Williams F1 Team Braced For 2017 Formula 1 Revamp Costs Fight

Williams F1 Team "vowed to put up a fight should Monday's latest Strategy Group meeting reveal Formula 1's 2017 revamp will cause costs to rise," according to Parkes & Rencken of AUTOSPORT.

Other than an increase in front-and-rear-tire width, specific technical details "have yet to be released with regard to the build of cars whose stated aim is to be five-to-six-seconds-per-lap quicker than at present." The understanding among the teams is that "there will be no significant rise in costs."

The financial impact of '17 "is due to be aired on Monday, with Williams ready to push against potential increases." Williams Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams said, "One of the changes around the regs is that it doesn't incur a significant cost increase. That was one of the objectives. I don't anticipate — and I hope — there isn't a huge increase, and if there is then we would have to fight against it."

Although the team "announced respectable half-year financial results just before the Italian Grand Prix, as an independent Williams believes the costs of competing in F1 are unsustainable and need to be addressed."

She said, "I'm not sure the costs are sustainable, but we're doing our best to manage the costs we are faced with at the moment. Of course we'd like those costs to come down, but they have to come down a considerable amount" Autosport