Schumacher thinks new rule supports small teams

When the FIA announced the one engine per weekend rule that will come into force in 2004 recently there were some who disagreed, believing it would make the spectacle of F1 too manufactured. Drivers can be dropped ten places on the grid if they replace an engine, forcing them to climb through the field to regain position in a move that some say is making racing artificial.

Michael Schumacher disagrees, thinking the new rule will help the smaller teams: "I don't think it is an artificial rule aimed at spicing up the show," he said. "It will support the smaller teams with less big budgets, because they have less investment. But in all honesty, in F1 it has always been that any available money will be spent."

Schumacher also shrugged off claims by Williams' technical director Patrick Head that the one engine decision will give the champion an edge over the rest of the grid. Head suggested that the German often produced his best qualifying time on his first run which would give him the advantage of not having to risk an engine failure with further laps.

Schumacher believes that as usual with rules, someone will always find reasons for disputing them. "Whatever rule you make, you will always feel somebody has some kind of an advantage from that rule," he commented. "Even if it is meant to be equal to everybody, you have some people who keep on. I'm not talking particularly about Patrick, but someone else. Whatever you do they will find a reason why it's good for another team and not for them."