© Sutton Images Enlarge

Formula One drivers have responded positively to FIA plans to limit their speed under double waved yellow flags and a system is likely to be tested in practice at the next race in Austin.

Following Jules Bianchi's accident at Suzuka, which has left the Marussia driver in a critical condition in hospital, the FIA met with teams in Russia to discuss ways of preventing a repeat. Race director Charlie Whiting has proposed a system whereby the drivers are forced to slow down for a yellow flag zone, rather than leaving it to their discretion to back off.

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said a new system, which would likely see drivers given a set time or speed to stick to for the section of the track under yellow flags, could be tested during practice for the US Grand Prix in three weeks' time.

"I think the FIA is planning to test it during free practices in Austin," Boullier said. "That's my understanding, but we don't have the final go. I know there is a discussion to go and try it, which actually is a good system. It could work."

Williams engineer Rob Smedley said there were two ways of easily slowing the cars under yellows using systems that already exist.

"There are many different ways you could do it," he said. "To give you two examples of how we limit speed, we have a physical pit lane speed limiter, which limits the car to a certain speed, and we limit them by proxy under the safety car. We give a safety car split time, which is a certain percentage greater than the average lap time on high fuel and the drivers have to stick to that split time. I'm sure there will be lots of ideas thrown about between now and the end of the year, but technically it's all doable.

"My opinion, if it counts for anything, would be to have a split time which you would try to follow. The reason for that is because I think it's technology that we already use extensively now when the safety car comes out. We have a split time and the drivers drive to that so they know exactly what they are doing. It's not a great technological ask for Formula One or for the drivers to get used to, so that's probably the easiest way to do it."

Fernando Alonso is among the drivers keen to see a system put in place.

"I support it," the Ferrari driver said. "In fact, I raised the point in the drivers' briefing. During Japan and Singapore I went to an indoor karting circuit, and when there is a yellow flag they push a button and the engine cuts, and everybody goes at the same speed.

"If some kind of system can be done in F1, that it's the same for everybody, that everybody maintains the same gap, there is no crash, there is nothing to be done, just to go with the limit of the speed, then that is a good thing."

Reigning champion Sebastian Vettel said it was important something is done.

"Last week showed we definitely have to do something, and we have the technology to do a lot," he said. "But we need to find what is the best [solution]. If we talk about a speed limit then what kind of speed limit?

"What needs to be done is to make it as fair as possible. I'm sure we have the opportunity with the current systems and technology. It shouldn't be a big problem. It's just about finding the right compromise so everyone is happy.

"Hopefully by the latest next year [at the start] we've found something and we're all happy with that. For now, it's something I agree with. It doesn't hurt to introduce something like that because our priority is safety, and after that is the sport, so we want to make it as fair as we can."

Lewis Hamilton said progress had been made during meetings at this weekend's race.

"It's good. We had a drivers' meeting with Jean Todt on Friday and one of the ideas that came out is in electric karts when a flag comes out all the engines die or limiters are put on, which is quite good.

"What's good is the FIA are reacting to it, they're trying to find the best solution. The problem with flags is that you want to be safe, but you want to lose as little time as possible, so you're on a knife edge on with it.

"So if they put a limiter in that takes the pressure off us from doing anything or cutting our chances of making mistakes."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.