Liberty Media considering circuit alterations

Formula One boss Ross Brawn has admitted that the owners of the sport, Liberty Media, have opened up a dialogue with representatives from Grand Prix circuits about the possibility of making changes to the respective tracks in order to make races more exciting.

Liberty have implemented a raft of changes since taking over ownership, with the standardisation of engines set to come in for the 2018 season. This decision is seen by many as a mistake as the performance of cars will focus on more reliability and less speed.

However, following an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which left viewers lamenting the dull action, Liberty are open to the possibility of making structural changes to tracks.

"The aerodynamic programme is now starting to pick up pace, and the work on circuit development is happening," Brawn told Motorsport.

"We have already got engaged with some circuits about possible modifications to improve racing."

He added: "We have started looking in our archives.

"Were there periods of racing where there was more overtaking? Are there tracks where there is more overtaking? So you can do a statistical analysis.

"The thing you have to be careful of is that overtaking isn't good racing. You have got to start to think about what is good racing, and it is two cars fighting each other.

"It may mean the guy in front stays in front but you can have some great racing going on. It is a little bit more complex than counting the number of overtakes.

"What we are seeing so far is the ability to take different lines through corners is quite important to help racing. So if you have got a hairpin and it is a narrow track, it is not that great.

"If you have a hairpin and it is a wide track, where there can be some different lines going into it, then you can get something happening.

Brawn went on to give an example of a track which he believes could be a blueprint to follow.

"Austin, I think, would fall into the category of a complex of corners.

"So you take a line on one corner going in, and then you start to force the defending car to start taking different lines.

"And then eventually you come out in the right place. That is what we are looking at.