FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has tried to quell concerns regarding energy management in Formula 1, teasing it has “aces up our sleeves” amid a full review after this weekend’s second round.
The season-opener in Australia saw the new landscape if F1 fully laid bare before the world, with some chaotic start line problems for some drivers, with others issuing damning verdicts on the new regulations.
Cars are now fitted with 50-50 hybrids, and a common occurrence during the race was that cars that had been overtaken at certain parts of the track – namely Turn 11 – were able to retake positions on the following fast section of the circuit, with the overtaker recharging the energy expended to make the maneouvre.
Both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were particularly critical of the new cars once again, with Mercedes’ interpretation of the new rulebook appearing to be, as predicted, the most successful, as George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli ran out first and second at the Albert Park Circuit.
An additional point has been that the energy management will be even more evident depending on the circuits, with the long back straight at this weekend’s venue – the Shanghai International Circuit – a likely point of interest.
But Tombazis, speaking to the media, including Motorsport Week, revealed that a prior meeting with the teams were that the season would start without changes, with a further sitrep after China.
“We didn’t believe it was realistic to make changes for energy management here,” he said.
“We had a meeting with the teams about 10 days ago, after the Bahrain testing, to review the matter.
“The team’s unanimous position was that we should stick to the current arrangements for the first few races and to review the matter when we have a bit more data.
“Our intention is after China to be reviewing the energy management situation.
“We have a few aces up our sleeves on that, which we didn’t want to introduce ahead of the first race as a knee-jerk reaction, and which we will review with the teams after China.”
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