By Phil Huff
January 15 2003

Ahead of today's meeting between FIA President Max Mosley and team bosses, BAR team principal David Richards has called on those involved in F1 to put the sport first and listen to what Mosley has to say. Ahead of today's meeting between FIA President Max Mosley and team bosses, BAR team principal David Richards has called on those involved in F1 to put the sport first and listen to what Mosley has to say.

"We have got to take a few steps backwards and really bring back the pure racing into the sport," said Richards at the launch of his team's 2003 contender yesterday. "I think if we do that, we will address so many of our critics," he added.

"We must be open-minded to change as well," he continued. "If some of these new ideas benefit the sport as a whole, we should embrace them. We shouldn't just look at our own narrow view of things and our own vested interests."

"What we've got to really get down to is how to improve the show for spectators," Richards continued. "If we are of the common belief that driver aids and all these technical gizmos are inappropriate, and we can find a proper way of policing it, then I applaud it and would support it wholeheartedly. I would give up anything if it meant we were all on a level playing field.

"This is about thinking about the future of Formula One," he added. "Not thinking that I might have a little advantage here if I don't do that, let's vote against this or that.

"Sometimes you have got to put all those issues to one side and say 'Hey guys, this is a situation where Formula One comes first and I'm going to have to vote for that.' And I will," he added.

"I believe that at times Formula One team principals are too close to the coalface on these issues," he continued. "We get too embroiled in our own personal interests and we don't look at the sport as a whole. And we realise that we could be killing the golden goose unless we actually behave collectively more responsibly.

"Sometimes it takes a facilitator from the outside to see these issues and bang the table hard and say enough's enough, now let's get on with it."