F1 LIVE: FIA respond to Verstappen complaints as travel refusal issued | F1 | Sport

FIA chief Nikolas Tombazis has suggested F1 regulations around the new generation of cars may be malleable, after Max Verstappen’s recent complaints.The Red Bull ace has been furious with the new changes, recently comparing the new F1 cars to those of Formula E. 

Among the amendments comes the recent update to assess engine compression ratios at both ambient temperature and 130°C, which was introduced as a result of Mercedes finding a technical loophole in the regulations. Verstappen has previously insisted this change could help Mercedes get an extra 20 to 30 horsepower in their car, despite Toto Wolff insisting it would only be around two to three. 

When Verstappen’s complaints were put to him, Tombazis responded: “I think they’re getting used to the new cars, but we are completely conscious that we may need to make adjustments, and that has been a discussion. We’ve been open with the teams and the PU manufacturers for a long, long time, and with the drivers, indeed.

“I think there are some ways that we can act as a sport to make adjustments in the rules. Clearly, they would also need approval through the governance process – and we can’t just say tomorrow ‘we’ll change this and change that’, there’s a process.

“We are taking the drivers’ comments into consideration. We are asking them a number of questions to give us feedback, and the teams and the PU manufacturers are being extremely constructive in this process.

“So, I don’t think we are exactly where we’re going to be in a few months from now, we may have to make some adjustments and, frankly, I don’t think the adjustments are huge, that we need to make.”