FIA gives us cause to worry

The proposals regarding the new F1 power unit regulations for 2021 have been released after a meeting between representatives of the FIA, the F1 commercial rights holder, and the current and prospective F1 manufacturers.

Removing the lengthy preambles and statements we are left with the following: v 1.6 litre V6 Turbo Hybrid;

• 3000 rpm higher engine running speed range to improve sound;
• Prescriptive internal design parameters to restrict development costs and discourage extreme designs and running conditions;
• Removal of the MGUH;
• More powerful MGUK with focus on manual driver deployment in race together with option to save up energy over several laps to give a driver controlled tactical element to racing;
• Single turbo with dimensional constraints and weight limits;
• Standard energy store and control electronics;
• High level of external prescriptive design to give “Plug-And-Play” engine/chassis/transmission swap capability, and
• The intention to investigate tighter fuel regulations and limits on number of fuels used.

There has to be a starting point for any negotiation and I suppose the proposal presented by the FIA and F1 were as good as any but there are a couple of points that concern me.

You will note the word “prescriptive” occurs on two occasions.

To me it implies official limitations in research and development. The first time it occurs is regarding internal design parameters, the second is linked to the externals to provide a “Plug-AndPlay” scenario.

Does this mean that a supplier of the items mentioned will have to ensure their components will be interchangeable with every other supplier’s offerings?

Next up there is the standardisation of the energy store and control electronics and possible restrictions to fuel regulations and limiting the number of fuels available.

The concept of standardising to save costs can not appeal to competitors like Ferrari who, with the longest unbroken participation in F1, use it as a living laboratory for the company’s road cars, plus its main marketing effort.

Surely all those who currently manufacture power units are keen to ensure the cars bearing their name on track are designed and built by themselves and their sub-suppliers, not by cobbling together components from a prescribed parts bin.

If the concept is to attract more manufacturers and retain those currently involved, moving to prescribed and standard design components is surely a complete anathema.

Add to that controls on the fuel and number of suppliers, which certainly will do nothing to foster continued sponsorship or research into a more energy efficient product.

Already the new proposals have met with resistance. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is concerned that this is an all new power unit and will lead to more expenditure, while Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne threatened to leave the sport if the engine changes have no relevance to the company’s production vehicles.

All these standardisations bring to mind another formula that relied heavily on shared and prescribed components – A1 GP.

We know what happened to that … Daniil Kvyat’s replacement at Toro Rosso, New Zealander Brendon Hartley, with Porsche team mates Earl Bamber and Timo Bernhard took second place in the penultimate round of the World Endurance Championship in Shanghai last weekend securing the world title for the second time.

It was Porsche’s third consecutive crown and marks the end of an era as the team withdraws from LMP1 at the end of the 2017season.

With Frenchman Pierre Gasly alongside Hartley the Toro Rosso line up looks well set for next season – hopefully Honda can produce a power plant to match the talent.

This weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix should provide some good racing as Sebastian Vettel is determined to take victory at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace and the finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

With both the Drivers’ and Constructers’ titles sewn up, those at the front can enjoy pure racing with no concerns about championship strategies.

The mid-field teams will fight for the fifth spot in the championship. Currently Williams hold that position on 76 points, Toro Rosso trail by 23 points with Renault and Haas next up on 48 and 47 points respectively.

Filipe Massa has once again announced his retirement from F1, but this time he won’t come back.

The possible return of Robert Kubica and reserve driver Paul di Resta seem the most likely.