Formula 1 will undergo a revolution in the near future following a decision to overhaul the technical rules to make the cars more impressive, but exactly when is currently in debate.
The F1 Strategy Group agreed that wider cars and tyres plus fewer aerodynamic restrictions should be introduced next year, with more powerful engines following in 2017.
However Mercedes are battling to have those changes delayed until 2017 and 2018 respectively, believing that such widescale change requires more research, particularly amongst F1 fans.
Rival team Red Bull back the earlier dates. The motivating factor is believed to be that such a major change would give them their best chance of closing the large gap to Mercedes.
A second argument from Mercedes’ side is that the changes could impact the spectacle this year as teams concentrate development on 2016’s regulations, rather than trying to push forward the development of their current cars.
This would still happen even if the overhaul was delayed a year, but to a lesser degree as they would have two years instead of just the one to work on understanding the new rules and developing a new chassis and bodywork.
The matter will be debated this week during a meeting of technical chiefs where a set of draft regulations will be drawn up for consideration by the F1 Commission on February 17th.
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