Engine freeze… another 10 years of stagnation
Last Wednesday, during its extraordinary world council, the FIA implemented a new regulation regarding the engines of F1 cars. They can no longer be modified starting in 2008 and will maintain the same performance for 10 years. This is aimed at reducing development costs. « There will be a freeze on engine development for the […]
Last Wednesday, during its extraordinary world council, the FIA implemented a new regulation regarding the engines of F1 cars. They can no longer be modified starting in 2008 and will maintain the same performance for 10 years. This is aimed at reducing development costs.
« There will be a freeze on engine development for the next ten years starting from 2008. » declared the FIA in a statement.
Nevertheless, the council insisted on qualifying the regulation through a modification of the engines after 5 years. A change could be decided in five years but with the unanimous agreement of all seat holders at the World Council and with a two-year notice period, the statement reports.
The teams aim to be as competitive as possible. Freezing the engines is therefore not the right solution for them. They must find new ways to compensate for this lack of room for improvement, but the FIA will not decide otherwise and has stated that no exceptions will be granted for the development of certain parts of the engine, as is the case in the current regulations.
The room for maneuver will therefore be minimal from next season, and teams will have their work cut out for them to compensate for this loss of performance.