Proposals to reintroduce refueling into F1 are "likely to be dropped because of a lack of support," according to Andrew Benson of the BBC. The idea to bring back refueling, which was last used in '09, came out of a rule-making strategy group meeting of leading teams and officials. But further talks this week have revealed "major opposition, with teams concerned about the costs." F1 is "pressing ahead with other changes" planned for '17 to speed up the cars. Mercedes Exec Dir Toto Wolff said, "It is going to be back to the quickest cars on the planet with the most efficient energy usage, with wider tires, with driver aids removed, with driver-controlled starts back again. There is so much good stuff happening." None of the teams are "in favour of refuelling, which was banned on grounds of cost, safety and because it reduced the amount of on-track overtaking" (BBC, 5/23). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone
has said that he would be "willing to act as a go-between and provide
manufacturer-built cars to smaller teams at a fixed price if the rules
are changed to allow it." He said that F1 was "effectively a two-tier championship already with big budget manufacturer teams and struggling privately-owned ones." Ecclestone: "You
make all the chassis the same and we do a deal with one of the engine
suppliers. It should work. We'll
supply two chassis complete by the first of January for $15 million.
We'll pay. If it costs more we have to pay more, if it's less that's good for us." The "controversial comments" are "unlikely to be welcomed by smaller teams, most of whom have been resolutely opposed to any moves to allow big teams like Ferrari, McLaren or Mercedes to provide cars to others" (REUTERS, 5/22).
GRID GIRLS DITCHED: NEW.COM.AU's James Matthey wrote the "trackside glamour of beautiful women mingling with fans and participants alike could be a thing of the past if Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix is any guide." F1 "broke the mould" by replacing "grid girls" with "grid guys" for the "showpiece event on the French Riviera." Twitter "exploded as a result of the decision." While some applauded the step, "others, including Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, lamented the lack of girls on the grid" (NEWS.COM.AU, 5/25).
