Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost has warned Formula 1 bosses at Liberty Media that time is running out to decide rule changes they want to be introduced in 2021.
That year is particularly important as it marks the implementation of a new Concorde Agreement between F1 owners, teams, the FIA and various other stakeholders which means the overhaul Liberty wants to conduct both sportingly and commercially is much easier to do.
With new cars, a budget cap, a new revenue distribution deal and changes to the weekend format just some of the ideas being mentioned, however, in order for teams to be ready to adapt, Tost admits final arrangements need to start being made.
“Once more the FIA and FOM have to come up now with solutions because time is running away,” he said last weekend in Japan.
“We are talking about 2021 and we still don’t have a 100 per cent fixed regulation for the chassis and for the power unit,” he continued. “This needs to be clarified as soon as possible.”
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It is ending the disagreement and political power game that is proving so tough as Ferrari and Mercedes push for minimal change while others want more drastic efforts to be made to address the current inequality both financially and in performance on the track.
“There are three teams and the rest are far behind,” the Toro Rosso chief complained. “The FIA and FOM must come up with a regulation from the sporting side and the technical side.
“F1 is entertainment and fortunately, thanks to [Lewis] Hamilton and [Sebastian] Vettel, we have two drivers who keep this entertainment on a higher level.
“But a minimum of five or six drivers [must be] able to fight for the championship because this is what the spectators want to see.”
Recently, FIA president Jean Todt indicated an agreement was close but nothing yet concrete has been determined.