The majority of teams oppose the new technical regulations for 2021 being proposed by Formula 1, BBC Sport has revealed earlier today. As reported by Andrew Benson, six of the 10 teams indicated in a questionnaire organised by Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull that they do not agree with the plans as they stand.
Only Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Renault and Williams preferred the proposed new rules to the existing ones. And two of those four have subsequently proposed changes to the 2021 rules. The parties will meet on 16 October to discuss the issue further.
There is a deadline of 31 October for the 2021 technical rules to be decided and so far there has been no indication from the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, or F1 that they will back down. If a compromise cannot be reached, Scuderia Ferrari have the right to veto the 2021 rules package, but it is understood the Italian team would prefer for matters not to get to that stage.
Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull presented their own proposal for 2021 to the FIA and F1 on Thursday. This was based on the F1 proposal, taking what they consider the more positive aspects and adding scope for development to ensure the cars would not all look the same.
Under the existing governance structure, the FIA and F1 cannot simply impose the rules on the teams. Jean Todt has always preferred to run the sport with a conciliatory and collegiate approach, in contrast to the one often espoused by his predecessor, Max Mosley.
And trying to impose the rules runs the risk of Ferrari using their veto – which would effectively force the FIA to stick with the existing regulations. But the risk for Ferrari is the understanding that if they exercise the veto, they will lose that right under new governance structures that have to be agreed before 2021.
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