Williams team principal James Vowles insists the disparity in F1 power unit performance next year will not be at "2014 levels" as he moved to "alleviate people's fears" on the matter.
As the championship heads towards the dawn of a new era, which includes all-new engines for the first time in over a decade, there has been considerable concern that one team — or power unit — will dominate, as Mercedes did at the last regulations change.
Vowles, whose Williams team is a customer of the Brackley-based squad, revealed there is currently an "open dialogue" to lay contingency plans for "what if" scenarios that may arise next season.
Earlier in the year, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained the motorsport governing body had "introduced a programme for this that we call 'additional development opportunities for performance gaps'," in case one power unit provider falls behind the development curve.
Nonetheless, Vowles, who was at Mercedes in 2014, when the Silver Arrows began its run of eight consecutive F1 constructors' championships and unceremoniously blew away the competition for the first three campaigns of that rules set, believes it will be "a lot closer" than 12 years prior.
Williams also benefited from Mercedes' crushing dominance during the period. The Grove team was supplied by the German manufacturer at that stage, too, and scored nine podiums en route to third in the standings that year — a result it replicated in 2015.
Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, the Briton said: "I don't think this is going to be 2014 levels at all.
"I think it’ll be a lot closer than that — just to alleviate people's fears.
"But more than that, we're already having open dialogue now at this stage of 'what if?'
"What if a power unit manufacturer is ahead or behind — how do we make sure?
"Because we do recognise… We are a sport, but we’re also here for the racing, and... making sure that we are racing each other on a very similar wavelength. So, watch this space."
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