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FIA picks Cosworth as official F1 engine supplier

 
5 5,781 views Dec 6, 2008

Teams can either pick the new engine or stick with detuned versions of their current 2.4L V8 powerplants

Teams can either pick the new engine or stick with detuned versions of their current 2.4L V8 powerplants

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Critics of Formula One have long complained that the series is too expensive and lacks real competition. Rule changes, including a ten-year engine development freeze, to help combat those tendencies of the world's premier road racing league have helped, but now the FIA is taking radical steps to help cut costs and improve the level of rivalry between teams. After imposing a standard drivetrain for the 2010-2012 period late last week, the organizing body of F1 has finally picked a company to supply a low-cost engine and transmission package in 2010 and beyond.

The teams of manufacturers that currently populate the series are strongly opposed to a standard, one-maker drivetrain, since it eliminates a huge part of the branding and engineering side of the sport, not to mention that it undercuts, collectively, billions of dollars of investment and thousands of hours spent designing and manufacturing the engines for the past season.

However, teams not wanting to use the standard engine have "the right to build an engine themselves", or a detuned version of their current 2.4L V8s, but must use a standard transmission supplied by Ricardo Transmissions.

Max Mosley defended the action, saying it's in the best interest of the teams and the sport, reports Bloomberg. "Even before current global financial problems, teams were spending far more than their incomes," wrote Mosley in a letter to the heads of the individual teams. "As a result, the independent teams are now dependent on the goodwill of rich individuals, while the manufacturers' teams depend on massive handouts from their parent companies. There is now a real danger that in some cases these subsidies will cease."

It is revealed that the cost to teams wanting to use the un-badged Cosworth engine option will be €2 million, plus €5.5 million each season.

"The annual cost will reduce if more (than four) teams take up the option," FIA president Max Mosley wrote.

Mosley said the measures will help small teams survive, and also pave the way for the replacement of more outgoing manufacturers, "as seems likely" to be necessary.

He wants four teams to sign up for the scheme by next Thursday, or the price may go up.



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Comments (5)

  1. ma_Jim avatar Jim Posted: 10/22/2008 7:11am PDT

    I can't imagine any auto manufacturer continuing to sponsor a F1 team if the series goes to spec engines. It may be cheaper to go racing but there will be less money to support it.
     
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  2. ma_Layne avatar Layne Posted: 10/22/2008 11:43am PDT

    Max Mosley needs to resign, NOW! He is ruining my beloved F1. I mean, spec engines? Why don't they just start running purely on ovals too while they're at it. How far behind can the decision be for spec aerodynamics?
     
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  3. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 10/31/2008 8:14pm PDT

    "the manufacturers' teams depend on massive handouts from their parent companies"

    Max, we call that "marketing budget".

    Layne, I don't care about and car bodies and chassis. I only care abut spec engines. Formula 1 is meant to show the carmakers' cutting-edge technology. A Renault-engined Ferrari or a Ford-engined BMW is a sacrilege.
     
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  4. ma_Layne avatar Layne Posted: 12/8/2008 2:52am PST

    Ya this NASCAR-ization of F1 just infuriates me. It's kind of ironic too when you consider that Nascar is now starting to falter. Attendance and ratings are down significantly, and manufacturers are considering pulling out because they realize due to the spec racing "their" stock cars don't even resemble their production cars, nor do they share much technology. Which might be ok, if the cars were at least differentiated from each other so each manufacturer could display their technical abilities. But they're not, so there just isn't much marketing sense in supporting the series anymore.

    And yet somehow the geniuses at the FIA think it's a good idea to go to what amounts to a spec racing series. If they cause Ferrari to leave F1 there are going to be riots in the streets!
     
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  5. By Dean Posted: 10/14/2010 6:27pm PDT

    I guess I have to watch Indycar or IRL. Give me a vote and I'll approve turbos and ground effects. What will they call it if it isn't racing anymore. I will need a new reason to live.
     
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