F1 changes could be fast-tracked for 2016

While the majority of the discussion will be based around a sweeping overhaul of cars originally intended for 2017 – to make them faster and more challenging to drive - efforts are now being made to see what can be done for next year.

Motorsport.com has learned that the key parties in the Strategy Group – Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt and some team members – believe that a number of changes that do not involve revising cars should be pushed for introduction in 2016.

This includes a ban on 'driver aids', such as computer-influenced starts and too much radio information – and the possibility of ensuring that teams have a wider choice of tyre compounds.

When asked about the possibility of pulling forward ideas that were originally set for 2017, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "I think some changes could be fast-tracked for 2016.

"It is probably more on the sporting regulatory side than the technical side, but there's certainly some things that can be opened for '16.

"Things like, why not open tyre choice for the whole year? That way you get to pick the tyres you want to take at the races you feel you're going to be potentially competitive at.

"Or you take more of a strategic view and add a bit more variants in there. We might choose to run the softs at Silverstone compared to Mercedes running the mediums."

Driver aids under spotlight

As Motorsport.com reported earlier this week, the issue of 'driver aids' has been a concern for both Ecclestone and Todt.

They believe that part of the problem for F1 right now is that there is too much influence from the pit wall and computers, rather than the men in the cockpit being left to sort things out.

One key area is the starts, where efforts are being made to introduce more manual systems, but other areas could extend as far as strict limits on telemetry information being fed to drivers and another clampdown on what guidance drivers can get from teams.

Todt has made it clear that if a way can be found to impose bans on 'driver aids' then he will be ready to support it.

"Once we had launch control which was banned, so now the drivers must be the one to lead his start; but all of it is regulated," he said.

"So probably we need to get to less sophisticated technology to make sure that we have the means for less predictable starts.

"In a way, I don't have all the know how. So I need to have people to work out how to reduce as much as possible the driver aids: which is a mandate I keep giving.

"If they come back to me about what to do, I am happy to make sure that it will be introduced. So if we make a kind of list of specific parameters: to reduce driver aids, we can apply that immediately."