McLaren urges Formula 1 to fight top teams' resistance to change

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McLaren boss Zak Brown has urged Formula 1's managers to fend off the top teams' opposition to the sport's future 2021 regulation platform.

The winds of change are scheduled to blow on Grand Prix racing in 24 months when the FIA and F1's commercial rights holder usher in a new era.

F1's regulation overhaul, which should include new technical rules, a revamped prize distribution agreement and a long-awaited budget cap, is still in the making however, with Mercedes and Ferrari reluctant to see radical changes potentially threaten their dominant position in the sport.

But McLaren's Brown - who paints a dire picture of F1's current state of affairs - is urging Liberty Media to stick to its plans and fight off the top teams' dissension, for the sake of the longer term interests of all.

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"We know change in F1 is difficult, and we also know F1 today is a broken model, both as a business and as an on track product, that is going to need to be changed," said Brown , speaking to Autosport.

"Those that are winning today will obviously feel the compromise about what is happening, and those that are not winning today are going to like the plan.

"It was inevitable that Chase [Carey, F1 chairman] would bring forward a plan that some people like and some people don’t like.

"But, he needs to move forward with what he thinks is in the best interest of the sport.

"At the end of the day, what is in the best interests of the sport in the long term is in the best interests of everyone, if people can get past the short term compromises that they need to make.

"Today’s F1, if it is stays as is, I think everyone eventually loses."

Liberty delivered a broad plan for 2021 to the teams last year in Bahrain, with the following months involving discussions about defining the fine print.

"I think the majority of the teams are supportive of what was presented in Bahrain," Brown added.

"All that has really happened since was drilling deeper – what is in the budget cap and what isn’t in the budget cap?

"I know that not all the teams are aligned but I think a majority are.

"At McLaren we are very supportive of what was presented in Bahrain and I think the sooner we can get that on the road to implementation the better.

"I believe Chase and Ross are going to move forward on that basis.

"For anyone else saying that they are not aligned with it, their view is ‘we presented it in Bahrain, we’ve been working together, we’ve been consistent on where we are going so this is what we are doing.’

"I think some people haven’t accepted that yet."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.