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'Rebel Seven' to pull out?

The French Grand Prix could be another six car race if the FIA hearing on Wednesday finds the 'rebel seven' teams guilty of bringing the sport into disrepute.

Seven teams - Renault, McLaren, Williams, Toyota, BAR, Sauber and Red Bull - will appear before the FIA in Paris on Wednesday following their withdrawal from the US Grand Prix last weekend.

Paul Stoddart, Minardi team chief, whose team raced at Indianapolis, is quoted this morning in the UK press as saying " If Max (Mosley, FIA chief) does something stupid, I wouldn't bet against there not being a French Grand Prix."

Mosley is unpopular, and considered by many team managers to be draconian, following the wide ranging regulation changes implemented over the winter.

It is also believed by many involved that the FIA could have found a workable solution to the problems faced by the teams in the USA.

The rebel group of seven meet on Tuesday to prepare possible responses to the World Motorsport Council decision, and it is believed may be considering a boycott of the French race in a bid to oust Mosley as FIA President.

Stoddart added: "If Max doesn't back down, are the teams going to take the punishment or say 'we can't vote you out, but we can vote with our feet'?"

Any action in France would propel Formula One deeper into the mire just a week ahead of a sell-out British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Written: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 11:01:39