More details have emerged from the F1 Strategy Group’s most recent meeting in Paris earlier this month, with the member teams split on how quickly to implement changes aimed at making the cars more aesthetically pleasing and exciting for fans.
News of the plans to increase power output to 1000bhp had already emerged, but BBC Sport has outlined other specific rule changes for the cars, designed to address declining audiences in key global markets:
- Returning to a maximum car width of 2000mm rather than the current 1800mm
- Lower rear wing
- Wider rear tyres
The point of contention is whether these changes should be implemented for 2016 by the next meeting of the F1 Commission on Tuesday, or to wait until 2017 so that this year’s car development isn’t forsaken or that costs don’t spike again, after the controversy surrounding the price of F1’s current V6 power units. Red Bull is apparently the most enthusiastic, wanting the new rules for 2016, but Mercedes wants to do some more research to make sure F1 fans both older and younger actually want more “retro” rules, or if it would just be catering to nostalgic older fans. Ferrari is understood to be in the middle, supporting minor changes for 2016 but having their proposal for new V8 engine formula turned down.