Stoddart issues warning to F1 chief

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart has warned Max Mosley to go easy on the seven teams who refused to race at Indianapolis – or risk a full-scale rebellion.

Stoddart, whose team ran on Bridgestone tyres and finished fifth and sixth in the United States Grand Prix, has been a long-time critic of Mosley, the president of world governing body the FIA.

He called for Mosley’s resignation immediately after the Indianapolis fiasco, claiming the Englishman’s hardline stance was to blame for the problems.

The FIA have summoned all seven Michelin teams – Renault, McLaren, Toyota, Williams, Red Bull, Sauber and BAR – to a hearing on Wednesday to explain why they were unable to race.

Stoddart fears a heavy-handed punishment would create open hostility between Mosley and the majority of teams, and raised the prospect of boycotts if the issue is not settled amicably.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “In the worst possible situation of some kind of draconian penalty, would the other teams race? I think we would have a meeting and you wouldn’t guarantee it.

“The teams were totally innocent victims, as was the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as were the American public.

“[The punishment] could be anything – I have heard unofficial reports of what it might be, ranging from a $2.5m fine to a suspended ban, to all kinds of possible things. I would hope Max would come to his senses but who knows?”