According to various reports, mid-race refuelling will not be making a return to Formula One in the foreseeable future.
This comes following meetings between the Strategy Group and Formula One commission in Geneva. It is understood the outcome of the talks was the return of mid-race refuelling would clash with cost cutting measures therefore, it was recommended the proposals go no further.
The reintroduction of mid-race refuelling has been a talking point ever since it was banned in 2010 following several almost fatal incidents and as a way to cut costs in Formula One. In May 2015, talks regarding refuelling gained the backing from the drivers but once again the strategy group scrapped any plans to bring refuelling back for the 2017 season.
Once the issue rose its head again at the start of 2016 Jean Todt was quick to dispell rumours refuelling would significantly raise costs. He believed this increase would only amount to around €50,000 a year per team.
In an interview with Autosport.com before the strategy group meeting in Geneva, last week Williams team director Pat Symonds believe Todt was extremely far out on his estimation.
“One needs to be careful with disinformation, Refuelling is an expensive thing to do as well as its effect on racing.
“Jean Todt said it cost €50,000 a year. He’s an order of magnitude out. That’s worrying.
“Freight costs for shipping equipment is £175,000 and it’s probably £200,000-250,000 to buy and service the kit in the first year and ongoing cost of servicing it.
“There is also one dedicated salaried person for looking after it so the costs are very significant.”
Symonds believes any return of refuelling would have a negative impact on the racing.
“At the moment, we can determine a strategy before the race and then we take a more tactical view when we get in the race,” he said.
“We determine the pitstops based on what tyres are doing, which won’t necessarily be what we predicted, and then we have to assess what our competitors are doing.
“If you are refuelling, you put enough fuel to reach lap 24 and you go to lap 24. If you stop earlier, the penalty is too high.
“When you think back to when we got rid of refuelling, we saw better racing. It’s a retrograde step.”
Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams also agreed with Symonds and believed bringing back refuelling would contradict the image Formula One is trying to portray.
“I’m quite surprised because it’s been on the agenda before and it hasn’t been an agenda item we have agreed on,” she said.
“But I understand we have to keep having these conversations if we are to look at what is going to improve our sport.
“It’s not something Williams wants to see back in the sport from a cost effect if nothing else.
“My personal opinion is that the manufacturers have just spent 100s of millions on hybrid power units which are more relevant to the road industry.
“So to bring back refuelling and make F1 appear as a gas-guzzling sport just completely steps on that message. I’m very anti it.”
In the current financial climate in Formula One mid-refuelling certainly isn’t going to be making a comeback anytime soon. Would you want to see the reintroductions of mid-race refuelling?
Leave a comment wth you opinions.
