FIA 'must' consult teams on aero revamp

With the FIA's plans to introduce an overhaul now delayed until 2009, after teams proposed an alternative to the original Centreline Downwash Generating (CDG) wing idea at a meeting in September, BMW-Sauber's chief aerodynamicist Willem Toet is convinced that meticulous research is vital to get the rules spot on.

He believes that only with the input of teams will any change to car design actually produce the intended results.

Without close consultation, then there is a risk of loopholes in the rules being exploited by teams - which could negate any benefit that the new design is supposed to introduce.

"One of the dangers of introducing a simplistic set of rules without researching it thoroughly is that the teams then get to work on their individual performance and it can start to hurt what it was all originally about," Toet told autosport.com.

"My first interest has to be my team. I have to make my team perform. So, if I can undo the good that the CDG concept does, but in so doing I can make my car faster, then I will have no choice. I will have to do that.

"So the rules have to be talked about with people like me and (technical director) Willi Rampf to come up with a series of regulations that are sensible and where the teams won't be able to destroy the principles with details."

Although the FIA and the teams appear not to be in agreement about the CDG wing, Toet believes it is in the interest of both parties to make the racing better in F1.

"What the FIA needs and what everyone knows is needed is research to help understand overtaking," said Toet. "The FIA studied it mathematically and the manufacturers clubbed together and did some wind tunnel studies.

"Both have some very valid points and the FIA through the Technical Working Group (TWG) are now talking about bringing it together and organising some proper research, which I welcome.

"If F1's popularity drops, we are all out of work and we don't get to play with our toys any more. We all want F1 to be healthy, it is just better if the racing is better."

The teams' alternative proposal to improve overtaking, presented to the FIA last year, is believed to revolve around improving mechanical grip rather than the kind of twin rear wing structure that the FIA favours.

Renault director of engineering Pat Symonds told Autosport lat year that the teams' suggestion would result in a very different looking type of F1 car.

"Visually it will be a completely different-looking car," Symonds said. "It will be updated completely and will be a car that strives to perform slightly better than CDG in terms of overtaking and probably does not look quite so radical.

"The sort of car where after a few races you've forgotten they used to look any different."