Abu Dhabi: The clamour for Formula One engine rule changes has intensified, following Mercedes’ total dominance of the World Championships this season.
Along with the small teams like Caterham, Lotus, Force India and Sauber, giants Ferrari and Red Bull have also joined the bandwagon demanding major changes to Formula One engine rules next year.
Red Bull team chief Christian Horner, in a media briefing, said that Formula One had to consider doing away with the costly turbo powered 1.5 litre V6 engine.
“We have to think not just for today but about the future. For 2015, there is very little that can be done with the regulations but for 2016, an awful lot can be done,” said Horner adding, “The scenario is such that it is unsustainable for manufactures. We have to simplify it because if the development costs stay at where they are, we will not attract new manufactures into the sport and we may well drive current manufactures out of the sport.”
Horner, whose team was dominating for the last four years, went on to add that there are some big issues in question and teams like Caterham were finding themselves in unenviable situations because of the growing cost of engine development.
“Maybe still a V6 but maybe a more simplified V6 that controls that cost. Cost of development, cost of supply to a team and to the privateer team is something what we need to seriously discuss during the next strategy group,” he said.
Ferrari team principal Marco Matticacci also backed Horner saying, “Definitely we need to look at something different for 2016. In terms of power unit and in terms of regulations. For 2015, it is clear we will have to – at the moment – accept the status quo but definitely we are not going to accept the status quo of 2016.”
‘Caterham’ is planning to use the 2014 engine to cut costs and when asked if anybody on this panel was opposed to such a plan to cut costs and save the struggling team, most came up in support saying they had no issues.
However, Mercedes Toto Wolff was of the view that they would need to look at the regulations. “We can make that happen and whether it saves costs and if it does, we need to find a way.”
With teams coming together for a common cause, an intense discussion is on cards when the strategy group and the Formula one Commission meet next week.
