FIA too focused from on cost saving, says Williams
Frank Williams says that Max Mosley's focus on cutting the costs of F1 could be harmful to the sport, because of the potential damage to its reputation as the ultimate form of competition.
Williams says that, if F1 appears to be cheapened in any way, it could take a long time to rebuild its image.
"Like any business, it takes years, decades, to make that reputation," he said, "And, if you destroy it overnight, it takes years and years again.
"So what I am saying? F1 is a bit too expensive, no question, by a fair amount. But its reputation out there is as the best and most advanced form of racing, the best drivers, the most fantastic cars. We don't want to talk about saving money.
"It's not that that we're awash with money, but we don't want to talk too much about chucking everything off the car. The whole world revolves around technology. You can't go backwards. I hope Max will come to a fairly sensible 'fair-to-everybody' solution, that saves very useful money, but still maintains the fabric of F1 and what it stands for in the eyes of the public."
Williams added that, by reducing the level of technology, the FIA could, in fact, harm the chances of the less well-funded teams, because there will be fewer areas which can be exploited by clever designers. He says that it could come down to a spending contest on retainers for the best drivers.
"If you think about 2008, in the worst case - and I think Max understands this - if we all have the same engines, same sort of horsepower, same tyres, same spec cars, standard everything, the only things the teams can have to differentiate themselves in the main are aero and drivers. If you're a very rich manufacturer, $50m dollars for Kimi, $50m for Alonso, are we going to compete with that?
"But, if we think our blokes are more clever, they're more inventive than the guys at Ferrari or McLaren, that's the name of the game - to prove your lot are better than their lot. And, hopefully, that's why it's fantastic racing.
"It's about proving I'm the best chief designer, I'm the best team principal, I'm the best sponsorship man, I'm the best aero guy. It's about sticking their chests out so' when your car goes out' you say to yourself 'watch this mate, I'm going to screw you'."
