Plans to lift F1's engine freeze now in the hands of Mercedes

As AUTOSPORT revealed on Thursday, an effort to allow in-season engine development was discussed during a meeting of F1's Strategy Group at the Russian Grand Prix.

The idea of allowing limited development was approved by the 18-strong Strategy Group - despite being voted down by Mercedes, Williams and Lotus.

With only a majority vote needed, the opposition of three 2015 Mercedes-aligned teams was not enough to block it at this stage.

But for the rule to get implemented in next year it will require unanimous support from the F1 Commission, which means a Mercedes vote against it will stop it being put forward to the FIA's World Motor Sport Council.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has said that Mercedes' stance on the situation had changed since the Singapore Grand Prix when the German car manufacturer had backed the idea of lifting the freeze.

"In Singapore the teams unanimously agreed on a position," he said.

"I think subsequently from that Mercedes changed their position.

"We have subsequently had a strategy meeting and it has been voted on the majority basis for the F1 Commision to allow in-season development."

Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci, who originally suggested the idea of lifting the freeze back at the Belgian Grand Prix, still hoped the change could go through for the good of the sport.

"Frozen engines, this is not F1," he said. "We had the majority of the vote to unfreeze it so let's see what will happen during the F1 Commission."