Williams 'very much against' return of refuelling

  • Published on 18 Jan 2016 17:00
  • comments 2
  • By: Rob Veenstra

The Williams team has revealed its strong opposition to Jean Todt's idea that formula one should consider reintroducing in-race refuelling. The FIA president said a few days ago that teams should think about accepting the extra cost of taking refuelling rigs to grands prix if it spices up the action.

"I am very much against refuelling," Williams deputy boss Claire Williams declared at the weekend. "The manufacturers have spent hundreds of millions on these hybrid power units, which are relevant to the road and the debate about energy efficiency. I think to go back to a gas-guzzling F1 is entirely the wrong message," she added.

Two other Williams team figures wholeheartedly agree. "It (refuelling) doesn't improve the spectacle," said chief engineer Rob Smedley, "and it increases costs." Technical boss Pat Symonds confirmed: "I'm strongly opposed to refuelling. It's extremely expensive at a time when the financial model (in F1) is difficult. And I think recent evidence has shown that it detracts a lot from the racing," he added.

Meanwhile, Symonds also suggested that amid disagreement about how F1 should proceed with its sweeping chassis rules changes for 2017, the sport should now consider a wholesale delay until 2018. "I would be happy if we moved the new rules from 2017 to 2018," he said, "to investigate properly what we really need to be doing." (GMM)

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    Not sure reintroducing refueling is a good idea but I do not agree with Williams why it should not be done. Refueling does not mean less efficiency and an increase in fuel consumption. If they keep the same limitations in fuel flow and total fuel consumption, the cars should actually be more efficient since they don't have to carry all that dead weight during most of the race.
    The cost is a different matter. Maybe with smaller fuel tanks you don't need to be able to pump so much fuel during each stop so the fueling rigs can be smaller and cheaper?

    Regarding the rule changes, pretty sure it's too late for major changes in 2017. More likely it will be 2018 but for that to happen they will have to actually do something instead of talking about talking...

    • + 0
    • Jan 18 2016 - 18:56
    • kerolitos

      Posts: 4

      I totally agree with your math.
      Unfortunately It's politics again and for the sake of communication I'm sure 'F1 cars can race a go on only a tank of gas without refueling' sounds better than 'F1 cars are really low on fuel consumption, they still have to refuel but actually just for a few litters, and still use less than 100kg!'.

      Even if 'a tank' is not a definite unit of measurement it's easy for most people. ^^
      F1 has been already too complicated to explain to your buddies at the pub! :p

      • + 0
      • Jan 19 2016 - 23:16

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar