Approval for latest changes

The initial reaction to the new rulings announced by the FIA yesterday has been one of approval from some team members. For this season there will be no two-way telemetry, radio communication or spare cars and come 2004, traction and launch control and automatic gearboxes will be banned. Eddie Jordan described the restructuring as good for everyone.

"This was the most positive day in my Formula One career as there was total unanimity between all parties involved in the sport -- FIA, FOM and all the teams -- concerning cost savings which are enormously beneficial to the sport," he told the media after the FIA announcement.

"Everyone has come to realise that the show is the most important element and we have restructured Formula One accordingly in a way which is good for everyone, including Jordan. I'm really looking forward to going racing again."

Jordan's Director of Race and Test Engineering Gary Anderson was in agreement with his team boss: "I welcome the changes," he said. "I think they're great. Giving the car back to the driver is important and a very positive thing. There has been a lot of talk about change recently but we can trust the FIA to make this happen and we can get on with racing."

Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart also voiced his approval of the way things went at yesterday's meeting: "It was a very important day, not only for Minardi but for F1," Stoddart commented. "There was unanimous agreement that we could not go below 10 teams."

"It takes a lot of the pressure off us. It takes away any doubts whether we would be able to see out the season. But it also addresses all the issues F1 has been criticised for in the past couple of years. I think that we are in for a really exciting season next year which is what everyone in F1 wants to see."

BAR's David Richards described the changes as 'phenomenal' and said it was high time that the bigger picture was taken into account instead of people looking after themselves: "What has happened is phenomenal. It's the step forward that the sport and fans have been waiting for," he said. "There were too many people considering their own vested interests rather than looking at the bigger picture. It means we can all start the season knowing there will be better racing and the guarantee of 20 cars still being on the grid by the end of it."

Flavio Briatore, head of the Renault team, was approving if cautious, saying: "Yesterday's meeting was productive. The changes the FIA has decided upon are a step in the right direction. It is imperative we ensure that our sport has a long-term future."

"We need to offer a better show on track whilst reducing costs, which have reached enormous levels in recent seasons. Having said that, we must think about, and methodically examine, these measures in terms of their feasibility and the time-scale needed to adapt to them."

FIA scraps telemetry, radio and spare cars

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