05/07/2005
NEWS STORY
Dear David
You asked me to meet the drivers at Silverstone to discuss the possibility of the FIA imposing safety measures at private test sessions equal to those in force at a Grand Prix. We are very sympathetic to the drivers' concerns on this issue and I was happy to meet on that basis. Regrettably, you have now used the prospect of this meeting as a reason to air your personal views on current regulations to the press.
Single-lap qualifying was agreed by all the teams in 2002, as was the ten-grid position penalty for engine changes. The single-tyre rule was supported unanimously by the teams in the Technical Working Group on 6
September 2004. Any driver who dislikes the 2005 rules should perhaps ask his team, rather than the FIA, why he was not consulted.
The current Concorde Agreement makes no provision for the FIA to consult the drivers. However, it expires at the end of 2007 and the FIA has taken the initiative of consulting the drivers on the 2008 regulations. This was first announced in our press release of April 15, 2005, and the detailed 2008 proposals were sent to the drivers yesterday in common with other stakeholders. We look forward to their comments.
As you know we consider improving driver safety to be of paramount importance. I should therefore be happy to invite all the drivers to a formal meeting in Paris or Monaco on a mutually convenient date and discuss
any issues which trouble them. However, your press comments have distorted the purpose of the Silverstone meeting and made a calm discussion of a major safety issue impossible. As a result the meeting will not now take place.
Yours sincerely
Max Mosley