Mercedes slams proposed fuel regulation changes

PaddyLowe_high_s

F1 have introduced fuel-flow regulations this year to improve efficiency, which requires drivers to use no more than 100 kilograms of fuel per hour above 10,500rpm.

The new rule caught out Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo in the opening Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne when the Australian was stripped of second position after the race was finished.

During last week's Bahrain GP, the teams met with F1's rule makers to discuss how this year's rule changes are working and the FIA - motorsport's international governing body - conceded fuel-flow regulations might change in 2015.

But Lowe reckons F1 should ignore the teams that are complaining.

"I don't think that (increasing the fuel allowance in 2015) makes sense. F1 is about delivering technology and setting stretched targets," Lowe told Autosport.

"So to back out of it next year is absurd. If anything, the point of F1 would be to stretch it further and maybe next year it should be 95kg for the race. This was the original concept."

Lowe reckons most F1 teams should work harder on finding a solution to the fuel-flow conundrum, rather than call for rule changes.

"There have been things talked about in the last few days that are just completely unrealistic, that I cannot even understand," the 52-year-old said.

"The first suggestion was that we need 110kg of fuel but has anybody realised that you cannot fit 110kg in these cars? So then they said, let's make the races shorter.

"Can you imagine selling that concept to the public? It would be like we have decided that athletes are not fit enough these days, so the marathon is only going to be 25 miles rather than 26 miles.

"The messaging around that cannot be contemplated. I hope all of that can be put behind us and all this talk of ridiculous fuel saving or whatever stops.

"The degree of fuel saving we had to run in Bahrain, despite the fact these guys were racing from beginning to end, was a completely normal level of fuel saving.

"Racing here last year we had a strategy last year that involved some fuel saving in the race because that is optimal. It was pretty much the same this time.

"I don't know how it is for others. But if they are not finding it in the same place, then it means they haven't got an efficient package. And this formula is about efficiency. That is the objective and if you can deliver you can deliver a good result."

Mercedes have won the opening three races of 2014 have claimed pole position at each GP as well.

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