Mosley revolution aims to restore fun to Formula One

Max Mosley, the head of motor racing's governing body, made it clear yesterday that he intends to maintain pressure on Formula One teams in his campaign to make the sport more affordable and entertaining.

The FIA president called on the wealthy to support their poorer rivals and encourage new independent entrants. He warned that if another team dropped out, reducing the grid to 18 cars, two of the surviving concerns would each have to field a third car. And, as the teams prepare for the start of the world championship season three weeks on Sunday, Mosley also revealed that cars would have to line up for races with the fuel they had in the tank at the end of qualifying.

Teams were already coming to terms with a new, one-run format to determine grid positions. Now they will have to decide whether to aim for pole with a light load and make an early pit stop in the Grand Prix or compromise and perhaps cut out a refuelling call.

Mosley has sent the teams details of the drastic initiative and the regulations meant to ensure that no one cheats. Cars and teams will be supervised after qualifying and on the morning of the race. They will be held overnight in garages under lock and key.

"This introduces another element of uncertainty and unpredictability,'' Mosley said. "I've spoken to some of the teams already and they are in favour. The consensus is that this is the right way to go.''

Plans for long-life engines and other components are in place and many of the sophisticated, computerised driver aids are due to be abandoned in the middle of the season. The qualifying overhaul and a revised points system takes effect from the opening round, the Australian Grand Prix, in Melbourne.

Yet Mosley is frustrated that many of his proposals to reduce costs and spice up the show have been rebuffed by the teams. He is determined to push through measures he believes are crucial to sustain Formula One through financial difficulties and a period of prolonged domination by Ferrari.

He said: "Most teams felt we had to do something but they couldn't agree among themselves. They would agree 'in principle' to very little or things in the distant future.''

Mosley is dismayed that a fighting fund, supposedly agreed by all teams as a means of ensuring the survival of Ford's two customer teams, Jordan and Minardi, now appears to be in doubt. Prost and Arrows have disappeared in the past year and, should another team fold, the rest would have to fill the void.

Mosley said: "If one more team goes out of business two of the others will each have to enter a third car. Those teams would be determined by ballot.

"That would obviously be very expensive for the team concerned and I don't think the public want to see a third Ferrari or McLaren or Williams. So I hope the teams support the fighting fund. It would be a pity and short-sighted if they did nothing.''

Mosley believes the bigger teams could sell parts or even cars they have replaced to lure new teams. He hinted that the $48m (£30m) bond now required of a team applying for entry to Formula One could be scrapped.

He said: "By 2006 the cost of running a team will be less than half the present cost. Jordan were the last true independent team to come in and that was in 1991. Independents are the lifeblood of Formula One. If it is cheap enough, a good Formula 3000 team would be able to come in."