“But I don’t think that’s Formula One business. They should do it in touring
cars or something, but not in Formula One.
“We have to [do something], for sure. I don’t think the way things are at the
moment are acceptable to the public. People buying tickets to come here are
expecting to see what Formula One used to be.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said last night he believed the agenda behind talk of
rule change was to alter the competitive order, but Ecclestone said any
alterations should not punish the team which has dominated the first two
races of the season.
He said: “Yes, Mercedes, without any doubt, have done a better job and they
shouldn’t be punished for doing a good job. We shouldn’t change the
regulations to punish them.
“They’re going to be behind it. They’ll be the leaders.”
Mercedes have described potential changes to the rules just two races into the
new season as “absurd”, ahead of a series of high-level meetings today in
Bahrain.
Formula One can be a fractious sport at the best of times, but the
introduction of more efficient hybrid engines has precipitated a major
debate between Formula One’s teams and stakeholders.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo will meet with FIA president Jean Todt
and Bernie Ecclestone in the paddock today to discuss possible rule changes,
including lifting the fuel-flow restriction.
However, Mercedes, which has won the first two races of the sport’s greener
era, feel the criticism is premature.
“The interesting bit is that some engine manufacturers or teams are saying we
have not managed to make the car efficient and fast with 100kg [of fuel], so
what we are trying to do is let’s add 10kg,” said Wolff last night.
“Well, sorry they didn’t do their job in the way we have done. I find this
whole discussion absurd.
“If this is the agenda then we should not talk the sport down as a total,” he
said. “We should say, hold on a minute. Mercedes has done a better job.”
Di Montezemolo suggested back in September 2012 that there should be shorter
races, but in recent weeks he has described fuel economy runs as “taxi cab”
racing. Red Bull’s Adrian Newey, the sport’s most pre-eminent designer, has
also questioned the logic behind the introduction of 1.6-litre V6 turbo
engines.
But Wolff said last night that on the evidence of Malaysia last Sunday,
drivers continue to race flat out.
“I don’t think anyone had a fuel consumption problem in Malaysia,” he said.
“There was no problem with fuel consumption. We were flat out; all the cars
were flat out. We finished with some margin of fuel.
“So what has been said is not true. There is no fuel saving mode. There is no
taxi driving. It is flat out. The hard tyres have added to this – we are
flat out.”
It is unclear what, if anything, can be done during a season to address issues
over the noise and racing, with some in the paddock resenting how quickly
the sport has been talked down.
A Ferrari survey of around 50,000 fans found that 83 per cent were against the
rule changes.
Ecclestone added that race promoters are worried they could be in “trouble” if
they lose spectators.
On possible additions to the grid, the 83-year-old said: “We are happy to have
another couple of teams. I’ve spoken to Jean Todt and we agreed yesterday.
Another two teams want to come in, we’ll let them in.”
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton will have to find a way past his team-mate Nico
Rosberg if he is to claim consecutive victories, after a dominant
performance last weekend in Malaysia.