Bidders emerge as 'parallel engine' plan divides paddock

  • Published on 23 Nov 2015 14:18
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Up and down pitlane, and inside and outside of formula one, the sport's plans for parallel engine rules in 2017 continue to make a stir. It has emerged that joining engine guru Mario Illien's company Ilmor in bidding for the exclusive deal will be a British outfit called Advanced Engine Research (AER).

Cosworth has ruled out bidding to build the non-hybrid and almost 900 horse power engine on grounds of cost, but like Ilmor, AER already has an engine that can be adapted to the 2.5 litre specification on its benches, according to the German publication Auto Motor und Sport. With the aim of giving smaller teams a more affordable option, and allowing Red Bull to escape the whim of the existing manufacturers, the plan has been devised by Bernie Ecclestone and implemented by the governing body, the FIA.

But Mercedes is already vocally opposed, and across the hierarchical spectrum of the sport even the private and struggling Sauber is not supportive. Franz Tost, however - who heads the Red Bull junior outfit Toro Rosso - said: "I think it's a good idea."

Even Federico Gastaldi, deputy of the Lotus team that is on the verge of being bought out by the French carmaker Renault, is backing the idea. "From my point of view, from our point of view, it will be good for the sport to have this new engine running. I think it's important to move into the direction of keeping the prices as low as possible so that all of us can be more competitive," he added.

The departing Manor chief Graeme Lowdon, meanwhile, commented: "I think we need to welcome anything that is designed to make the sport more sustainable and hopefully, as well, put back into the hands of the teams a little bit more about what they can control." (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • khasmir

    Posts: 893

    Pitty Cosworth is not joining the competition, it's still an iconic name in F1 and motorsport in general. Guess they have no engine to use as a starting point so would indeed be expensive to start from scratch.

    • + 0
    • Nov 23 2015 - 19:11

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar