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F1: Ecclestone Admits F1 ‘Cannot Change’ 2010 Rules, Ferrari Engineers Working On Diffuser For ‘B’ Car

F1 SUPREMO says Formula 1 must for now live with its current set of rules.

After the processional Bahrain Grand Prix, there has been widespread criticism of the current rulebook and calls for immediate changes.

The F1 Chief Executive has h


F1 SUPREMO says Formula 1 must for now live with its current set of rules.

After the processional Bahrain Grand Prix, there has been widespread criticism of the current rulebook and calls for immediate changes.

The F1 Chief Executive has himself proposed that external engineers in future pen the regulations, and is also pushing his bizarre proposal for circuit 'short cuts'.

And he told the Telegraph: "Some might wonder why the teams have options on tyres at all.

"Maybe if we only gave them a soft compound they would have to stop twice but I am not sure that they will vote unanimously for the mandatory two-stop race which Red Bull proposed," said the 79-year-old.

Reinstating refuelling is also now impractical due to the designs of the 2010 cars, leading Ecclestone to admit that the rules for now are set in stone.

"We cannot change the rules," the Briton told Germany's Bild Zeitung.

"It would take far too long and it's too difficult. F1 is now a democracy.

"And all the teams voted for these rules, so now they must also deal with them," added Ecclestone.

(GMM)

Ferrari Engineers Working On Diffuser For 'B' Car

Rumours that Ferrari is working on a 'B' version of its new F10 car have resurfaced.

We reported Italian media speculation in late January that a significant overhaul of the single seater, which finished first and second on debut in Bahrain last weekend, is taking place.

Italy's weekly Autosprint magazine has now revealed more details, including that Giuseppe Azzollini - a CFD expert - was employed by the Maranello based team late last year following Toyota's withdrawal from the sport.

It is suggested he is now working on a considerable development of the F10's double diffuser that cannot be accommodated in the current layout of the chassis.

It is believed that Azzollini's diffuser concept would have featured on Toyota's TF110 design, which although taken over by Stefan GP is not destined to race this season.

A more immediate change to the 2010 Ferrari is better cooling, after both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa's engines had to be changed prior to the Bahrain race.

Massa, meanwhile, said in the post-race press conference that he was asked to conserve fuel for 30 laps, where in fact the reason for his tempered pace was overheating.

"The temperature of the engine is the result of the aerodynamics of the car, so we have to work on that in order to make sure that we don't have any more of these kinds of issues for the next hot races," said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

(GMM)

'Lighter' Red Bull Awaits Webber For Melbourne

A lighter chassis is awaiting Mark Webber for when F1 track action resumes late next week in Melbourne.

The Australian, already in the southern city ahead of his ninth home race, told local media: "I was talking to my mechanics last night and they have got a brand new car for me.

"I have got a new chassis for this event, it's even lighter, making sure we make even more progress to go towards the front," 33-year-old Webber said.

His Red Bull teammate, Sebastian Vettel, set pole and was leading the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend when a spark plug glitch hit.

Webber made crucial mistakes in qualifying and was then a victim of the processional race to finish just eighth.

Meanwhile, he welcomed news that a 107 percent qualifying rule is likely to return in 2011.

"I think it's a good rule to get the ceiling of quality and preparation at the right level," said Webber.

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