Formula 1 teams reject plan to bring back refuelling

Formula 1's plans to return to refuelling are dead in the water as the teams have unanimously rejected the plan, AUTOSPORT has learned

Following a meeting of the Strategy Group last month, the FIA announced via a statement a number of ideas designed to improve the spectacle of F1 from 2017.

Within a raft of proposals designed to make cars five to six seconds per lap quicker than at present, it was suggested refuelling make a comeback, with the system last implemented in 2009.

But in the wake of a comprehensive study undertaken by all the teams it has been decided the idea lacks merit on a number of fronts.

The team managers, in a meeting with FIA race director Charlie Whiting in the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve paddock ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, spelled out their concerns.

Primarily they believe there will be absolutely no benefit to the show, in fact the contrary opinion was expressed that it would likely prove detrimental.

Although a number of drivers expressed a favourable opinion when the idea was placed back on the table a few weeks ago, the study found overtaking improved in 2010 as a consequence of a ban on refuelling.

Add in one of the other main prohibitive factors in an increase in cost, at a time when F1 is trying to make savings, and the plan carried very little substance.

As one unnamed paddock observer noted: "This was so obvious it was going to be a non-starter even a blind man could see it."

Given F1's convoluted quirks of governance, Whiting will now report back to the Strategy Group with the team managers' findings.

With not one team in favour the idea is now simply set to disappear.