According to a proposal by the FIA’s Working Group, major changes are coming to the series next season, with plans to phase out the current hybrid units.
No decisions have been made yet, but time is pressing. The FIA Working Group and representatives of the manufacturers are supposed to sit down in April to discuss the changes.
“We need to wait for the next meetings with this sporting group, which we haven’t had any yet, it is a little bit disappointing,” said M-Sport’s team principal Richard Millener.”We need to make a decision by the middle of the year. It’s not far away. The progress is a little bit too slow for us,” Millener continued.
It’s still possible that the FIA may cancel the changes or at least some of them.
“It seems FIA still want to do a lot in six months, but I think it’s going to be difficult. I think the situation is kind of like they will tell us what’s happening, and if they feel that’s really the right way, then we can’t argue. Personally, I think we don’t want that,” Millener assessed.
The World Rally Championship has been declining for a long time. Millener admits that changes are necessary but not such radical ones and not in such a short time.
“We need to work harder on the sporting side and the promotion side. The first meeting is now in April. So let’s see what comes from that.”
Drivers and teams have repeatedly said that phasing out the current hybrid units would be a mistake. Millener agrees.
“We would like to keep the cars exactly as they are,” Millener said plainly.
In addition to removing the hybrid units, the FIA has proposed reducing engine power with a smaller air restrictor and cutting back on the car’s aerodynamic features.
“If they want to remove the hybrid, we can do that, I suppose. The rest I would leave alone. I don’t understand why they want to change this other stuff. All the teams have committed and already spent the money. It’s just a cost to do something again for no real reason. Not 100% sure about the agreement, but let’s wait and see what they say.” Millener pondered.
