F1 teams begin blueprints for next season

Formula One’s technical chiefs are ready to get down to business after next season’s rules were eventually finalised.

Teams and officials have spent much of the season arguing over what shape the 2005 regulations should take but no agreement has been possible and world governing body the FIA had to exercise their right to force change upon teams.

Most teams have been able to begin designing their 2005 cars even without a final decision on technical regulations but yesterday’s confirmation of the package lets them off the leash.

Toyota technical director Mike Gascoyne was relieved to have the saga ended after several months of discussion.

He said: “First and foremost I am relieved we have got some regulations. Toyota have always supported the 2.4-litre and two race engines so that’s not a problem for us.

“Overall it’s pretty much what we expected. It’s a relief we can get on with it and design the cars.”

Ferrari’s Ross Brawn accepts cars needed to be slowed down in the interests of safety and hit back at those who claim the new regulations will debase Formula One.

Next year will see teams facing greater restrictions on what they can do to engines and how elaborate aerodynamic aids can be, but Brawn still expects the clever designers to make a difference.

“We realise periodically we have to slow the cars down,” he said. “They are a sensible set of regulations to begin that process.

“There will still be plenty of potential for discriminating technology to make a difference between entrants.”

BAR’s engine supplier Honda are reputed to be considering their future in the sport if the new rules are not altered.

BAR technical director Geoff Willis believes Formula One cannot afford to lose its image as the pinnacle of motoring technology.

He said: “I think the area from a technical point of view, speaking on behalf of Honda – they are looking to make sure there is enough engineering challenge in the engine design.

“That is something we have to be careful of. I think we are all perfectly happy in stopping the use of extremely expensive materials and technologies, but we have to make sure Formula One doesn’t end up at an evolutionary dead end.

“It is a difficult one because you can’t put a genie back in the bottle. If the technology is out there, the performance of the cars is out there and we have to find a way of keeping the interest, controlling the cost and keeping the performance capped.

“I’m not sure there was going to be a solution that everybody would be happy with.”