Friday March 22nd, 2002

Formula One engine rule changes from 2004 will cut costs but most testing should be banned as well, according to International Automobile Federation (FIA) boss Max Mosley.

"If I could just make up the rules myself, I would abolish testing (during the season) and allow it only in the winter and on the Friday before a Grand Prix at the specific venues," the FIA president told German sports agency SID on Friday.

"But the teams would have to agree on that and, at the moment, they want to carry on testing.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's money down the drain because all of them are developing their cars and the difference between them stays the same. Perhaps you are two tenths of a second faster but there are millions paid out in vain for that."

The FIA announced on Wednesday, following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council and Formula One Commission in Paris, that engine rules would be changed from 2004.

Mosley had proposed originally that, from next season, teams should be allowed only one engine per car per race weekend, a move designed to cut costs and abolish the expensive special engines used in qualifying.

Test Day

He had also wanted to get rid of Friday free practice and replace it with a test day. But the major manufacturers, who also resisted a move for them to be obliged to make their engines available to more than one team, said 2003 was too soon and settled instead for the following year.

"I would have preferred it if we could have done it for 2003 already but we have to keep the Friday because all the (circuit) promoters demanded that," said Mosley. "The main point however is that, from 2004, we will race for the whole weekend with one engine. That saves a lot of money."

Under the agreed changes, drivers will still be able to replace blown engines during a race weekend but will be forced back ten places on the starting grid.

Published at 15:06:49 GMT