2021 F1 rules move nearer

The negotiations over Formula 1’s 2021 overhaul still have “a few elephants in the room” but are drawing towards an October conclusion in a bid to make things fairer for all teams.

Teams have been left to consider the framework for sweeping regulatory, financial and governance changes laid out by F1 and the FIA in a key meeting at the end of March.

Although the FIA’S stipulated June deadline is unlikely to be met, with an October compromise looking probable, team bosses believe the end is finally in sight. “It feels like we’re converging,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. “There are still a few elephants in the room. Hopefully over the next few months something can get sorted.”

As Autosport revealed earlier this year, teams have pushed for a delay in publishing the new 2021 regulations because of fears that going too early with them could hand a huge advantage to the bigger squads.

If the rules were finalised by June, as they need to be under the FIA’S own International Sporting Code, then the better-funded teams could immediately start early work on their designs. Conversely, smaller teams could struggle to find the resources for advance 2021 preparations at a time when their focus is already taken up with 2019 development and work on 2020 designs.

To get the date moved back from June requires unanimous support from the teams, and there was some scepticism about whether a mooted December option could still benefit the top teams just as much because their resources mean they could do more in a shorter timeframe. Following discussions at the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix with teams and F1 chairman Chase Carey, the idea of an October compromise for the regulations has found some consensus.

Horner (above), who initially proposed the December delay, thinks the October date would work for both big and small teams. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said there were valid arguments on both sides of the debate, but pledged that his team would not block the October plan if the rest of the pitlane was agreed on it.

“Personally I’m in two minds, but I probably would want to support Chase and Ross [Brawn, F1 sporting boss] and Nikolas [Tombazis, FIA single-seater chief],” said Wolff about the idea of a delay until October.

Horner said that “amongst the teams there has been unanimity”, claiming that Renault was unsure but

“got there in the end”.