Formula 1
Mixed reaction to speed reduction
This week the World Motor Sport Council officially requested that the Technical Working Group (TWG) propose ideas to reduce the performance of F1 cars. For some time there has been concern that the cars are getting too fast to be safe these days, ...
Published: Jul 3, 2004, 2:51 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
This week the World Motor Sport Council officially requested that the Technical Working Group (TWG) propose ideas to reduce the performance of F1 cars. For some time there has been concern that the cars are getting too fast to be safe these days, something that FIA president Max Mosley believes was underlined by recent crashes involving Sauber's Felipe Massa and Williams' Ralf Schumacher.
Engines and tyres are the main points under consideration to reduce the speed and if the TWG cannot find a solution the FIA will impose its own. There has been mixed reaction from the drivers. There is general agreement that F1 safety is very good but some drivers think that speeds need reduced.
"The cars are much safer today than in the past, but I do agree that we need to reduce speeds," said Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello. "This has always been a talking point. But I have to say I love driving these cars. I don't think we should reduce their performance by too much."
Teammate Michael Schumacher is also in favor of a speed reduction. "It must be done in a correct and sensible manner to improve safety," said the reigning champion, who is a member of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA). "It might take some drastic steps on the part of the teams and the FIA."
Renault's Jarno Trulli has slightly mixed feelings about the matter. As a driver "we all want to be very quick or as quick as possible", but, like Schumacher, as a member of the GPDA he is concerned with safety.
"I don't think any of us want to return to the time when we lost two drivers in one weekend," said Trulli. "So we want to prevent this, we want to try our best, to make Formula One as safe as possible because we want to show, to the whole word, that we are able to build quick cars, safe cars and to make a very good show."
At the other end of the argument, Toyota's Olivier Panis feels that too many regulations will defeat the point of racing. He agreed that one day the cars may need to be slower, but maybe not right now.
"For me, we need to have quicker cars in Formula One because that's why we're here, why we like Formula One and everybody else too and also we need to have some fighting, some overtaking even with drivers who perhaps take some a little bit of a risk," said the Frenchman. "But this is Formula One for me. If you need to make a rule for speed, a rule for overtaking, a rule for everything, there's no point at the end of the day."
Juan Pablo Montoya thinks that a reduction in speed will not necessarily make racing any safer. "Even if we were going slower the accidents are going to happen," said the Williams driver. "I don't think I risk my life driving -- if I thought I risked my life I would not be racing."
"I don't think the cars are too quick. The thing is every year they just go quicker and quicker. I think it's good to stabilise the speed but I don't like the idea of taking out a chunk -- something like five seconds -- just because they say we should."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article French GP: BAR Saturday qualifying notes
Next article French GP Friday 1st practice
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Juan Pablo Montoya
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
IndyCar
IndyCar
Team Penske and Chevrolet announce multi-year extension of IndyCar partnership
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Juan Pablo Montoya admires Franco Colapinto's "aggressive" approach despite Baku crash
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Williams tipped for "huge step" forward at Azerbaijan GP with major upgrade
More from
Ferrari
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
16 h
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
47 min
MotoGP Australian GP: Marco Bezzecchi leads Aprilia 1-2-4-5 in Friday Practice
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
8 h
Max Verstappen slams “unacceptable” bumps at Austin F1 track: “It's out of control”
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
8 h
Kimi Antonelli ready to "finish the job" as first F1 title chance beckons at US GP
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
9 h
How to watch NASCAR at Talladega II: Weekend schedule, start time, entry list, TV
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe