“Unanimous agreement was reached on a list of proposed changes to the Renault engine for 2009; all other engines will remain unchanged. Comparative testing will not be necessary,” read the FIA statement earlier today.
Honda was also supposed to benefit from the FIA exemption in terms of power boost, but the Japanese manufacturer announced quitting the championship before the start of next season.
Renault have been granted the right to further develop their engine – despite the engine development ban issued by FIA after the 2006 season – because the team had failed to keep the peace with their championship rivals in terms of engine development from the time the ban was announced until it was actually implemented.
Renault and Honda were the only F1 constructors that were left 'stuck' with the low-performance units for the 2007 & 2008 seasons. In an effort to equalize performance down the field, FIA have therefore given the French manufacturer a boost ahead of their preparations for the 2009 season. Flavio Briatore's team are expected to gain up to 30 hp in engine performance as compared to the 2008 season.
Red Bull will also benefit from the stronger power plants in 2009, as Christian Horner's team will be using Renault power plants in the upcoming season. With the other independent teams using Mercedes (Force India), Ferrari (Toro Rosso) or Toyota (Williams) engines, the two teams remain the only F1 outfits to benefit from the new rule in 2009.
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