Jean Todt has played down the need to stop Mercedes’ dominance of F1, arguing that it has always been a feature of the sport.
While the FIA has agreed with future measures like engine performance ’convergence’, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone appears determined to stop the German marque’s now two and a half year run of almost constant winning.
"I want to change things. I want to stop Mercedes dominating," Ecclestone told Britain’s Sky in Barcelona last weekend.
But FIA president Todt said it is strange to hear the voices of those suggesting Mercedes’ dominance is unprecedented.
"I always wonder if people have selective memory," the Frenchman told Finland’s MTV Sport.
"Dominance in motor sport, or even in sport is general, is just a part of it," Todt added.
"50 years ago it was Lotus and Jim Clark and Colin Chapman, then there was Williams’ domination, McLaren’s domination, Ferrari’s domination, Red Bull’s domination and now it’s Mercedes’ domination," he said.
"Instead of talking only about one team’s domination, we should be encouraging all of the others to make every effort in order to catch up with them and beat them," added Todt.
Ferrari has been steadily closing the gap to Mercedes since 2015 and Red Bull broke through for its first win of the season last time out in Spain.
Mercedes parent Daimler’s chairman Dieter Zetsche said he welcomes the competition.
"Absolutely," he told Britain’s Channel 4. "I like it when it’s getting tight. As I said before the season, I would like to win the championship in the last race by 1 point."