Aston Martin now 'pretty satisfied' with FIA handling of 2021 rules

Aston Martin team boss Otmar Szafnauer says his team is now "pretty satisfied" with how the FIA handled the aerodynamic rule changes for 2021 after questioning the process last weekend at Imola.

Last Saturday, Szafnauer kicked up a storm in the paddock when he publicly questioned the "intent" by F1's governing body of this year's rule changes which have impacted the Mercedes and Aston Martin high-rake designs.

The Aston boss not only doubted the legality of the process, Szafnauer also suggested that an in-season rule change should be considered in order to instill more equality in the field.

"I think this year you'd have to [change the rules], because next year this doesn't apply," Szafnauer said. "I think that's the right thing to do.

"As a team we have to work hard to try to claw back everything we can, but at the same time, we should be having the discussions with the FIA to see if anything could be done to make it a bit more equitable."

Apparently those discussions took place with the FIA on Sunday, and left Szafnauer satisfied with what he heard.

"We've had a couple of meetings with the FIA," Szafnauer told the media. "And I think we're, at this point, pretty satisfied that all the correct steps were followed.

"I mean, we're still in discussion. We're just trying to discover what all the steps were, you know, to make sure that it was done properly and equitably.

"So that's the reason for the discussion."

• Read also: Horner surprised by 'naive' Aston Martin gripe over 2021 regs

Szafnauer didn't elaborate on the details of the "discussions" with the FIA or what the governing body had told him to alleviate his concerns.

"We’re still discussing with the FIA," he said. "I’ll be able to answer that question probably in three, four days’ time."

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, whose team has also suffered from this year's aero tweaks, alluded to the changes being targeted specifically at the Brackley squad, leaving Aston Martin as a "collateral" victim.

"How the rules have fallen into place last year, one can always question what the motivation was," commented Wolff.

"There’s certainly the right to review and look at things and discuss them with the FIA, find out what has actually happened and how have things happened.

"That’s why I respect Aston Martin’s enquiry and the whole thing and maybe things were targeted at us and they are collateral damage."

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