Mark Webber yesterday broke the self-imposed silence of Formula One drivers to reassure fans that, while safety remained paramount, they had no desire to deny spectators of their racing.
After a row over safety issues between the drivers and Formula One's govening body, the FIA, was made public, Webber, who drives for Williams, said the Grand Prix Drivers' Association was determined to have its say.
The dispute arose after the farcical scenes at the United States Grand Prix in Indianapois when 14 cars were pulled out of the race when their tyres - all manufactured by Michelin - were deemed unsafe.
"We couldn't race [at Indianapolis]," Webber said. "The drivers on Michelin tyres just could not have raced. If a tyre had come off and flown into the crowd and it's my fault because we were told not to race, then I'm in jail.
"We take a stong stance on our safety. We are the people out in the cars at the end of the day and we are F1 fans ourselves. We want to make sure that the sport is run in the safest way possible."
The fiasco that the US Grand Prix became left American race fans apoplectic and, amid claim and counterclaim between all parties involved, the row escalated with no-one prepared to accept responsibilty for the situation.
It culminated in David Coulthard, of the Red Bull racing team, voicing the drivers' objection to recent rule changes which, in turn, incurred the wrath of Max Moseley, the FIA president.
Mosley yesterday cancelled a planned meeting with the GPDA to discuss safety measures, accusing Coulthard of scuppering the talks.
In a letter to Coulthard, which was copied to the other Formula One drivers, Mosley wrote: "Regrettably, you have used the prospect of this meeting as a reason to air your personal views on current regulations to the press.
"Your press comments have distorted the purpose of the Silverstone meeting and made a calm discussion of a major safety issue impossible. As a result, the meeting will not now take place."
The GPDA responded by releasing an open letter sent to Mosley on Sunday, claiming the world governing body president "suggested the FIA might withdraw support for the ongoing safety initiatives of the GPDA".
The letter, which was signed by all drivers except Coulthard, Michael Schumacher and Christian Klien, said the organisation was "disappointed" by Mosley's stance.
Dissatisfaction with Mosley, which emerged from an angry telephone call to Coulthard, was widely known at the weekend but the drivers steadfastly refused to comment on the record.
Webber is adamant the drivers are standing together and standing firm.
"There are some concerns from the GPDA after Indianapolis," he said while on a meet-the-public visit to Goldsmith's jewellers in Birmingham's Bull Ring shopping centre on behalf of watchmakers Oris, one of Williams' key sponsors.
"We work together, all the drivers, we are as one. I wish it had never happened, I really do.
"Time will tell if the drivers are a voice when it comes to these matters.
"At the end of the day, people turned up to see a race. There was absolutely no way in the world we wanted to pull out of a race . . . we wanted to run."
Webber, currently seventh in the driver's championship, said he and his fellow racers had no desire to run the sport but stressed their concerns must be heard.
"We are part of the whole deal. It's all about the drivers - the public come to see the drivers.
"Look at Spain, five years ago there were 30,000 people at the race and now there are over 100,000 - and that's because we have a Spanish guy in Fernando Alonso leading the championship.
"We are important when we are united - it's good that we can stand up for the sport we love because essentially we are all fans of Formula One. The most important thing for us is our safety."
Coulthard, meanwhile, has signed a one-year contract extension to stay with Red Bull Racing for 2006, insisting that the young team can fulfil its potential.
The Scot signed a one-year contract to race for the new team this season and a series of impressive performances, which have earned him 17 points so far, have paved the way for the agreement of a new deal.
The 34-year-old's agreement, which will see him competing in his 13th season after spells with Williams and McLaren, was confirmed yesterday and ends speculation he was wanted by BAR-Honda.
Coulthard agreed to stay on after being impressed with Red Bull's preparations for next season, when they will benefit from Ferrari engines.
He said: "It has been a very positive new experience working with Red Bull Racing. The potential of the team is obvious and it made perfect sense to continue our partnership.
"Since I started working with the team last December, the progress we have made has been remarkable. I'm looking forward to contributing to the development of the 2006 car with the Ferrari engine and enjoying continued success with Red Bull Racing."
