Ferrari chief Maurizio Arrivabene questions F1 windtunnel ban idea

The regulations allow teams are allowed up to 25 hours per week of windtunnel time or 25 teraflops of CFD data - or a combination of both.

However, an outright ban on windtunnel use was proposed at last week's meeting of the F1 Strategy Group as part of discussions to reduce costs of competing in the championship.

Arrivabene said: "Would you like to drive your car without being in the windtunnel, if it's quite powerful? I ask this question.

"We already have restrictions on windtunnels, why do we need more? That's it."

Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost is also against a ban on windtunnels, suggesting that such a proposal would ultimately drive up costs.

"We should keep a balance," he said. "I think if we reduce the windtunnel running time, also reduce CFD, then this is the right way.

"But not to ban anything because there is another way to compensate for it which is much more expensive in the end.

"I'm against banning windtunnel usage because there's always a reason behind it.

"Some teams are pushing to ban anything, whatever it is, because maybe they don't have the proper infrastructure or maybe they have an advantage with another tool."

The comments come after Mercedes chief Toto Wolff and Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams insisted windtunnels do have a place in F1.

Williams said: "How can you operate at the pinnacle of motorsport and not use one of the finest tools in aerodynamics?"

Wolff added: "A windtunnel is needed today to put a car on the street, verify what's being done in CFD and get correlation."

In contrast, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier believes windtunnels could one day be rendered "obsolete" if teams are able to upgrade their dated CFD systems.