Tuesday March 19th, 2002

BMW motorsport director Gerhard Berger has said that he is opposed to potential rules forcing engine suppliers to work with two teams.

Formula One team bosses and key figures will meet today in Paris in order to decide how best to cut costs in the sport.

But Berger insisted that BMW are opposed to proposed moves to introduce new rulings making engine suppliers power at least two teams - and said they plan to stick with Williams as an exclusive partner.

"To support another team couldn't save money," Berger said. "But for us it's clear first we have an exclusive contract with Williams, second we like to focus on one team and to put every effort together to get the best success out.

"If the regulation says you have to support a second team it's up to the regulation. But if you ask if we would support such a decision, no. Yes, there are teams that like to support two or three teams, or sell engines.

"There are different ways, but our choice is to have an exclusive partner and to put all our effort into this partnership."

Berger admitted that if the rules on supplying two teams were introduced, then BMW would sit down and revise their long-term plans in Formula One.

"If it's a complete change of regulation of course we'd have to sit down and see if it still fulfilled all the expectations you have," he said.

Published at 12:57:03 GMT