Ecclestone admits F1 'cannot change' 2010 rules

Bernie Ecclestone says Formula One must for now live with its current set of rules.

After the processional Bahrain Grand Prix, there has been widespread criticism of the current rulebook and calls for immediate changes.

The F1 chief executive has himself proposed that external engineers in future pen the regulations, and is also pushing his bizarre proposal for circuit 'short cuts'.

And he told the Telegraph: "Some might wonder why the teams have options on tyres at all.

"Maybe if we only gave them a soft compound they would have to stop twice but I am not sure that they will vote unanimously for the mandatory two-stop race which Red Bull proposed," said the 79-year-old.

Reinstating refuelling is also now impractical due to the designs of the 2010 cars, leading Ecclestone to admit that the rules for now are set in stone.

"We cannot change the rules," the Briton told Germany's Bild Zeitung.

"It would take far too long and it's too difficult. F1 is now a democracy.

"And all the teams voted for these rules, so now they must also deal with them," added Ecclestone.