Kolles blames stubborn Todt for Formula 1 problems

15 April, 2015

1504

Former team boss Colin Kolles has pointed the finger squarely at Jean Todt, president of F1’s governing body over a “massive regulations problem” within the sport.

Kolles, formerly in charge at Force India and most recently HRT, agrees with Bernie Ecclestone that formula one needs to urgently rethink its engine rules.

The current turbo V6 ‘power unit’ regulations are highly controversial: unpopularly quiet and complex, expensive for struggling teams, and restrictive in helping uncompetitive Renault and Honda catch dominant Mercedes.

“I think we have a massive regulations problem,” Kolles told the Austrian broadcaster Servus TV. “I was at many meetings, if not all the meetings, that were about this engine.

“The current FIA president was warned about the problems we have now,” Kolles charged, referring to Jean Todt. “He just refused to listen.

“Mr Ecclestone tried for years to stop it, but the FIA was stubborn in what is actually now a massive problem for everyone in Formula 1,” he added.

Kolles also blasted Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff for “denying and blocking everything” as proposals did the rounds about how to react to the problem. But his most hefty criticism is saved for Frenchman Todt, the FIA chief.

“Today’s FIA president intervenes hardly at all with Formula 1 – he has other priorities,” said Kolles. “I think somebody needs to speak up.”

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Zeanie

F1 keeps a complete re-boot with these main points…
1) All teams get an equal slice of TV revenue
2) All teams get a fair percentage from their final constructor position (none of this only for the top ten teams business of the last few years)
3) Reduction in Ticket Prices
4) All Teams to have a max budget of 150M GBP
5) All Teams allowed choose their own engine (V6,V8,V10,V12)
6) All Teams allowed to design without regulations passive aero only
7) All Teams NOT allowed to design active aero. ie no DRS or movable flaps.
8) No Electronic stability or suspension controls
9) Make is profitable for ALL teams to compete
10) Make it profitable for Tracks to host F1
11) Have a max of 22 F1 races a year with at least 10 on the main European historic circuits (we can not lose these)
12) Make it real FUN for F1 fans.
13) Televise all Testing live
14 Others to add here……….

What I want to see is Ferrari operating on the same budget as Lotus, Manor. The cars to be big grunty loud machines with fantastic grip and many F1 races. I am a fan after all.
chrill

1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Yes
4) Sure, perhaps not 150 million but a cap is good
5) No. All teams should run the same engine formula. This will keep costs down
6) Not without regulations. Open up for some exploring though
7) I don’t mind DRS but the advantage is too big. DRS should mean less
8) Yes
9) Yes
10) Yes
11) Very unnecessary. Don’t force a limit to European races. If the cost to host F1 is reduced, then European tracks will appear affordable again. F1 will come there automatically if there is money to be made.
12) Well, the above is meant to do so
13) They do in most countries today already
M-P

Agreed on your amendments, although televising testing is a bit of a waste of time imo.
NapoleonSolo

I would be interested in hearing reaction to this article from those who have adamantly stated that the FIA bears no responsibility for these issues because “the teams make the rules.” I’m not trying to start an argument with anyone, but this guy is a true F1 insider who has been present at many restricted meetings, and he’s clearly putting the blame for this aspect of F1’s problems in the lap of the FIA’s Todt. Where’s the disconnect?
NapoleonSolo

The amended list also. I would add two things:

14. Make F1 testing, practice, qualifying, and racing available in HD via internets streaming (without having to be a cable customer) even if it is Pay For View or delayed broadcast.
15. In light of current technology, a new look should be taken at whether or not some regulated use of ground effects should be allowed in order to reduce the reliance on things like complicated front wings that stop being effective when you get near enough to pass. Every racing venue would have to be certified free of track contours that would launch a ground effects car into the air as we recently saw again in sports car racing. F1 tracks already seem to not have many dips and rises. I have always been against ground effects cars, but the wings are not cutting it. Maybe a standard, uniform, regulated floor venturi could be required and greatly reduce the reliance on wings while not making the car a full ground effects design.
McNeil

problem is not the engine its Bernie Ecclesten making deals with Ferrari and forgetting other teams.
Texas Roadhouse

The FIA are the governing body. As such the rules for all forms of motorsport are issued by them (see their website). All these people with issues against Ecclestone are deceiving themselves, whatever his faults, he was opposed to these present PU’s. Kolles, as already said, from his time as team principal was involved in the planning meetings and would know exactly what went on.
Hugo Lafreniere

As much as I dislike this fat, incompetent slob, he is right.
Tired of the Anger

I’ve said this before in other posts but will repeat it again here….If you come up with a better, more equitable revenue sharing agreement between the teams and not make it so top-heavy in favor of Ferrari, Red Bull, etc., people will stop complaining about the power units. That’s not Todt, that’s Bernie.
Raffaele Cirillo

Dont forget Red Bull and McLaren.