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Mood for immediate change growing in F1 paddock

Published on 22 Jun 2015 15:21
2
By: Rob Veenstra

The mood for immediate change in the increasingly-alarmed F1 paddock is growing. Summing up the burgeoning crisis, McLaren team boss Eric Boullier told Spain's Marca: "Drivers are not happy, the public is noticing and they (the audience) are leaving F1."

Front and centre of the argument is Red Bull, who spent the entire weekend at the 'Red Bull Ring' insisting that the sport is spiralling towards the abyss. "Bernie Ecclestone needs to get together with Jean Todt and do something," boss Christian Horner is quoted by the German news agency DPA. "And as fast as possible. Formula one is running out of time."

F1 has, however, already acknowledged collectively that it has a problem and is discussing what drastic changes should be introduced for 2017. "We have recognised the problem," Ferrari's Maurizio Arrivabene told Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, "but another thing is certain: We must not waste any more time."

Indeed, there is now a push to speed up the process and introduce radical changes not for 2017, but in 2016. "The change in the cars should come as soon as possible," agreed Dr Helmut Marko. "If everyone wants it, already in 2016."

Ecclestone, the F1 supremo, is on board. "We cannot wait and see," the 84-year-old told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper, arguing that the complexity of the 'power units' is the biggest problem. We need something simpler."

Until now, F1 has baulked at simply scrapping the quiet and expensive turbo V6s, as it was said Mercedes would quit the sport in protest. "If they (manufacturers) want to go, they will go," Ecclestone insisted.

He said that also applies to Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who is once again threatening to quit. "He is in a position where he doesn't have to ask anyone," Ecclestone admitted. "He is frustrated and that is understandable, because if he was in a position to do something about it, he would."

Honda is also grappling with the current rules, while Renault's problems are well known. But Ecclestone said: "I am confident that no one is going to leave formula one." Red Bull's Horner, however, thinks the current governance structure of the sport is clearly not working.

"Perhaps," he said, "we need an independent expert, and someone who is not involved in the championship. I don't know, but someone like Ross Brawn, who understands the business and the complexity. I don't think formula one can allow manufacturers of the likes of Renault and Honda to be in this situation. Honda's new president came to the race today and I do not think he was happy with what he saw," added Horner. (GMM)

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Replies (2)

khasmir

Posts: 893
Let's be realistic, you can't make drastic changes to the engine for 2016, it's too late for that. And I'm not sure how Honda would react, they are just starting to make some progress with the current power unit. And now just throw everything in the bin and start again??? I can't believe the bullshit that is coming out of Bernie's mouth, again... He knows very well this is never going to happen, he just wants wrap more people around his fingers and get some good PR.
Aiming for 2017 would be more realistic...
One thing they can do for 2016, and I've said it before: put a cap on the price of the power unit, any team should be able to buy any engine for a certain max price.
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- Jun 22 2015 - 18:49
scf1fan

Posts: 58
They have to make a choice, keep to the current rules, or spend even more money! Given free reign, MB, Honda, Ferrari and Renault would spend as much money as they could to develop a winning engine. Doesn't matter if it were complicated or simple - they would still spend as much as they could. Some would probably still win, and some would probably still lose. But some would at least feel that they could be doing something!! Which is not the case now and is why they feel so frustrated.
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Frankly, the ugliest thing about F1 at the moment is the RB management constantly bad-mouthing their engine supplier every race.
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So they switch engines again; and then have to redesign and build a new car around it? How does that help anyone other than to roll the dice? So, some easy rule changes would help . . . 1) Get rid of the engine/part change penalties (or at least make them more reasonable, like 1/4 what they are now) 2) eliminate the maximum fuel flow rate to let the engines rev higher, 3) give the teams the ability to put as much fuel in the car as they can to support change 2. 4) Double the number of "tokens" available to develop the engines (maybe even slide the scale so the ones behind have more available than the ones in front) . . . Then lets see how it goes. (These changes should at least mean less "strategic driving" from the drivers; as to whether they can actually make it to the end of the race or not.)
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In any case, if the rules change so drastically that MB leaves the sport, the sport will be dead in the water at that point. F1 as a whole makes way too much money for the cost of these engines to be the deciding factor.
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(I would also like to see lesser wings and more durable rubber to increase the "width" of the racing line toward the end of the race too . . . But perchance I dream too much. ;-)
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- Jun 23 2015 - 02:09