Honda Hails Engine Performance Equalization

The latest decision (well, it's yet to be implemented) by the International Automobile Federation concerning engine equalization inside the sport starting 2009 has raised many pros and cons within the F1 paddock. While teams like Ferrari, McLaren and BMW are obviously against such a measure, the other constructors – including independent teams – want engine performance inside F1 to be equalized as soon as possible.

FIA previously decided to allow some of the teams inside Formula 1 to work on their engine – in spite of the engine freeze law – in order to equalize performance within the sport. The international federation argued that, shortly after implementing the engine freeze a few years ago, some of the F1 manufacturers (McLaren, Ferrari and BMW) have updated their outputs by approximately 30 hp as compared to the other teams.

“We have to have a sensible equilibrium, and it does need fettling all the time. You know what you feel is the correct equilibrium, and you know you're going to have to adjust it because you didn't quite get it right. That is part of the process as far as I am concerned.

“The homologated engine has served a purpose, and those who have had an advantage from it should be glad they had their advantage and be prepared to (accept change). The rules say fair and equitable – and I don't think it is fair and equitable at the moment,” said Honda's boss Ross Brawn.

“If you said, right we are going to freeze the engine, you guys did a great job and you will get an advantage for a year and then we will find some way to bring it all together, I think everyone would understand that. But to say you are going to freeze an engine, originally for 10 years, then there is bound to be a league table of performance. So whoever is at the top maintains that advantage for 10 years and whoever is at the bottom maintains that disadvantage for 10 years. It just doesn't seem right”, added the former Ferrari ace.

Brawn's statement comes only weeks after Renault's Flavio Briatore urged FIA to take the matter into their hands and provide the other teams with an 'engine freeze' opening. However, FIA is yet to issue an official statement on the matter – although everyone agrees it's just a matter of time until that happens. If such a rule will be adopted by the international federation, the teams benefiting from it would be closely supervised so they won't be gaining any advantages over the 'original three'.