F1 Strategy Group calls for investigation into overtaking in races

F1 is currently looking to improve the show in 2017 with the introduction of cars five seconds per lap faster, more aggressive looking with wider front and rear wings and fatter rear tyres, and potentially with 1000bhp engines.

The FIA has yet to formulate a set of regulations for 2017, which is causing a number of technical directors concern given the rules have to be in place by March of next year, beyond which they cannot be altered.

Now the Strategy Group has added to the workload by calling for a review of overtaking, and potential ideas on how the number of moves in a race can be increased, with a meeting set for August 18 ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Force India technical director Andrew Green told AUTOSPORT: "Recently we've had a directive from the Strategy Group that they want to improve the overtaking.

"It's something we've not yet discussed. There was supposed to have been a meeting before the summer break, but that was postponed, and it's now the Tuesday before Spa.

"All I can say is the design we have on the table [for 2017] is not necessarily something that would cover that."

Green explained that the way F1 cars generate downforce could need an overhaul.

"At the moment we're still very dependent on the front of the car generating downforce for the whole car," he said.

"The effect of that is as a car approaches the one in front it doesn't just lose downforce from the front of the car, but the whole of the car, so maybe that's something we will be looking at in the next meeting.

"Is that something we can do something about, or is that a function of the cars as they are? That's what I expect to be discussing."