While the power unit rules have been set, everything related to the chassis is still being discussed, with an inevitable part of the focus on keeping costs down.

Transmissions are an obvious target because they are not seen as a performance differentiator and there have been efforts to address cuts in the past, including a failed attempt to introduce universal transmissions before the current rules came into effect.

Arguably the team most interested in future regulations is Aston Martin, a customer unit that used McLaren and later Mercedes for many years and must now build its own transmission division.

Should there be any changes to standard components or an overall simplification of the required technology, Silverstone is keen to ensure it is ahead of the curve.

“If you look at the gearbox now and compare it to other racing categories, the gearbox is no longer a performance differentiator,” said Aston team principal Mike Clarke.

“Everyone gets more or less the same performance from a gearbox. But the cost of a gearbox is staggering, especially when you compare it to other categories.

“So, in a world of cost caps, this is a question you have to ask – does it make sense for you to go with such a complex technology if there is no difference in performance?

“Each team is only writing off $8-9 million per year on a gearbox with no performance difference at all.”

Aston Martin F1 team principal Mike Krack on the grid

Photography: Zak Mauger / motorsport pictures

Clark noted that discussions with the FIA ​​on the issue are ongoing.

“We’ve been talking with the FIA ​​about whether it’s simpler, more cost-effective on the gearbox, uses simpler technology and maybe requires fewer units per year to try and make the whole sport more sustainable,” Clarke said. explain.

“The sum of the paddock (spending) is over $100 million a year. If you look at the other categories, you can ask yourself, do you need to do this?

“So that’s why we’re negotiating and that’s why I think as a sport we have to ask these questions and think about whether it makes sense for us to make things easier?”

Clark stressed he wouldn’t necessarily want to see a common gearbox for all teams, but said cost savings could be targeted in various areas.

“I think the list could be very long,” he said. “There can be a healthy compromise between retaining a certain technology. Take the F1 difference, for example, which is unique compared to other categories.

“Seamless is something you can talk about, you can talk about the number of gears, or you can introduce some level of standardization.

“I wouldn’t say that everyone has a common gearbox, or that everyone uses the same gearbox, but a design specification or something like that, just to keep costs down.”

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur agrees that gearboxes can be targeted for cost-cutting, but points out that the team is already constrained by having to work within a cost ceiling.

“Regulations on things like transmission, of course, we can try to find something simpler,” he noted. “But we also have a cost cap, you can’t play both sides. I think the cost cap, if everyone respects the cost cap, is enough for me.”