Mercedes surprised in Bahrain on Thursday with its radical side box, which caused some discussion. According to Formula 1 sports director Ross Brawn, the FIA has not had a problem with the design so far – even if it was not expected when the rules were created that a team would come up with such a solution.
“Without a doubt, we didn’t expect the Mercedes concept. It’s a very extreme interpretation of the rules,” says Brawn in an interview with ‘Sky’. “And I think there’s bound to be a lot of debate about their interpretation. That’s the way it is with new regulations.”
According to Brawn, “hundreds” of loopholes were closed when the rules were created, “but no matter how hard you try, innovation in Formula 1 is always extreme.”
The former team boss finds his ex-team’s solution “impressive” and believes that a team that comes up with an innovation “shouldn’t be punished right away”.
But even if there have been no complaints from the FIA so far, that doesn’t mean that the FIA won’t take a closer look in the near future if another team has something to complain about – and there were first tips towards Mercedes on Thursday already given from the Red Bull warehouse.
“From our point of view, the main issue is whether the goal of the regulations is affected,” says Brawn. “From the team’s point of view, they want to be sure that nobody chooses an interpretation that they don’t think is right. So I think there’s going to be a lot of debate over the next few days.”
Rule change possible with 80 percent approval
Brawn on the Formula 1 side cannot give an assessment on the subject because Formula 1 is not allowed to have any insight. “But the regulators of the sport know what’s going on and I think they’re okay with it so far,” he says. “But of course a team can raise an objection that the FIA has not considered. And then you have a problem.”
Brawn says that in his previous position as a team member he often had the situation where one of his team’s ideas was approved by the FIA, but then another team raised yet another objection. “So I’m sure there will be a lot of discussion.”
What is also more possible in the current Formula 1 is a forced rule change. The Technical Regulations can be adjusted even if two teams are against it – that was not possible before.
“Whereas previously unanimity was required for an in-season change, you can now change something if 80 percent of the teams are in favor – as long as the FIA and Formula 1 also agree,” he explains.
Spirit of the regulations is “gray gray area”
“And once Mercedes’ interpretation is understood, we can have a balanced view of the matter and what effects it is having. Because the spirit of the regulations is a really gray gray area,” said Brawn.
“At the end of the day you have to stick to the wording of the regulations, because when you go to court, the judgment will be based on that. But that wording can be changed. With an 80% majority of the teams, we can change the wording.” he says.
Aside from Mercedes, Brawn has yet to discover anything that would necessitate a rule change. Because so far all solutions would cover the intention – and that was to make racing better again by allowing cars to drive better behind each other again.
“Our first impression is that there is nothing here that would make us overly concerned about those goals of the regulations. It’s just fascinating to see such a wide range of solutions,” says Brawn.