Highlights

Williams says new rules a 'charter for bankruptcy'

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-02-09 10:52

New Formula One rules allowing teams to use so-called 'customer cars' next year will sound the death knell for independent constructors, according to Frank Williams.

The Briton told Thursday's edition of Autosport magazine that allowing manufacturers to supply others with cars, coupled with the proposed new focus on costly energy-saving technology, could be a "charter for bankruptcy" for independent teams like Williams.

"We've signed a Concorde Agreement for 2008 and while it hasn't been clarified, we'd never been told that customer teams would be included in it," said Williams.

"That was until (International Automobile Federation president) Max Mosley very charmingly said to me over lunch in December: 'You do realise, Frank, that your business model is history now?

"I said 'What do you mean?' and Max said: 'From now on, it's manufacturers and B teams'.

The existing Concorde Agreement between teams, governing body and the commercial rights holder expires at the end of the year and major changes are planned for 2008.

The Formula One season starts in Australia on March 18 but the build-up has already been overshadowed by a row over the legality of Super Aguri and Toro Rosso's new cars.

Both teams are affiliated to Honda and Red Bull respectively, with Super Aguri's SA07 sure to be based on last year's race-winning Honda and the Toro Rosso similar to Red Bull's RB3.

Super Aguri and Toro Rosso have yet to unveil their cars but say they will conform to the regulations.

"If you're a constructor, you build your own racing cars," said Williams. "That has been the case for decades in F1.

"We want their championship points and money withdrawn," he said of the two rivals. "The rules are overt, you must make your own car -- if you buy one from McLaren then you're not a constructor."

However David Richards, who intends to buy off-the-shelf cars when his Prodrive company become Formula One's 12th team next year, rejected Williams' position.

"Frank is talking this up for one reason only," the former Benetton and BAR boss told the magazine.

"He can see that his business model -- employing 600 people to build a racing car without manufacturer assistance -- won't stack up in the future.

"The business is changing. We need teams at the back given the same cars as Ferrari and fielding promising young drivers. That's the spectacle we want to see."