F1 engine development and year-old engines back in play
The FIA has taken the first steps to allowing in-season power unit development for 2016 after an engine manufacturers meeting in Geneva today.
In-season development will be a huge boost to both Honda and Renault as they attempt to close the gap to their rivals.
The meeting also agreed that manufacturers can field more than one spec of engine next season, opening the door for year-old units to be used, as was the case with Manor this year.
However, both proposals require rule changes and still have to go through the process of being formally drafted and then unanimously agreed at the F1 Commission, and then ratified by the World Motor Sport Council. At the moment, no date has been set for the next F1 Commission meeting.
Today's meeting was attended only by the FIA and representatives of the four engine manufacturers, with Toto Wolff (Mercedes), Maurizio Arrivabene (Ferrari), Cyril Abiteboul (Renault) and Yasuhisa Arai (Honda) joined by their top engineers.
The other teams, who would still have to agree via a unanimous vote on any changes for next season, were not present.
As things stand, the 2016 FIA Sporting Regulations specify that there is no development after engines are homologated by the usual February 28 deadline, and the rules also specify that only one specification can be used during the season.
The potential for use of older-spec engines may open a door for both Red Bull and Toro Rosso to stay in the sport.
Share Or Save This Story
RB: Tsunoda “mentally on a different level” in 2024
Andretti planning F2 and F3 entries to promote US talent to F1 team
Andretti F1 team formally opens new Silverstone facility
Kasey Kahne is as passionate and competitive as ever at Knoxville Nationals
Knoxville Nationals feature hasn't had a lead change in three years
Ty Gibbs wants to see what NASCAR would look like without digital mirrors
Daniel Dye secures four-race NASCAR O'Reilly deal with Jordan Anderson Racing
Top 10 rookie seasons in F1
Why F1 shouldn’t be hiding its most interesting characters
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles
Why it will “take years” for Cadillac to reach the level F1 rivals are operating at
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments