Formula one team bosses are considering boycotting Grand Prix races in Europe over new European Union rules relating to deaths on the track.
Team chiefs fear the warrants could be used against them if a driver is killed.
Eight EU member states, including Britain, Belgium and Spain, have already implemented the warrants and the seven remaining members — including France, Germany and Italy, who host two races — have pledged to implement the legislation by March.
The European arrest warrants (EAW), introduced on January 1, replace national extradition deals between EU member states.
”This is a matter of serious concern,” said Max Mosley, president of motor racing’s governing body, the FIA.
”We will continue to talk with the various EU governments and the European Commission to try to resolve it.”
Mosley has written on behalf of the teams to the presidents of the sporting bodies in European countries hosting races expressing their fears.
In the letter, team bosses warn they are only prepared to race in countries whose governments give a legally enforceable undertaking not to use the warrant following incidents on the track.
They fear a local magistrate could use the EAW to order the arrest and extradition of team personnel.
The teams say they require the above undertaking if they are to race within the jurisdiction of any of these three countries.
Teams bosses do not want a repeat of the ongoing legal process following the death of Brazil’s three-time former world champion Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, almost 10 years ago.
Williams technical director Patrick Head and former chief designer Adrian Newey were acquitted of manslaughter after a trial in Bologna in 1997.
The verdict was upheld on appeal in 1999 but they were told last year that they face a new appeal court hearing into Senna’s accident. — Sapa-AFP