New teams from 2021 would be measure of F1’s success – Brawn

Formula 1 sporting director Ross Brawn is hopeful the 2021 regulation overhaul will help “create a more appealing environment” for new teams to enter the sport.

Brawn, alongside a group of technical experts, has been tasked with overseeing the transition period into the next set of rule changes as F1 looks to future-proof its position as the pinnacle of motorsport by improving the on-track spectacle.

Among F1’s major aims is to create a level-playing field as well as lowering costs in a bid to provide all competing teams with the chance of being able to challenge for victories, while also being an attractive proposition for new teams and manufacturers.

"That would be another measure of success," Brawn told F1 Fan Voice. "Quite frankly, I can't see a new team coming in today because the revenue distribution and commercial distribution of funds and the technical regulations are too daunting. We want to create an environment where there is a queue of professional organisations wanting to own and be a Formula 1 team.

"We have always had this margin of teams at the bottom of Formula 1 that are hanging on with their finger nails, and often falling, and we want quality competitors, not just people making up the numbers and saying they are in Formula 1 if they can't step up.

“So we want the professional, well-financed, well-structured teams to be entering Formula 1 in the future and that will be a measure of our success,” he added. “But they won't come in today. I hope we can create the environment by then that makes it more appealing."

As well as coming up with a set of regulations that appeal to new entrants, Brawn is wary of ensuring a delicate balancing act is struck in order to appease the current manufacturers and existing teams.

One of the biggest sticking points remains over the future direction of engine regulations and the proposed changes for 2021. While F1 is set to retain the current cycle of 1.6-litre, V6 engine specifications, a number of big changes – including the removal of the MGU-H – have left teams and manufacturers at odds.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault have all voiced concerns over the plans, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff warning that removing the hybrid system from the current engine architecture would lead to huge costs, which goes against F1’s hopes of creating a more cost-efficient formula.

"I don't have any major concerns, but we respect the teams," Brawn explained. "They are putting a huge investment and a huge effort into Formula 1, so we have to respect them.

"We have to respect their opinions and we have to respect their involvement. I think those teams will also say they know Formula 1 needs some direction from ourselves and the FIA. You see it in their relationships between the teams and you will see there are periods when some teams are aligned and some periods when they are not aligned and that will be to do with the on-track action or other things that are going on.

"I know as a team I was not always in the best place to know what is best for Formula 1 because I was always absorbed in my own objectives and ambitions within the team. Formula 1 needs the commercial rights holder and the FIA to encourage the teams to come with us and I think they recognise that as well.

"They are part of the process, there are plenty of meetings going on and lots of discussion going on. They are engaged and I have to say in the last few weeks and months that I have got a lot more comfortable that we are all going to hold hands together and go through this process."