October compromise likely for 2021 F1 rules to help small teams

As Autosport revealed earlier this year, teams have pushed for a delay in publishing the new 2021 regulations because of fears that going too early with them could hand a huge advantage to the bigger squads.

If the rules were finalised by June, as they need to be under the FIA's own Sporting Code, then the better funded teams could immediately start early work on their designs.

Conversely, smaller teams could struggle to find the resources for advance 2021 preparations at a time when their focus is already taken up with 2019 development and work on 2020 designs.

To get the date moved back from June requires unanimous support from the teams - and there was some scepticism about whether a mooted December option could still benefit the top teams just as much because their resources meant they could do more in a shorter timeframe.

Following discussions at the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix with teams and F1 chairman Chase Carey, the idea of an October compromise for the regulations has found some consensus.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who initially proposed the December delay, thinks the October date would work for both big and small teams.

"If you look at it, probably the best time to put it would be December," he explained.

"But then the little teams would argue that they can't react to that because the earlier they are, the bigger teams have more resources to split their resources and effectively put more resource on it sooner than a little team.

"October is effectively a compromise between end of year and June, so we're OK with that."

Asked if there was enough support for the October date, Horner said: "Amongst the teams there has been unanimity. I think the only one [unsure] was Renault, but I think they got there in the end so I didn't see anyone who wasn't in agreement with it."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said there were valid arguments on both sides of the debate, but pledged his team would not block the October plan if the rest of the pitlane was agreed on it.

"Personally I'm in two minds, but I probably would want to support Chase and Ross [Brawn] and Nikolas [Tombazis]," said Wolff about the idea of a delay until October.

"The trick is, in order to come out with good regulations, you need enough time. That is a fact. But also you need to describe very, very precisely what's being pushed out.

"It needs a unanimous decision of all teams. We are not going to be the ones that make that fail."

Horner added that he felt even the FIA accepted that moving things back from June was a sensible move.

"I think they understand that bringing it in early does disadvantage the little teams," he said.

"There's a feeling that October is a sensible compromise."