Force India team boss Dr Vijay Mallya has no time for those who have criticised the F1 engine rules in recent weeks.
Mallya also has a seat on the FIA World Motor Sport Council, and was thus at the heart of the process that approved the 2014 rules. He says that they are set in stone.
“An FIA World Council decision is an FIA World Council decision,” Mallya told this writer. “Everybody has accepted it, the investments have been made, the engines are running. What is there to comment on now? It’s all fait accompli.
“I think Bahrain was a fantastic race. It was entertaining, and so many people messaged me to say it was a great race. There hasn’t been that much fuel saving and people having to slow down, so why complain? Everybody has their own opinions. In this sport unfortunately the teams can’t stick together and have one voice, so it’s something that one has got used to, that everyone has his own opinion.
“The thing is rules are rules. Some rules may suit some teams better than other teams, but that’s part of the game. We could have complained last year when after Silverstone Pirelli changed the tyres. I could have moaned and groaned every day, and said the team’s performance has been compromised. But where does it get me? Nowhere.”
Mallya says it’s up to the teams to improve their own performance.
“The rules are what they are, you have to build a competitive car and go win a race. Mercedes have done and they’re not complaining. Some say that the Renault package is giving trouble and cars that were competitive last year are not competitive this year, but that’s for them to sort out with Renault.
“We chose Mercedes, and fortunately Mercedes has done a superb job. The rules are the rules, and they were approved by all the various bodies. There was sufficient notice for the changes, so the bottom line is you have to compete within the rules.”
Adam Cooper F1 