In recent years Formula One has had the Strategy Group to help decide rules for the future of the sport. It has helped shape the new generation of regulations since 2009, new aero concept with smaller rear wing size to reduce downforce, DRS to aid overtaking, the banning of refuelling and, most recently, the new hybrid power unit regulations. The strategy group consists of the top six teams in the Constructors’ Championship from the previous year: Mercedes, Red Bull, Williams, Ferrari, McLaren and Force India, as well as representatives from FOM and the FIA.
While some of these rules have helped the sport in some ways it looks to have hindered it as well. The current regulations look to have favoured Mercedes in their superb reliability record and phenomenal speed they have extracted from their power unit, while other suppliers have struggled to maintain the same speed and reliability.
Does Formula One need a Strategy Group?
Christian Horner proposed the idea that any rule making decisions must come from a third party and not from a single member of any team of a current championship team – for example Ross Brawn. I would suggest any third party must be a previous F1 team member who has experience in technical development. This will ensure a thorough input on power unit and aero regulations making a fully fair Formula for all to participate in.
By allowing neutral parties to make the technical regulations for Formula One will have plenty of upsides, namely no team has a say in what goes on, not getting an advantage. Also the rules can be helped shape it to be fairer and cheaper for those towards the back.
Characters such as Ross Brawn, Charlie Whiting and Adrian Newey (Once no longer affiliated with Red Bull Racing) could really help shape the sport in a fairer fashion without any ons team trying to gain an advantage that isn’t dealt with on the track.
Any decisions regarding the future of Formula One must be taken away from the teams. The domination that Mercedes have enjoyed was never meant to happen the way that it has, but while it has produced an interesting battle Between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, they haven’t had any competition from other teams who could have challenged them.
While Ferrari are the closest challengers to Mercedes, the Scuderia are still not close enough to truly worry them on a Sunday. This is what the sport and fans are crying for: a fully fair and close World Championship.
2010 should be the modern benchmark for this, four drivers going into the final race all still within a shot of the title. Now that’s competitive racing.
Main image:
