Todt Responds to Ecclestone's Engine Sound Criticism

It's not a secret to anyone that Bernie Ecclestone isn't quite fond of Jean Todt these days – or at least of what the FIA presidency did to him in the past couple of years – as expressed in a few sections of his latest autobiography. And one particular chapter where the two don't see eye to eye is the implementation of greener engines in the series starting 2013.

While Todt has continuously been pushing F1 towards greener technologies since becoming FIA president, Ecclestone admitted he doesn't fancy the new 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engines due to be implemented in F1 two years from now. And that's for two reasons: the sport will become unattractive for Ferrari, who'll probably leave the series, and the sound of the sport will never be the same.

It took a while for Todt to issue a proper response to that, but eventually the Frenchman commented on Ecclestone's outspoken criticism of the new engine, saying that people should accept the fact that F1 will have to transit towards a greener element, and a new engine is only a first stage development of this plan.

“Already I hear about the noise, but that's evolution,” said Todt in a recent interview with Sydney Morning Herald. “Two decades ago, you had a 12-cylinder engine, now you have only 2.4 litre V8.”

“I think it's very important that F1, being the pinnacle of motor racing, takes on board the evolution of society. It will be definitely greener, with the introduction of more technologies in the future,” he added.

The new engine is due to be implemented in F1 in 2013 and aims at two different things: attract new carmakers into the series and make the sport more environmentally friendly. So far, Ferrari have been the only constructor who outspokenly criticized the move.