Ecclestone Brings Standard-Engine Solution to the Table

Only a day after FIA President Max Mosley announced that a new cut-costing policy is to be implemented within Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone already came up with the first idea. And, since we all know that Bernie's ideas have a strange habit of turning into rules at one point, F1 teams should pay attention.

What Bernie suggested was a standard-engine rule that teams should comply with until 2010. Of course, not every constructor would start the season with the same exact engine, but the technicians would have to build it based on a pre-set design. As far as the 'private' teams go – the ones that use engine units from other manufacturers – their powerplants would be developed by an independent engine-builder.

'The new engine will be equalized and there will only be two engine changes a year, so costs are going to dramatically come down, and I mean dramatically. The thing I am most excited about is pushing and pushing and pushing the homologated engine idea', said Bernie on an interview for The Times newspaper.

Creating a safer, less-expensive F1 racing environment was regarded as top priority for FIA regarding the next few years. Super Aguri was forced to abandon their plans for a full season in 2008 after running out of funds shortly before the Turkish Grand Prix.

With the new economic crisis threatening to reach Formula 1 too, Mosley already warned all teams that overspending will no longer be regarded as a possibility starting 2009. Cutting engine, gearbox and car prices down to a minimum would be the first step to avoid financial collapse. In fact, part of the saved money will most likely be invested in the environment-friendly KERS technology that's expected to debut in F1 next year.