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F1 Commission votes against budget engine idea
Merc braced for ‘biggest test yet’ in 2016
They are still on a high after successfully defending their titles in 2015, but Mercedes are bracing themselves for what will "undoubtedly" be their "biggest test yet" in 2016.
Mercedes have swept all before them since the introduction of the V6 turbocharged power units in 2014 with the team claiming 31 victories in 37 grands prix and taking pole position in 35 of those races.
Naturally it meant back-to-back doubles with Lewis Hamilton winning the 2014 and 2015 Drivers' Championship and Merc securing consecutive Constructors' titles.
Ferrari, though, have made up some ground and Merc non-executive chairman Niki Lauda believes the Scuderia's power unit is now at the same level as that of Mercedes.
Although they remain the team to beat, Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff feels they will have a big battle on their hands come 2016.
"We can all be extremely proud of what we have achieved in 2015," he said. "To raise the bar from 2014 was always going to be a huge challenge – but everybody at Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has taken on that challenge exceptionally well.
"While we celebrate a job well done this time around, however, the next challenge will be upon us before we know it. 2016 will undoubtedly provide our biggest test yet as a group."
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Ecclestone: Rossi would have been "disqualified for sure" for Marquez clash in F1
Spoiler
The Formula 1 Commission has voted not to pursue the idea of an alternative budget engine at this stage, according to governing body the FIA.
The cost of a customer supply, believed to be in the region of 20million euros, has been a cause of concern since the new 1.6-litre V6 engines were introduced at the start of 2014.
Since Ferrari vetoed plans last month to cut the cost of customer engine deals from around 20million euros to 12million euros, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone proposed a cheaper alternative, with performance equivalence to ensure a level playing field.
Earlier this month, the FIA asked for expressions of interest to supply a budget engine and it has emerged there are four "credible" proposals, two of which are believed to be AER and Ilmor.
AER engine 'fits' FIA requirements
However, following a meeting of the Strategy Group in Paris on Tuesday, followed by an F1 Commission meeting, the idea has now been put on the backburner.
Instead, the manufacturers - working with the FIA - will produce a proposal by January 15 2016 that provides solutions to concerns over the power unit, which will focus on:
- Guarantee of the supply of Power Units to teams
- The need to lower the cost of Power Units to customer teams
- Simplification of the technical specification of the power units
- Improved noise
The FIA added that the decision to not pursue the budget engine may be reassessed after the manufacturers have presented their proposal to the Strategy Group.
Within the proposal, there will be a rule that stipulates a minimum number of teams a manufacturer must supply, ensuring all teams have access to an engine.
It is hoped these developments will be ready for the 2017 season at the earliest and certainly in time for 2018.
The first meeting between the FIA and the manufacturers with regards engines will take place at this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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The cost of a customer supply, believed to be in the region of 20million euros, has been a cause of concern since the new 1.6-litre V6 engines were introduced at the start of 2014.
Since Ferrari vetoed plans last month to cut the cost of customer engine deals from around 20million euros to 12million euros, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone proposed a cheaper alternative, with performance equivalence to ensure a level playing field.
Earlier this month, the FIA asked for expressions of interest to supply a budget engine and it has emerged there are four "credible" proposals, two of which are believed to be AER and Ilmor.
AER engine 'fits' FIA requirements
However, following a meeting of the Strategy Group in Paris on Tuesday, followed by an F1 Commission meeting, the idea has now been put on the backburner.
Instead, the manufacturers - working with the FIA - will produce a proposal by January 15 2016 that provides solutions to concerns over the power unit, which will focus on:
- Guarantee of the supply of Power Units to teams
- The need to lower the cost of Power Units to customer teams
- Simplification of the technical specification of the power units
- Improved noise
The FIA added that the decision to not pursue the budget engine may be reassessed after the manufacturers have presented their proposal to the Strategy Group.
Within the proposal, there will be a rule that stipulates a minimum number of teams a manufacturer must supply, ensuring all teams have access to an engine.
It is hoped these developments will be ready for the 2017 season at the earliest and certainly in time for 2018.
The first meeting between the FIA and the manufacturers with regards engines will take place at this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
LINK
Merc braced for ‘biggest test yet’ in 2016
Spoiler
They are still on a high after successfully defending their titles in 2015, but Mercedes are bracing themselves for what will "undoubtedly" be their "biggest test yet" in 2016.
Mercedes have swept all before them since the introduction of the V6 turbocharged power units in 2014 with the team claiming 31 victories in 37 grands prix and taking pole position in 35 of those races.
Naturally it meant back-to-back doubles with Lewis Hamilton winning the 2014 and 2015 Drivers' Championship and Merc securing consecutive Constructors' titles.
Ferrari, though, have made up some ground and Merc non-executive chairman Niki Lauda believes the Scuderia's power unit is now at the same level as that of Mercedes.
Although they remain the team to beat, Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff feels they will have a big battle on their hands come 2016.
"We can all be extremely proud of what we have achieved in 2015," he said. "To raise the bar from 2014 was always going to be a huge challenge – but everybody at Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has taken on that challenge exceptionally well.
"While we celebrate a job well done this time around, however, the next challenge will be upon us before we know it. 2016 will undoubtedly provide our biggest test yet as a group."
LINK
Ecclestone: Rossi would have been "disqualified for sure" for Marquez clash in F1
Spoiler
Bernie Ecclestone claims that Valentino Rossi would have been “disqualified for sure” if the controversial clash between the Italian and Marc Marquez at Sepang had taken place in Formula 1.
Rossi and Marquez came to blows at Turn 14 during the Malaysian race as Rossi tried to run his rival out wide, making contact and causing Marquez to crash.
He was handed three penalty points for his part in the incident, relegating him to the back of the grid for the Valencia finale, but was able to keep his points for finishing third.
Ecclestone thinks that MotoGP race direction was not harsh enough to Rossi, and says that the 36-year-old would have been shown the black flag had such an incident occurred in an F1 race.
"What happened is completely wrong," Ecclestone told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It is a warning for F1.
"Let me give an example. Let's suppose that Ferrari is in the running for the title and Mercedes blocks them with one of its customer teams, what would happen?
"Rossi would have been disqualified for sure. He would have had a black flag."
Right to stay in MotoGP
Some years ago, Rossi famously flirted with the idea of an F1 switch, even going so far as to take part in a number of tests with Ferrari in 2006 before ultimately deciding to remain in MotoGP.
Ecclestone has no doubts that the seven-time premier class champion made the correct decision.
"He had a couple of chances [to come to F1]," he said, "but he was at the peak of his MotoGP career.
"In Formula 1 he would have started afresh, with many doubts. He did well not to change."
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Rossi and Marquez came to blows at Turn 14 during the Malaysian race as Rossi tried to run his rival out wide, making contact and causing Marquez to crash.
He was handed three penalty points for his part in the incident, relegating him to the back of the grid for the Valencia finale, but was able to keep his points for finishing third.
Ecclestone thinks that MotoGP race direction was not harsh enough to Rossi, and says that the 36-year-old would have been shown the black flag had such an incident occurred in an F1 race.
"What happened is completely wrong," Ecclestone told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It is a warning for F1.
"Let me give an example. Let's suppose that Ferrari is in the running for the title and Mercedes blocks them with one of its customer teams, what would happen?
"Rossi would have been disqualified for sure. He would have had a black flag."
Right to stay in MotoGP
Some years ago, Rossi famously flirted with the idea of an F1 switch, even going so far as to take part in a number of tests with Ferrari in 2006 before ultimately deciding to remain in MotoGP.
Ecclestone has no doubts that the seven-time premier class champion made the correct decision.
"He had a couple of chances [to come to F1]," he said, "but he was at the peak of his MotoGP career.
"In Formula 1 he would have started afresh, with many doubts. He did well not to change."
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