Breaking news
Formula 1
Mercedes rivals can develop engines in-season - reports
F1 engine suppliers Ferrari and Renault appear to have won a battle in the long-running 'freeze' saga.
GMM
Edited: Dec 22, 2014, 11:02 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Mercedes' struggling V6-making rivals have been pushing hard for changes to the existing homologation rules, where performance improvements of the 'power units' is tightly restricted during the season.
The next 'freeze' deadline was believed to be February 28, where all four 2015 makers - Ferrari, Renault, Mercedes and Honda - must present their engines to be homologated by the FIA.
But Ferrari and Renault had reportedly argued that a loophole existed in the rules, where they could start 2015 with last year's engine and then introduce improved new power units at a later date during the season.
Possibilities
The BBC reports that the matter was discussed at last week's Strategy Group meeting in Geneva, and "it now seems likely that manufacturers will be able to upgrade their engines after the start of the season as well as before it".
Germany's specialist Auto Motor und Sport is reporting similarly, claiming that any engine maker "who does not use all 32 (development) tokens by February 28 can continue to make progress during the season".
Roger Benoit, a veteran F1 correspondent, wrote in the Swiss newspaper Blick that the 'freeze' saga is "so sensitive that Mercedes and Honda have already threatened to quit".
'Selfish' Red Bull
Outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, however, does not buy into Red Bull chief Christian Horner's argument that the engine rules need to be urgently changed altogether.
"He's saying that just because they don't have a Mercedes engine," he told Italy's Omnicorse. "Otherwise he wouldn't want to change the rules.
"He's not thinking about the good of Formula One, but only his team and his future," Villeneuve charged.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Verstappen debut 'an insult' - Villeneuve
Next article Alonso was 'tired of Ferrari promises' - Briatore
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Jacques Villeneuve
Jacques Villeneuve calls out Oscar Piastri after costly Azerbaijan GP error: "Rookie mistake"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve calls out Oscar Piastri after costly Azerbaijan GP error: "Rookie mistake"
Jacques Villeneuve defends Red Bull team orders call at F1 Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve defends Red Bull team orders call at F1 Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve delivers verdict on Esteban Ocon's F1 future
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Jacques Villeneuve delivers verdict on Esteban Ocon's F1 future
More from
Ferrari
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
WEC
WEC
Monza
14 h
Robert Kubica announces exit from AF Corse’s privateer Hypercar in WEC
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
14 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
Aprilia: “Marco Bezzecchi couldn’t avoid the collision; Marc Marquez moved in on him"
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
17 min
Aprilia: “Marco Bezzecchi couldn’t avoid the collision; Marc Marquez moved in on him"
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
59 min
How the Racing Bulls pendulum is swinging back towards undeniable Liam Lawson
How Max Verstappen beat Red Bull's own simulation tools with P2 in Brazil
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
How Max Verstappen beat Red Bull's own simulation tools with P2 in Brazil
Feature
Discover prime content
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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe