FIA may move to equalize F1 engines

Posted Sun Jun 8 2008 2:33 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

The FIA may be contemplating how to equalize the performance of the engines in formula one, according to reports. Together with the 19,000 rpm limit, the sport is in the midst of a so-called 'freeze' on most engine development, meaning that the basic power plants currently installed in teams' cars will remain unchanged for several years. An arguable glitch in the cost-cutting rule, however, is that some engine manufacturers are enjoying a performance advantage over their rivals.

Ferrari is said to have prepared best for the engine freeze, now regularly dominating the speed traps at F1 circuits, but Mercedes-Benz and BMW are also widely believed to have clearly more powerful 2.4 litre V8 units than Renault, Toyota and Honda. The Spanish newspaper Diario AS is reporting that the FIA is thinking about redressing the balance by introducing some sort of engine performance limiter in 2009, controlled via the standard ECU.

The less likely option cited by AS is the concept of simply opening up some areas of development for those with the less powerful engines so they can catch up with the pacesetters.

Reader Comments

Sun Jun 8 2008 8:27 AM
Alan says

This sucks, there's too much regulations in F1 nowadays, at this rate F1 will be no different to A1 GP in few years time
Sun Jun 8 2008 10:04 AM
Gus says

I thought F1 was about pushing the absolute limit of technology? If you want racing based on a more or less "level" playing field, watch NASCAR...
Sun Jun 8 2008 1:26 PM
James says

Max Mosley is determined to ruin F1 before he leaves, isn't he? He forgets that there is more to speed traps than raw horsepower. It's called AERODYNAMICS. Hello? Anyone with a brain in the FIA? Hello?

It's a damn shame Mosley was allowed to stick around. By the time he's done ruining things Formula One ought to be renamed Formula None..
Sun Jun 8 2008 4:07 PM
Eljay says

Oh,it'll probably get worse. With the increasingly fashionable politically correct car-bashing it's just a matter of (very little) time before F1 cars are reduced to pedal cars powered by tofu-chewing drivers...
Sun Jun 8 2008 9:27 PM
MyWheelsOnWalls.com says

Does this mean F1 will now be getting money from Budweiser and DeWalt? Also the standard dress code could change to flip flops and cut off t-shirts with your belly hanging out, and thats just the men..... oh and the short supply of folks employed with a company dental plan. Although this last tid bit could also apply to a current F1 race in England!

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