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Formula One
F1: Williams Skeptical Of Breakaway Plans
SPEED Staff / GMM  |  Posted June 21, 2009   Silverstone (GBR)
At Silverstone, Sir Frank Williams didn't sound all too worried about FOTA's breakaway plans. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
Sir Frank Williams is skeptical the FOTA teams will carry through their threat to establish an alternate series.
Team owner Sir Frank Williams says he's confident a "pretty big" brand will replace the departing RBS signage on next year's Williams team car. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

His Grove based outfit broke ranks with the rebel alliance recently and signed up to the FIA championship for 2010, raising the prospect that Williams will be stranded in the inferior category.

But at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix, the 67-year-old did not sound worried about FOTA's breakaway plans.

"Which races are we talking about?" he told The Times newspaper. "How much TV coverage will there be? Who's putting up the money? Where and how much? No one is talking about that."

Williams believes a solution will ultimately be found to reunite FOTA with Formula One, the governing FIA and Bernie Ecclestone.

"We'll be racing next year," he said. "I'll be astonished if we're not and I believe we'll be racing against the present teams. Anyway, fighting one's corner helps to pass the time."

He hinted that the recalcitrance of other teams, comprised mainly of manufacturer outfits and companies whose core business is not racing, is frustrating.

"We have a niche in F1," said Williams. "We're an independent team, we're always going to be there, god willing, and we do it because we want to. We love it, we live for it.

"I'm sorry, that sounds a bit sanctimonious and it's not meant to be, but I'm just telling the truth."

It was suggested by some sections of the media on Saturday that F1's chief executive Ecclestone is moving closer to the position of the FOTA teams, but the 78-year-old Briton for now remains supportive of the status quo.

"Everyone should know their part," Ecclestone said. "The governing body should govern, we should look after the commercial side and the teams should race. That's how it should stay."

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