FIA to Announce New F1 Engine Rules Next Week

Formula One will have a new engine in 2013, if we are to trust the latest report coming from the BBC, the series’ official broadcaster. Despite the opposition showed on this topic by the very boss of F1 Bernie Ecclestone, as well as some very potent manufacturers (Ferrari included) it seems the International Automobile Federation (FIA) is pushing forward with its engine plans.

According to the aforementioned report, cited by the GMM news agency, the normally-aspirated V8 currently used in Formula One – and which has been subject to engine freeze policies for almost half of decade – will likely be replaced by a more efficient 1.6 4-cylinder turbo unit, also benefiting from energy recovery systems.

The reason why several car manufacturers in the series are opposing the move is because the F1 technical department of each of those companies will now need large sums of money to develop the new unit. Simply put, such a change in regulations will lead to increased costs for the manufacturers.

Additionally, the fact that each manufacturer will be allowed to start from scratch and develop its brand new unit may lead to big advantages (or disadvantages) for some of them. That particular fear was raised by Ecclestone himself.

“We have a very good engine formula. Why should we change it to something that is going to cost millions of pounds and that nobody wants and that could end up with one manufacturer getting a big advantage?” said Ecclestone recently.

According to the BBC however, the F1 Commission and the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council will take only a few days before rubber-stamping the new regulations, which will likely be announced next Friday.