Williams stands firm on rule change requests

[John S]

Wily old bird that he is Frank seems to have got some of the other teams in a tiz, now is he right about this or will he maybe live to regret his unco-operative stance in the next couple of years? - I think some of these guys hold long grudges and he is poised with the proverbial gun pointed at his foot.

Sir Frank Williams now believes his Grove-based team will re-join the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) but is standing firm against others wishing to change the rules.

The fiercely independent British team was suspended by FOTA earlier this year for breaking ranks amid the political turmoil and signing up for the 2010 world championship.

Williams, who said at the time he did not expect to re-join the team alliance, then further risked the ire of its rivals by blocking a test for Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, opposing a push for three-car team entries, and fighting its corner over measures for the 2010 technical and sporting rules.

However, after the similarly suspended Force India indicated it intends to re-join FOTA, Williams has said in an interview with the Telegraph newspaper that he expects to renew his team's membership "sooner rather than later".

The 67-year-old is however unapologetic about Williams' recent stances that have not made the team the most popular among rivals.

"Those are the rules and the rules are put together with more force and authority by the manufacturers than by teams like Williams," he explained. "We've signed up to those rules and we expect all parties who are signed up to honour their signatures."

Williams said recently he would "block" Ferrari's push, backed reportedly by McLaren and Renault, to enter a third car next season.

"If you have two or three elite teams with great resources and almost unbeatable cars, they will occupy the first four and a half rows on the grid. If you're team number five in the pecking order you have no chance of getting near the front of a grid. It's not healthy," he said.

In the recent midst of the breakaway threats and reports of doom and gloom, Williams remained confident throughout that F1 would emerge strongly. He retains the same view now.

"F1 has always enjoyed turbulent times. It's never particularly stable. But I have every confidence that it will be a highly regarded and well-followed sport 10 or 20 years from now."
E.A. © CAPSIS International

[Scott]

Good for Frank.  All the power to him.   

[FW14B]

I still think on something serious he would join in with the teams, and who knows, maybe he has heard from some of those within FOTA that the things he is standing for they want as well, but cannot do in case of exclusion from the group? 

[Scott]

I agree, I think it is Luca's show, with Mclaren towing the line for things like the three car team.