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F1 is now speeding towards yet another new set of engine regulations. On Thursday at a Geneva meeting of the Strategy Group, Bernie Ecclestone proposed to scrap the current turbo V6 rules. Michael Schmidt, of the respected German trade magazine Auto Motor und Sport, said that although his proposal did not produce a "definitive result", the sport is now headed towards an all-new set of regulations for 2016.
"The engines are to be louder, more powerful and cheaper," said Schmidt on Friday. "The goal is 1000 horse power and a cost of 10 million euros per team. An expert group must deliver results (on the proposal) by the end of January," he added. It is now too late, however, to make significant changes to the 2015 rules, which will be almost identical to the turbo V6 formula that saw Mercedes cruise dominantly to the title this year.
Geneva, however, did produce one or two rule tweaks for 2015. Recently, when Korea was surprisingly added to the 2015 schedule, it was said Ecclestone had done it as a mere trick to give every driver an extra engine to use throughout next season.
But on Thursday, that loophole was closed and - regardless of whether 20 or 21 races are ultimately held next year - each driver will be limited to just 4 engines for the 2015 season as originally intended. Schmdit said the tweak was made because the extra engine would have cost already struggling teams up to an extra 800,000 euros. (GMM)
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replyBtwnDitches
Posts: 204
Boy, I'll bet this makes Honda (and McLaren) madder than Hell!
I would be very interested to know the membership & leadership make-up of the "expert group" which is to study and make recommendations within these suggested changes. That may foretell (to a point) the direction and "slant" (biases) of the report due in January 2015.
Meanwhile, I would expect Mercedes to go full-out to protect and enhance its PU and airframe advantages in the 2015 season. Who know? Perhaps when this other dust settles, the Merc V-6 package will be faster than the desired (and cheaper) "1000 horsepower" beasts that others want to explore. That would be great for F1 - and back-fire on Red Bull, Sauber, etc.
ianf1
Posts: 185
F1 must be the only sport where the governing body can change the rules if the team they want to see winning isn't winning. Wait - I forgot what's been going on at FIFA! Ok, everything's corrupt then. I'll get my coat...