Renault in Favour of Rule Changes

Renault have backed Formula One's proposed rule changes from 2005 and expect teams to accept the measures.

The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) is determined to push through technical changes to reduce speeds and make racing safer, cheaper and more entertaining.

Details were published last Friday - covering tyres, aerodynamics and engines - with a September 6 deadline for teams to come up with acceptable alternatives or have the FIA's proposals imposed.

However Renault's engineering head Pat Symonds said in a team question and answer on Tuesday before the weekend's German Grand Prix that the proposals represented "a good intermediate position for 2005" before bigger changes in 2006.

"I think most, if not all, teams will be working from the assumption that the package will not be altered from its present form," he said.

The changes include making engines last for two races each, rather than one at present, and forcing drivers to qualify and race with the same tyres. Symonds said the cars would be harder to drive because of reduced grip but the difference would not be remarkable.

He also warned that there would be no sudden increase in overtaking.

"It will not be a great leap - the speeds are only being restrained to the level they were at a few years ago. The tyre rules will certainly alter strategies, but exactly how we cannot yet say because other elements, such as the qualifying format, are not fixed.

"Currently, F1 races are a series of short sprints, and I believe things are likely to become more conservative," he added. "Firstly, I think we will be making fewer stops, so there will be less passing as a result of strategy, and also strategies will be less varied.

"Secondly, the drivers will have to look after the car more - with heavier fuel loads, areas such as brakes will become more critical, and that may oblige the drivers to be more conservative.

"However...I do not think there is anything in the package that will significantly help overtaking."