Honda hit out at Mosley proposals

Honda have hit back at Max Mosley’s proposals to revolutionise Formula One in 2008.

FIA president Mosley recently issued a draft version of the rules he wants imposed from 2008 onwards, including many measures designed to slash costs.

Honda are among five teams refusing to sign up to a future with Formula One beyond 2007 amid disagreements over money and how the sport is governed.

The president of Honda’s racing arm, Yasuhiro Wada, today criticised many of Mosley’s planned changes, taking particular exception to plans to reduce the sport’s reliance on high technology.

He claimed a financial agreement with Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone was within reach but raised doubts over the chances of agreement on rules.

He said: “I think we see some signs of getting close and getting some compromise with some good discussions going on.

“But after seeing the 2008 regulations proposals from the FIA, many people are upset with it and not happy. We need to talk with the FIA about the future regulations.

“I think commercially it is not a big issue for us. We are not racing for commercial reasons, so money allocation and so forth we can compromise on – that is not our priority.

“The reason we are racing is for technical things so if the regulations go with the 2008 proposals there is not much to work with. Where is the technology?”

Honda, along with BMW, Toyota, Mercedes and Renault, have refused to sign an extension to the ruling Concorde Agreement and are threatening a break-away series in 2008 if compromise cannot be reached.