Hi Matthew,
Difficult to say. In general there is a positive view because the funding structure will be better for the midfield and there will be less of a performance differential to the front. The ability to run closer to the car in front is a good thing, but this will reduce performance differences across the teams as it is very prescriptive.
However, for some of us that have done this a long time there are a few caveats.
Firstly Ferrari, Merc and RBR have been working hard to ensure that current rules are not the final rules as it makes F1 too close to a spec formula. So there will be further rules changes to enable greater differentiation.
And secondly, whenever there is a rule change the big teams are able to take advantage of this and move ahead of the smaller teams. They just need to leave the rules alone for longer, as when they do that the grid closes up as the ideas and specific advantages that teams develop, get spread around the grid.
What I do find surprising is that whenever rule changes are suggested there are many technical people in the smaller teams who think that it is a good thing for them alone, as that represents an opportunity to catch up with the bigger teams and move ahead of their competitors. However, the reality is that the bigger teams pull ahead because of the additional resource and the rest remain in roughly their budget determined position. Very occasionally a team does a very good job and out performs the others with similar budget, e.g. generally Force India, Sauber in 2012 with the Coanda exhaust.
I would still prefer to see an opening up of the rules not a further tightening. Along with the revised prize money distribution and budget caps to encourage more teams and make the racing closer.
Ian
