Major Formula 1 timetable change proposed for 2021; teams wary

F1 bosses and the FIA are in the process of finalising a sweeping overhaul of various elements of the championship for 2021.

During the Canadian Grand Prix weekend it emerged that one sporting proposal is for the first two practice sessions to be pushed later on Fridays.

Scrutineering could move to Friday morning and pre-race parc ferme conditions would begin before practice.

This would be a major change from the current format, in which parc ferme conditions are not applied until qualifying begins.

Moving parc ferme to Friday morning is part of a plan to eliminate the need for F1 personnel to be at the track on Thursday, theoretically reducing the workload on F1 personnel as the calendar of races grows.

Under the proposed format, teams would be obliged to take part in qualifying and the race using significant set-up configurations committed to on Friday before any on-track running took place.

Asked by Autosport about the proposal, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said he was in favour of compressing the schedule but not in this way.

"We are not keen on the parc ferme format from Friday to Sunday," he said.

"There's no motor racing formula out there that doesn't allow the cars to be touched over the weekend and I don't think we should start with F1, the pinnacle of motor racing.

"You open up a can of worms with penalties, because cars will end up in the wall, will need to be rebuilt.

"The idea of how we can add more variability, unpredictability, have more cars breaking down - we will achieve the contrary.

"We will spend more time and research in the virtual world, more cars on dynos to make them last because we know we can't take them apart over three days.

"I don't think this is something we should touch.

"There's many other areas that make sense but this one not for us."

Under the current sporting regulations, teams are required to supply a suspension set-up sheet before qualifying, and once in parc ferme very limited car changes can be made.

Basic checks and processes may be completed, such as bleeding the brake system or charging batteries, while the existing front wing can be adjusted but no parts can be added.

"Genuine accident damage" can be repaired and any extra work can only be undertaken with prior permission from the FIA technical delegate, and replacement parts must be "similar in design, mass, inertia and function to the original".

Any modification made to a car part, the suspension set-up or aerodynamic configuration constitutes a breach of parc ferme conditions and the driver must start the race from the pitlane.

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost said he was "not a big friend of" the proposed 2021 idea.

"I don't think this makes the big difference," he said. "What we have to look for is to increase the show, reduce the costs, distribute the money in a fair way.

"These are the most important points. Parc ferme, this is absolutely secondary.

"OK, it's being discussed now within the teams, but I don't think that these changes are important.

"We don't need to change anything in this way."