F1 rejects rules revolution for 2016

Feb.18 (GMM) A rules revolution in formula one will have to wait, after the decision-making F1 Commission met in Geneva on Tuesday.

As the body - comprising the teams, the FIA, Bernie Ecclestone and race promoters, suppliers and sponsors - met, Ferrari unveiled its vision of the future.

The futuristic, computer-generated F1 concept car appeared radical, but Ferrari argued that although "aggressive-looking", it could be made a reality "without having to overturn the current technical rules".

"Minimal changes give the car a look that is way different from what we have been familiar with so far," the fabled Italian team added.

Also reportedly part of the package put before the F1 Commission on Tuesday was Ecclestone's vision for 1,000 horse power and noisier engines.

But as Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt reported late on Tuesday, the body ultimately decided "that nothing is decided".

It means any rules revolution almost certainly cannot now be introduced before 2017.

Schmidt said proposals to significantly reduce costs also foundered on Tuesday, as "everything remains the same" for now.

He reports that Lotus, Force India and Sauber - F1's vociferously struggling midfield teams - proposed that they be allowed to collaborate and share standard components, with "one doing the wind tunnel testing, another making the suspension, the third the transmission".

"The big teams refused," said Schmidt.

Speed Week reported: "The next step? The relevant working groups of the Strategy Group will now put forward new proposals about what the regulations might look like in 2017.

"These proposals will then be passed onto the F1 Commission again."