2017 refuelling idea gets backlash - dead already?

Plans for a reintroduction to refuelling could be over before they have even started in an article by the BBC.

The idea was brought up at the Strategy Group meeting last week, who are currently outlining proposals for new regulations to be brought in at the start of the 2017 season.

Refuelling was last used in F1 in 2009, but was stopped after a number of incidents in the pitlane made the practice unsafe and would reduce costs for the smaller teams who wouldn’t have to take the expensive fuelling rigs around the world with them. There was also a thought that it would spice up the racing, with overtakes being done on the road rather than in the pitlane, which to an extent this has been achieved.

According to the BBC the proposal to reintroducing it has had a knockback with many teams not supporting the idea. It’s worth remembering that the Strategy Group only includes the top 5 teams (McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams, plus the six best team which is currently Force India). Concerns on cost at a meeting on Friday look to have stopped the idea, with concerns also about the effect on overtaking.

“It is going to be back to the quickest cars on the planet with the most efficient energy usage, with wider tyres, with driver aids removed, with driver-controlled starts back again,” said Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff. “There is so much good stuff happening.”

Talks will continue in Canada in two weeks time.

#news #formula1 #f1