A meeting between the sport's major players, including several drivers, has proved inconclusive in terms of new rules for 2017.

Indeed, the only progress made appears to be that concerning tyres, where Pirelli is keen to provide the sort of tyres the drivers are pushing for but insist that the teams must agree to additional testing.

The meeting, at Pirelli's Milan HQ, was attended by Jean Todt, Bernie Ecclestone, a number of team bosses as well as Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa and several other drivers.

Whilst the sport is seeking a major overhaul to the regulations in 2017, aimed at producing faster, more aggressive cars, not for the first time those involved were unable to reach a consensus.

Consequently, with a further meeting of the Strategy Group and F1 Commission due to take place in Geneva later this month (23rd), there is speculation that Pat Symonds call for a delay in the revised formula to 2018 could become reality.

Speaking in January, the Williams technical director said the sport, and fans, would be best served by delaying the rule changes until 2018 and allowing more time for discussion.

"The regulations want five seconds a lap quicker and there is some dispute as to whether it is the right thing anyway," he said. "I feel there may be some merit in thinking again and waiting until 2018.

"But I suspect I won't have much support from my fellow teams," he admitted. "I'm sure people will argue there will just be another year of debate without reaching a conclusion.

"There are some people who just want to get on and do things which is fair enough but I like to do things right rather than just do them.

"There is one technical meeting at the end of January and another one in February. I think, what will happen is we will polish the details with a view to having a set of 2017 regulations by 1 March. If we don't determine things by March, then changes need unanimous agreement and that is not something which comes easily in F1."

The first of those meetings has been and gone and the second is just a few weeks away, all this at a time when the teams are focussing on the coming season. To add to the fun, ahead of the 1 March deadline, the regulations can be changed on a majority vote, after that time it would need unanimous agreement - a rarity in F1.

There was progress in terms of tyres however, as the drivers seek rubber that can be pushed to the limit rather than 'managed'.

Pirelli made it clear that it is happy to provide the necessary compounds and has already approached the teams with a view to agreeing an acceptable test schedule.

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1. Posted by Tweek, 04/02/2016 2:15

"I remember a time when this sport had a strong governing body which dictated rules the teams were obliged to follow. I yearn for the return of those days"

No agreement on 2017 rules

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