New F1 Chair Chase Carey "made his Formula 1 Strategy Group meeting debut when it convened in Geneva on Wednesday," according to Lawrence Barretto of AUTOSPORT.
The meeting featured representatives from Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Williams, McLaren, Force India and the FIA along with F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone and Carey.
The idea of simplifying F1's regulations and long-term strategic thinking "was high on the agenda."
Several paddock figures "have voiced their concern in recent weeks that F1 is over-regulated in the wake of penalties for driving offences."
No firm decisions were made in Geneva, but it is understood "there was general agreement that the rules need to be made clearer" (AUTOSPORT, 11/16). MOTORSPORT's Adam Cooper reported Ecclestone "is adamant that the sport is over-regulated, and he is particularly frustrated" by anything related to driving offenses. He said, "Generally we need to have a good look. There are too many rules and too many regulations. You need lawyers and doctors and God knows what else to be in F1 today."
Ecclestone is adamant that FIA Race Dir Charlie Whiting -- the man responsible for writing the rules -- "should start afresh." Ecclestone: "You can’t repair an old house, better to pull it down and start again. He’s got enough people. We don’t need to wait" (MOTORSPORT, 11/16).
UP FRONT: In a separate piece, Barretto wrote Force India and Manor "have made a request" to Ecclestone for an "advance on its championship payments for next year."
The two teams "made a similar request around this time last year, along with Sauber, and it was accepted."
Each request "will require unanimous consent from the other teams before Ecclestone can facilitate the advance." It is believed Force India's request "has nothing to do with budget, which is understood to be in place for next season, but rather to ease cashflow during the next couple of months" (AUTOSPORT, 11/16).
