Collaboration key in 2014

We might still have a couple of days of 2012 left but in Formula One, one eye is already on the future and that goes as far as 2014.

The 2013 Formula One World Championship of course is the main aim for the remaining eleven teams in F1 [following the demise of HRT], but with the big regulations changes coming in 2014 quite a few people up and down the pitlane have been distracted by the longer term future.

Many people in the sport believe that Lewis Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes is with 2014 and beyond in mind with the Brit practically writing off the 2013 season entirely.

The reason behind the big distraction is the engine regulation changes.

Formula One hasn’t seen a change like this for a long time, with the switch to 1.6-litre turbo engines and even further reductions in aerodynamic regulations.

Ferrari and Mercedes have already started the process of development for 2014, but new Caterham boss Cyril Abiteboul believes that the way forward will be for teams to collaborate together so not to fall behind the competition.

‘Potentially this breakthrough will require some partnership between the teams, and that is not only for teams like us, I can feel that it will be just like in the automotive business when you want to produce a new product: you try and share the platform – that is what Renault, Alpine and Caterham will be doing’ Abiteboul told Autosport Magazine.

Abiteboul was referring to the development of a new sportscar which is set for 2015. Not really a like-for-like comparison in terms of expecting competing Formula One teams to share information and work together, when ultimately they want to beat each other?

‘You want to be more efficient, you want to be more competitive – and therefore you work in collaboration.

‘I think the same thing that will have to happen in F1.

‘It is a bit new to F1, because the teams also have to compete against each on the track, but I think the future will be about collaboration – and 2014 will urge us into considering more collaboration.’

Personally I cannot see Ferrari sharing information and data with Red Bull and McLaren, they might work closer with a team like Sauber for example who share engines, but even then will they really give them a competitive advantage and risk being beaten?

Would Mercedes share data with McLaren when they are trying to beat them? Would Red Bull and Lotus share data as well as engines?

Time will tell whether anyone will take up Abiteboul plan.