Shark fins won’t make 2018 F1 return

A change to regulations to retain a big engine fin was discussed at this month's F1 Strategy Group meeting.

But despite extensive work had been put into the regulation, and teams planning their 2018 cars with that in mind, McLaren failed to back the proposal.

It wanted a smaller version introduced instead and, as unanimous support was needed for a change, talks began on a compromise solution.

But with time marching, a decision was made at this week's technical regulations meeting to remove it completely.

"It's going to complicate matters slightly," said Force India technical director Andrew Green. "It means we have to redevelop part of the cars which hasn't been developed because we assumed the engine cover was going to say the same.

"Now it's not so we have to redevelop parts of the car accordingly. It's not a big thing but it's still something we have to do that we didn't think we would have to do."

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier defended his team's position, saying it followed the regulations as they were currently written.

"I don't understand why everyone went to do something else other than the regulations," he said. "It has been voted months ago to go with no shark fin – a sort of mini shark fin.

"This is in the regulations for next year. Some teams believed it will change again, and wanted to keep the big fin.

"Then it was discussed to have a Mercedes style fin and in the end we just remind everybody what was voted six months ago. People have said: 'We have to change it, we've worked in the wind tunnel.'

"No problem, but you know regulations. There is no debate. So that is it."

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble