Ex-Ligier driver Olivier Panis has warned the powers-that-be in Formula 1 not to try and rein in the dominance of Mercedes through regulation changes.

Mercedes continued where they left off in 2014, with Lewis Hamilton leading home teammate Nico Rosberg for a Silver Arrows one-two at the Australian Grand Prix.

However, despite calls from Red Bull's Christian Horner to level the playing field, Panis has suggested that interference from F1 bosses could damage the sport.

He told Motorsport.com: "For me, that wouldn't be F1 anymore. I already find that F1 has evolved in a way that I don't appreciate, maybe because I'm from the former generation.

"But if you say now that performances need to be restricted, then you might as well create a one-make series. But if you want to attract constructors, you will deter them by doing that.

"Formula 1 must remain Formula 1 – we've obviously seen supremely dominant Mercedes cars, you can't blame nor criticise them, they have been doing a better job than everyone else, be it chassis-wise or engine-wise."

Panis's only win in F1 came when he took victory at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix.