Mosley thinks F1 had lost some of its interest

Driver aids, such as traction control and launch control, are to be phased out by the 2004 season, while spare cars and direct communication between the pit lane and the driver have been scrapped.

The changes, made last week, were a direct response to the dwindling interest in F1 and the domination of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari.

If we had left everything as it was, the whole thing could have spiralled Max Mosley

Mosley thinks the sport had no option but to change, even if there are dissenting voices, such as McLaren chief Ron Dennis.

"In the medium to long term, F1 could have collapsed," Mosley told BBC Radio Five Live.

"One or two of the independent teams might have stopped. The bigger sides might not have been able to run a third car and they might have stopped as well.

"If we had left everything as it was, the whole thing could have spiralled."

Some have claimed the rule changes take the sport back a decade in terms of technology.

But Mosley feels there was a consensus in favour of change.

"One or two teams were against and most of the others had reservations on one point or another," he said.

When you know who is going to win each race because the cars are so reliable it becomes uninteresting Mosley

"Ron Dennis said he had so much to say he didn't want to say anything but in the end the consensus was that something had to be done.

"When you know who is going to win each race because the cars are so reliable it becomes uninteresting.

"If you eliminate some of the electronic aids, you eliminate some of the uncertainty. But in the end the best team will win, so we are not punishing success."