Brawn: We're looking to introduce a soft cost cap

In an interview published in the Belgian Grand Prix race programme, Brawn said, "Work on the mechanism of a cost cap is going well. At the moment we''re looking to introduce it in a soft form, with dry runs in 2019, and 2020 and then it will become regulatory in 2021."

"I would say that barring some last-minute discussions that's pretty much finalised now," revealed the sport's technical chief.

Brawn is also keen to get the regulations and engine formula right before implementing them and suggests that a postponement of the 2021 rules, "We want to try and create a set of technical regulations on the engine."

"Which are appealing to new manufacturers coming in as well as consolidate our existing engine suppliers. I think we just need to think of our timing on that, whether 2021 is the right time to do that, or whether it's better to keep that powder dry until we can be certain that major regulation change will bring fresh blood into the sport."

Opinions on how to implement and police a cost cap in the top tier is a hot topic in the F1 paddock, but Brawn sees areas where costs can be universally acceptable.

"On the engine, we need to decide if now is the time to have a revolution or an evolution," explained Brawn. My feeling is that there's still quite a lot we can do on the engine side in terms of sporting regulations."

"Such as limits on dyno test time, the number of upgrades during a season, consistency of specification to all customer teams etc. Why don't we all have the same transmission? Or at least the core parts of it – the same shafts, the same differentials."

"That would have quite a significant economic impact. And the effect on this on the perception of the competitiveness of the sport would be negligible."

"For a marginal gain, the individual costs spent by each team are significant. If you are developing your own transmission, I'd estimate you are spending between $5-10 million a year – and no one sees it."

"The good news is that with the FIA and in consultation with the teams we are progressing well on the economic initiatives," concluded Brawn.