Richards wants Mosley to reconsider

FIA President Max Mosley surprised many when he announced last week that he will be stepping down from the post in October, and BAR team principal David Richards is concerned about the situation. Formula One has been unsettled for some time, what with rule changes, financial worries and the threat of a breakaway group. Richards thinks Mosley's absence could destabilise the situation further.

David Richards.

Photo by Brousseau Photo.

"I cannot imagine any individual who will have such a grasp of the issues that face Formula One as Max does now," he said, according to Reuters. "There could be a horrible vacuum. There will be people out there who will say 'well, that's good and now we can get back to what we want to do'. I fear that could be damaging. My own personal feeling is better the devil you know. I wish he would reconsider."

Mosley has been President of the FIA for 13 years and one of the last things he has put in motion is to ensure a reduction of performance in F1 cars, on the grounds of safety. If the Technical Working Group fails to come up with proposals of its own, the FIA will present three alternatives for it to choose from. If there's still no decision, the FIA will enforce its own measures.

However, the change of regulations will only come into effect next season at the earliest -- after Mosely has departed as President. This concerns Richards, who believes Mosely should stay on to make sure things go smoothly. "It's lighting the blue touch paper and then handing it over to another group of people," said the BAR boss.

"I know Max believes that he can set the process and put it in place but I think that is a somewhat optimistic view of things. You do have to suggest that it is slightly inappropriate to make such radical change, and this is radical, and not see it right the way through."

"That change will be handed over to another group of people who I cannot believe will be more competent than Max to manage it and that gives me great concern."