Briatore calls for careful policing

Renault team principal Flavio Briatore has called for policing of the new rules introduced by the FIA in order to prevent the possibility of cheating. The banning of traction and launch control only a couple of years after they were reintroduced has led to some concern. The driver aids were originally made legal again because the FIA said policing their use was impossible, but outlawing them has made the concerns about cheating resurface.

"We don't want somebody cheating again because this is dangerous for the sport and we need to be sure before we do anything," Briatore told Reuters. "We are in a big sport and have a big responsibility and I believe we need to have a referee who has the possibility to police. If we can't do that in 2004 we will do it in 2005. If you have a rule, you must have the possibility to police the rule, and we need to be very careful with the new regulations."

The ban on driver aids may be deferred in 2003 as the FIA realise most teams already have this season's cars built and its too late to make such changes. Briatore warned that rushing the changes through too soon could end up costing teams even more.

"We need to look very carefully at when we apply the new regulations because a lot of time in Formula One anything you move costs much more money, especially now, one month before the start of the season," he said. "I think we can do it in the middle of the season or in 2004 because if you rush into it now the cost will explode again."

The FIA are reportedly considering offering a $1million reward for information that proves teams are cheating. The sport's governing body said the reward is in line with the 'zero-tolerance' policy it has adopted in regard to non-compliance with the new rules.