F1 to abandon refuelling return?

MONTREAL, Canada - Formula 1's planned return of in-race refuelling seems likely to be abandoned.

The idea was apparently agreed during the most recent meeting of F1's 'strategy group' as part of a package of changes designed to spice-up and speed-up F1 in 2017 but concerns have since been raised.

Germany's Auto Motor and Sport reported that, despite the majority vote at the meeting, including that of  agreement of Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA, the thought went sour.

EXTRA COSTS JUSTIFIED

F1 correspondent Michael Schmidt said that at the next group meeting "arguments against the reintroduction will be on the table".

Cost was one issue, the equivalent of R20-million per team, but Force India team manager Andy Stevenson insisted: "Everybody had agreed: if it really would improve the show, the extra costs would be justified."

Teams warned instead that refuelling would make races more predictable, limit strategy and lead to a reduction in overtaking.

Schmidt said the International Automobile Federation's Charlie Whiting, surprised by the teams' new stance in Monaco, had asked team managers to draw up a list of their concerns.

That list was presented at a meeting in Montreal on Thursday (June 5) and will reportedly be tabled at the next group meeting before a new vote is taken.

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