F1 technical heads to kick off series of meetings on rules

LONDON, April 8 : Formula One's top technical minds will get together on Thursday for the first of a series of meetings to discuss the sport's new engine rules and what tweaks need to be made after three races.

Insiders expect energy management, the need to 'lift and coast' and 'super clipping' to dominate the initial agenda in London.

There is unlikely to be much immediate news from what will be an extended discussion over the next few weeks before any decisions, including likely software changes to the energy equation, are taken.

The new power units, split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion power, have brought fresh challenges.

Drivers are having to tactically ease off the throttle early and coast into high-speed corners that would normally be a big test of bravery so the combustion engine can recharge the battery.

'Super-clipping' is when energy is automatically diverted from engine to battery, with the effect of slowing a car on the straight even if the driver wants to be on full throttle.

The sport has time to take stock of the biggest rule change in at least a generation because April races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to the Iran war and conflict in the region.

"It has been the consistent position of all stakeholders that a structured review would take place after the opening phase of the season, to allow for sufficient data to be gathered and analysed," the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said after last month's Japanese Grand Prix.

"A number of meetings are therefore scheduled in April to assess the operation of the new regulations and to determine whether any refinements are required.   

"Any potential adjustments, particularly those related to energy management, require