to ensure the future of F1 following the demise of Prost and Arrows in the past 13 months.

"I think Formula One in general has gone through a fairly rough patch," he added.

"We are down to 10 teams now. We don't want to fall below that number - we really don't.

"I believe we have made significant changes in F1 to try and ensure that the future is right."

Dennis takes aim at Minardi

BAR team boss Richards said he was "horrified and absolutely astounded" by the action taken by Williams and McLaren.

"This is the last thing the sport needs at the moment. We should all be pulling together to make it a success," he told The Guardian newspaper.