Thoughts on current F1 Regulations

[Nitrodaze]

The simplest way to cut engine development costs is to cap what an engine supplier can charge a team for an engine supply for the season. i.e. $5 million per season per team. The engine supplier can then develop their engine during the season at no extra cost to the team. If the same engine regs are used for a number of years the development costs will reduce as the engines go through their life cycles and need less work. There will be no stupid penalties whenever an engine needs replacement etc.

I know this isn't a perfect solution and the manufacturers that supply a number of teams will have an advantage as will the likes of Renault who intend to only supply their own team, but I am sure the clever people can come up with a formula for costing based on these facts.

It would seem the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone are whipping up a new scheme to introduce cheaper engine for new and smaller teams; see the following:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34629481

The initial suggestion is for a 2.2 litre V6 engine with a small hybrid component offered at capped price. Also Teams would be given freedom to develop their car as they see fit provided they stick within a capped budget. Teams may also choose not to operate a capped budget but must run to the current hybrid regulations. To free the teams opting for the capped budget from the mights of the manufacturing teams, the capped price engine shall be produced by a manufacturer who wins an open bid to supply these engines.

If we compare both engines broadly, capped engine would be 2.2 liters V6 which would require more fuel than the current 100 litre max fuel comsuption hybrid engines. Hence the 2.2L capped engine cars are going to be logging around large quantities of fuel and the associated weight disadvantages, particularly at the start of races. The idea of refuelling has resurfaced as a result. The current spec cars would be 600cc shy of the capped engines which would make it possible for the midfield teams like Force India with decent chassis to have comparative performance to the 1.6litre hybrid cars. Though with the added fuel weight disadvantages and possibly longer stops for tyre and fuel.

The idea sounds interesting on paper but how does that align with the FIA's commitments to greener F1. The 2.2 litre engines would be less greener as they would produce higher emissions. There would be a two tier regulations in F1. This is not new as MotoGP has been operating this sort of format for close to 4 years now. And had little impact at the sharp end of the grid where manufacturer teams like Yamaha, Honda and Ducati still remained.

The real question is how are they going to operate this new format, such that it does not turn out to be a punishment to the manufacturer teams. Could we be seeing Manufacturer teams disappearing from F1 in the near future? The other consideration is, should the 2.2 litre engine prove to be more competitive than the 1.6 hybrid engine, thus causing the manafacturers to abandon their 1.6 v6 engines; having a standard engine like in go karting, is likely to drastically reduce innovation in engines which would have transitioned to road cars. The technology competition that brings about novel ideas and designs would be eradicated from the series. The supplier of the capped engine would not be inspired to do much more than required by the specification provided. Some would say F1 would be losing its diversity. The very things that make this formula the pinnacle of motorsport.

Manufacturer teams would be seeking some level of parity in the regulation to ensure they can compete on a level playing field. The current token system would certainly put the manufacturer teams at a disadvantage. Unless the same rule would apply to the capped engine manufacturer. Finding the right level of parity between the two formats is where the key to success of this idea lies. If they get it wrong, manufacturer teams would simply lose interest in F1. We could be back to a strictly privateer team formula which is not necessarily a bad thing. The question is would Ferrari hang around this new formula? I can see Mercedes packing up shop if there is no commercial advantage in the new format for them. This is likely to be the case for Ferrari as well. I am sure you can imagine the impact of these two manufacturers leaving the series.

I suppose we should wait to hear more and see the reactions of the manufacturer teams.