Williams' team was one of the seven Michelin runners who did not race at Indy. According to Williams, such was their desperation to race, the Michelin runners agreed to run even if it meant they couldn't score World Championship points.
"We were desperate to compete, to give the American fans their entertainment, even if it meant giving up championship points," he told BBC Radio Five Live
"Racing in North America is fundamental to Formula One's commercial health. Please understand that teams consider North America an untapped commercial market of considerable potential.
We all need to race in the United States. We need more than one race in the United States
More than 50% of our team's sponsorship income comes from the US, so we were all prepared to compromise because we had been told by Michelin that the tyres were dangerous.
We tried very hard for a compromise. I Max felt he could not compromise."
Williams also insisted that the teams were not to blame for their sub-standard Michelin tyres.
"It's not accurate," he said of the FIA's statement against the Michelin seven. "They've blamed the teams totally which is what we expected. The reality is that teams do not supply tyres."
"We've just received notice that we must appear in front of the beak," he added, referring to next Wednesday's FIA hearing. "No doubt we will be humiliated etc but we are quite used to that."
Elsewhere, Williams also exonerated Ferrari of any culpability for the affair.
They were totally innocent in this affair entirely," he told Reuters. "They had no reason not to race."
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