FIA slated for rule-change proposal that is "nothing to do with safety"

Sam Hall
Saturday 30 July 2022 16:20

AlphaTauri team principal Franz Tost has issued a pointed statement slating the proposed F1 regulation changes for next season.

The FIA is set to introduce a number of late alterations to the technical rules for 2023, with the floor edges and underfloor throat due to be raised by 25mm.

Although safety has been cited as the reason behind the changes in order to reduce porpoising and bouncing, a number of teams, including Red Bull, have questioned the explanation.

Expressing his opinion, Tost said: "The last discussions and proposals for changing of the floor, in my opinion, it is nothing to do with safety, it is just politics."

FIA change "awkward"

Although F1 still has nine races remaining after the Hungarian Grand Prix, teams are at an advanced stage of development with regard to next year's cars.

Horner has argued the proposed revisions represent a 'fundamental change' to the rules.

With the majority of teams now having porpoising under control, Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies added: "We are very late in the day to change cars for next year. Most of us will be in the final stages of our programmes.

"It has been pretty much a non-problem now for quite a few races so it would be rather awkward to impose a design change now."