Racing Point Formula 1 team boss Otmar Szafnauer is confident that the FIA and the F1 organisation can agree plans for 2021 with the teams before the planned deadline in June.
The FIA’s International Sporting Code specifies June as the cut-off for decisions on changes for 2021.
The teams were given a briefing on the latest plans at a meeting in London shortly before the Bahrain Grand Prix last month.
While nothing has been signed, Szafnauer stressed that progress has been made, and says that it’s inevitable that all teams will have to accept compromise.
“It’s a big thing, but we’ve got until the middle of June to get it done, so there’s still time,” Szafnauer told Autosport.
“The good news is that in F1 we’re used to working quickly.
“I think we’ve made a lot of progress, and this is going to end up being a compromise.
“A lot of people have said with every good compromise no one’s really happy, and I can see that.
“From our perspective I think the FIA and FOM are trying to do the right thing.
“They’re trying to bring the field closer together, trying to make it cost less, introducing a cost cap so that if we do really well on revenue and sponsorship there’s a bit of profit at the end, and the sport is sustainable.
“And the other underlying thing is it’s got to stay at the pinnacle of motor sport, which is great.
“What’s wrong with that? It’s just how do you do it. The ‘how do you do it’ bit will inevitably upset somebody, no one’s ever going to be [completely] happy.”
While the parties involved have not regularly released information about the details or progression of the 2021 rules package, Szafnauer said work has been progressive behind the scenes since Liberty’s vision was originally presented at the 2018 Bahrain GP.
“There’s a lot of consultation of all the teams and the stakeholders that has happened leading up to it [the new package], so it’s not just that they’re off in a vacuum coming up with rules, cost cap, money distribution, take it or leave it.
“That’s not how it happened. It’s gone through churn, process, feedback, change for the last year – the first time we heard about it was here in Bahrain.
“So one year of doing that, and now we’ve got until June. Another three months is enough time.”