F1 manufacturers should not fear radical rules overhaul

Ahead of a January 15 deadline for F1's car makers to suggest ways to bring down engine costs, former FIA president Max Mosley has suggested one change that could make a big difference.

He believes that rather than look to extend engine life by limiting drivers to three engines per season, he thinks current mileage should be doubled, meaning just two engines per season.

"The current problem revolves round engine costs and supply," he explained. "The solution would be rules allowing only two engines per car per season.

"This would simultaneously double supply and halve costs. Today's engines would require only a modest adjustment to achieve that."

Although a shift from four engines per driver to just two would likely be resisted by car makers, Mosley thinks that there is little to be afraid of – as engineers are so clever these days in F1.

"The engine suppliers would immediately say it was impossible and would be a disaster," said Mosley.

"But in the history of F1 there has never once been a case where such predictions have proved accurate."

Motorsport.com revealed last month that manufacturers were looking at changes to the technical make-up engines, as well as a plan for three engines per driver, as possibilities to be presented to the FIA next week.

If the manufacturers do not deliver a solution that FIA president Jean Todt or Bernie Ecclestone support, then it is likely that their vision for an independent engine from 2017 will be resurrected.

And although engine rule changes are being looked at for 2017, it could also be possible to impose some aspects – like fewer engines per driver – as early as this year.