David Coulthard is to meet Max Mosley

David Couthard
By Gordon Miller
July 13 2005

David Coulthard has urged his fellow F1 drivers to attend a meeting with FIA president Max Mosley on 1 August. The talks in Cannes - set up to try and ease tensions between Mosley and the sport's stars - will only go ahead if half the drivers turn up.

Top of the agenda is the issue of safety at private tests, but proposed new rules will also be discussed.

"Clearly we need as many people as we can at that meeting," said Red Bull driver Coulthard.

The proposed meeting will take place on the first day of F1's three-week summer break.

Relations between the drivers and Mosley are at a low following the US Grand Prix debacle at Indianapolis on 19 June.

The drivers had been due to meet him ahead of the British GP, but Mosley cancelled as he was upset that their grievances were already being made public.

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association then released a letter saying it was "disappointed not to receive the full support of the FIA president" on safety issues.

And despite Coulthard's desire for other drivers to attend the meeting, the Scot hinted he was less than happy with the arrangements.

"Clearly it's easier to get one man to a group than a group to one man, but that's what he's offered us and we will endeavour to make that meeting," said Coulthard.

"We only wanted one FIA president to come to our meeting and that was difficult to achieve, so time will tell whether we can get more than half the super licence holders (qualified Formula One drivers) there."

But Coulthard added: "I don't have a particular problem with Max. Life's too short to be avoiding people.

"We all have to work together and to the best of our ability do our job and we come from many different points of view - such is life."