F1 rules revolution faces vote by F1 commission for 2016 changes

After weeks of discussion between team bosses and technical chiefs over a sweeping rules overhaul, matters will reach a head when what could be the final vote is taken at a meeting of the F1 commission in Geneva.

Although there is still a year to go before any potential alterations would make it onto the track, adjustments to the F1 rule-making process mean that realistically agreements have to be reached this week to make changes possible for 2016.

Tweaks introduced last year mean that majority approval for new rules now has to be secured much earlier than has ever been the case before.

The 2016 rules can only be changed after March 1 if there is unanimous support from all the teams entered in the championship - and such agreement is rarely possible in F1.

It is no surprise that teams are divided about the scope and speed of implementation of any changes.

While the engine tweaks intended to bring back 1000bhp are not realistically expected until 2017, some factions want the new generation of cars - with wider track, wider tyres and more downforce - to be racing by the start of next season in advance of the engine revamp.

Not all teams are in favour of this timetable, with some arguing that stalling for another year would allow more cost-effective development and could potentially tie in with a fresh tyre supply contract that is due to start for 2017.

The level of division between teams will be crucial in Tuesday's vote. If only one or two are against the 2016 plan, then they will not able to sway the vote to stop it happening.

If the F1 commission does agree on changes, an extraordinary fax vote of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council will still be required to ratify those alterations.

That is because the next official meeting of the WMSC, which is normally where changes are ratified before being put into the rules, is not scheduled to take place until March 20 in Geneva - nearly three weeks after the March 1 cut-off.

Should the F1 Commission not agree on the 2016 package of changes this week, grand prix racing's new era will be delayed until at least 2017.