The teams should discuss an engine equalization

The FIA should discuss equalizing Formula 1 engines during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend at the next F1 commission meeting. This was revealed by Autosport.

This question of parity would follow an analysis by the FIA on the performance of power units. Since 2022, engine manufacturers are no longer allowed to modify the performance of their engines. The engine manufacturers (Ferrari, Mercedes, Honda, and Renault) can only work on the reliability of the power units.

According to Autosport, the French manufacturer Alpine would be worried that its engine (the Renault engine), only used by the French team, would be less powerful than the others.

According to sources from the automotive magazine, the performance of the French engine would have a lack of power of between 20 and 33 horsepower compared to its competitors. So far, neither Renault nor the FIA have commented on this possible lack of power.

This lack of power would create a significant disparity. Due to the regulation, the FIA has enforced an engine freeze until 2025 with strict limits on engine improvements for reliability, safety, cost reduction, or minimal accidental modifications. Therefore, Renault cannot improve its power unit.

Not a first

This is not the first time that the FIA has sought to equalize the engines. In 2007, the Federation had already equalized the engines. Before the engine freeze in 2022, the FIA had decided that there would be no specific regulations because the FIA believed that the performances were close enough.

If the F1 commission decides to investigate engine equalization, there are no solutions yet to determine how Renault will be able to improve its engine.

« Following suggestions that there is a discrepancy in performance between engines used in F1, the World Motor Sport Council has decided that if this is the case, and if teams wish to eliminate this performance gap, they could be allowed to do so by reducing the performance of the most powerful engines. However, no engine upgrades will be allowed, the FIA had stated during the World Motor Sport Council meeting in September.

Since the hybrid V6 has been implemented, no request for equalization has been successful.