McLaren's Boullier: Bring back active suspension!

Perhaps it's a bit tongue in cheek but McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says F1 should consider a return to active suspension!

Teams are currently  wrestling with the new trick suspension concept, the legality of which still requires clarification from the FIA before the end of the month.

The debate about the pre-loaded suspension system, which has the ability to improve aerodynamic performance, was initiated by a letter sent to F1 race director Charlie Whiting by Ferrari designer Simone Resta, who requested guidance on whether the concept contravened the rule book or not.

A meeting of technical directors with the FIA last week apparently prompted Boullier to suggest a return of the active suspension  concept exploited so brilliantly by Williams in the early 1990s, before the technology was banned at the start of 1994.

Boullier's take on the matter is that authorizing a return of active suspension would simply end the current debate on trick suspensions.

"Suspension, it's a funny topic," he said.

"We should maybe one day stop it and copy the road car, which is to bring active suspension back, because at least it will close the debate.

"Today, everything is subject to the interpretation of the regulation and then you can push for one concept, which you can see can be differently interpreted from another one.

"This is why Ferrari trying to push its opinion or interpretation being valid by the FIA. We're in the middle of this and actually, most of the teams have contacted us over this topic.

"Ferrari has a different interpretation of what can be done and they try to push their opinion through which obviously does not please some other teams."

• FIA to clarify suspension dispute before first test

Boullier insists however that McLaren is on the sidelines with regard to the controversial suspension row, while Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull battle it out.

"We are very neutral," said the Frenchman.

"An agreement has been reached with the FIA, which is that we have to adhere to the existing rules but disclose our procedures in more detail."

Clear FIA guidelines about the suspension conundrum are expected to be delivered to the teams in the coming weeks, hopefully before pre-season testing gets underway on February 27.

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