Todt wants $12m engines to drop independent supplier plan

The FIA wants to push on with plans to find an independent engine supplier in F1 for 2017, which would guarantee all outfits access to a power unit if needed.

If the idea gets some support from F1 stakeholders, then Todt is hoping that the matter can be put out to tender so a supplier for an engine that costs $6-7 million per season can be found.

However, with some scepticism from teams about the dangers that could emerge if there are two different types of engines competing in F1, there remain many hurdles to overcome before it can become a reality.

Todt has made it clear, however, that if F1's current manufacturers lower the cost of their supply deals to $12 million then he will be happy to drop the independent engine idea completely.

"I consider that $12 million, even though t is still a lot of money, an acceptable figure in my opinion," he said.

"I am not responsible to follow the budgets of the manufacturers. But I think it is a fair figure and it something that should be also acceptable for the customers."

Ferrari recently vetoed a proposed rule change to limit the price that customers can be charged for engines to $12 million.

It claimed that such a regulation would hurt its commercial interests as an engine supplier.