MARCH 6, 2001

Mosley - Formula One speed need to be reduced

MAX MOSLEY, the president of Formula One's governing body the FIA, has expressed his concern at the increased speed of Grand Prix cars this season.

Mosley has spoken of his fears about the speed of cars after a race marshal was killed when he was hit by debris from a high-speed crash on lap five of the race at turn three.

Graham Beveridge, a spectator marshal at the turn, was killed after being hit by a wheel from the British American Racing car of Jacques Villeneuve, who had hit the BMW-Williams of Ralf Schumacher before crashing into a safety fence at around 150 mph.

Mosley is worried about the speed of the Formula One machines after lap times increased by almost four seconds from 2000 at Albert Park at the weekend.

Mosley said that the FIA would not make any premature decisions to amend the rules of the sport, but said that he feels the arrival of the Bridgestone-Michelin tire war is the reason for the increase in speed.

"We knew that competition between the two tire makers might increase the speed and that is why the technical commission worked on the aerodynamic regulations to reduce it," he was quoted as saying in Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

"The impression is that the sums were not right. We don't want to jump the gun but if Malaysia and Brazil were to confirm, as I fear, the results from Melbourne, the FIA must act quickly."