A raft of changes have been agreed which will be implemented in 2017 following a meeting between Formula 1 bosses on Thursday at Biggin Hill.
The crunch meeting was aimed at discussing ways to make the sport more exciting by increasing the spectacle, whilst keeping costs under control.
Customer cars could return in order to make the sport more affordable for smaller teams, but the biggest outcome of the meeting is the return of in-race refuelling, which was outlawed at the end of 2009.
However a maximum race fuel allowance, as well as fuel flow limits, will remain in place.
Other changes include a number of measures such as higher revving engines to make the cars “between five and six seconds a lap faster”, confirmed the FIA after the meeting, which also involved Bernie Ecclestone and representatives from Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull, Williams and Force India.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
2016: Teams can choose which two compounds (from a total of four) they would like to use at each race of the season, which will open up different strategies
2017: Refuelling reintroduced, again to open up different strategies
Faster cars by 5-6 seconds per lap achieved by;
– Higher revving engines
– Louder engines
– Greater aerodynamic freedom
– Wider tyres
– Reduction in car weight
More aggressive looking cars
Additional changes aimed at making the cars quicker include new aerodynamic rules, wider tyres and a reduction in car weight.
The cars will also look more aggressive as part of an evolution of the aerodynamic restrictions.
The FIA also confirmed that a “comprehensive proposal to ensure the sustainability of the sport has emerged,” which relates to ongoing efforts to reduce costs.
Whilst the largest changes will take place in 2017, next year will see the teams given free tyre choice. They will be allowed to choose which two dry compounds, out of four, they run at each race, despite Pirelli expressing some concerns over the matter.
The changes still need to be approved by two further legislative stages.
“This constructive meeting between the FIA, FOM and the teams has allowed paving the way for the future of the championship,” added the statement.
“All parties agreed to work together with an intention to firm up these proposals and submit them to the approval of the F1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council of the FIA as soon as possible for implementation.”
A proposal for a fifth engine in 2015 was rejected during the meeting.
