PlanetF1

Caterham: Revise constructor rules

Monday 18-February-2013 05:42

Caterham team principal Cyril Abiteboul has called for a change to the rules that outline what a constructor is.

At present Formula One does not allow customer cars, meaning there are certain aspects to each car that each individual team have to create themselves.

Those range from the monocoque to the front and rear suspension to the floor and fuel cell.

Abiteboul, though, reckons the rules should be softened to make it easier for small teams on tighter budgets.

"We need to have a fresh look at that and see whether these parts contribute to the show or if it makes a fundamental contribution to the performance," Abiteboul told Autosport.

"If the answer is no, or not really, then we should be open to more exchanges between the teams.

"Obviously, you need to look at the details in F1 because you always try to find ways to go around what is written in black-and-white and there is no spirit of the regulations.

"We have to make sure that it is extremely clear for everyone."

He added: "There is a discussion in Concorde about what exactly is a constructor.

"Personally, I do believe that it is offering a nice avenue without going into the extreme of complete customer cars.

"Even if the pure definition of competition is that you should not be collaborating, there is still some stuff [we can do].

"We are in a tough economic climate and a good way to mitigate everyone's exposure and cost is to ease the things that are not altering the fundamental principle of the show."