Renault Sport F1 Deputy technical managing director Rob White:

This year there will be a lot of factors that drive unpredictable outcomes and from most people’s standpoint, unpredictable results are good in a sporting event. We need to keep hold of some of the fundamental elements; there will be 22 cars on the grid and when the lights go out the guy that gets to the flag first is the winner. In between there will be a battle for positions on track, meaning there will be real racing. The way in which the races are managed by the teams is one of the big differences between 2013 and 2014. It is fair to say there are several different ways to skin a cat and this will produce different scenarios as we explore different possibilities about how to manage energy and power. Although the tool kit that we have is different, the fundamentals of the races remain very similar. Ultimately it is for the drivers to go for the opportunities presented to them.

Will drivers have to change their style to the new regulations?

The drivers are astonishingly skilled to detect the limit of the performance envelope of a car and adapt their driving to reach the limits. In the past, drivers have always been adept at adapting to different systems, such as the F-duct, KERS and so on, without too much issue: it’s always remarkable to observe just how very close they can get to the theoretical limits. I do not think there will be a discussion of whether drivers are ‘intelligent’ or not – it is about being adaptable, just as they were with any other change.