08/10/2002
NEWS STORY
Although Eddie Jordan has already given his support to Bernie Ecclestone's proposals regarding penalising successful drivers with a weight handicap, his pitlane colleagues are not quite as enthusiastic.
"I find the suggestion of adding ballast to anyone's car rather distasteful," WiliiamsF1's Patrick Head told The Sun.
"Does that mean Arsenal have to field nine men when they play Chelsea or Pete Sampras has two strings cut from his racket when he meets Tim Henman?
"The idea of handicapping has been mooted on and off over the years," Head continued. "It would certainly change the face of F1 but I am not sure it would make it better or more entertaining.
"It's a knee-jerk reaction because Ferrari have been so dominant. But it is up to other teams to not only catch them but to overtake them. That is something we feel we are more than capable of doing. People at the back of the grid or with lower budgets will probably be in favour of it. If the ballast only applied to Michael Schumacher, I would be all for it!"
Yesterday team bosses were sent a list of Bernie's proposals, which will no doubt be discussed at Suzuka this weekend ahead of a meeting of the F1 Commission later this month. If McLaren MD Martin Whitmarsh's opinion is anything to go by, it's not going to be an easy ride.
"We will not sign up to any handicapping," he said. "Ferrari have done a fantastic job and we and Williams have under-performed. It's up to us to put that right."
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