FIA invite tenders for single engine

Eurosport - Sat, 18 Oct 11:30:00 2008

Formula One's governing body has said it intends to change the rules to force teams to use a standard engine from 2010 as part of a cost-cutting drive.

FORMULA 1 - 2007 Ferrari engine - 0

The FIA issued a statement announcing a tender for "a third-party supplier of engines and transmission systems" to be used by all teams in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The tender process comes ahead of a meeting scheduled between FIA president Max Mosley and the Formula One Teams Association in Geneva after this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

The FIA has argued that the costs of F1 are unsustainable in the current economic climate and must be slashed to ensure none of the 10 teams leave the sport.

"The FIA intends to amend the regulations to require all Formula One competitors to use a standardised engine," said a spokesman, adding however that teams would be allowed to build it themselves.

"The provider will set out a detailed design for a standardised engine and either supply it in full working order or the detailed design in order to enable competitors to build their own standardised engine," he added.

"Where they want to build all or part of a standardised engine, the appointed provider will assist the FIA to ensure that all engines and parts have been built in accordance with the approved providers' designs and allow a performance output within a prescribed range."

The statement may be seen within the paddock as part of a familiar carrot-and-stick approach by the FIA to persuade the teams to swallow a more palatable alternative.

In the agenda for the Geneva meeting, a third option envisaged manufacturers supplying independent teams with a complete powertrain - engine and gearbox - package for less than five million euros per team, per season.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone backed the FIA's standard engine stance and rejected suggestions that it might push some manufacturers towards the exit.

"We're trying to get a level playing field," he said. "I don't see why [manufacturers] should leave, we're saving them an awful lot of money I hope.

"All the technical things will still be there: they can show all of their talent."

Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, who owns the Force India team, and Toro Rosso's co-owner Gerhard Berger were also supportive.

"As an independent team, I'm very happy to see things moving. I think everybody is starting to realise that we are in a very difficult situation... it's very important to move quickly," Berger said.

"Obviously the FIA have put down some proposals with the tender but hopefully FOTA can put forward some reasonable and good possibilities.

"I'm sure in the end they're going to be the best, the cheapest and most reasonable conclusion to fulfil the needs of the manufacturers and the situation."

The last independent engine manufacturer in the sport was Cosworth, who powered former champions Williams in 2006.

Others who might be interested in the tender include France-based Mecachrome, who powered Williams a decade ago, and the Ilmor Engineering operation that was once part of McLaren-Mercedes.

Crash.Net / Eurosport

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  1. Tenders for single engines so who\s pockets will this one line let me guess

    From hanniballookalike@..., on Sun 19 Oct 9:11AM

  2. JUSTIN.S YOU WAIST A LOT OF SPACE

    From stivsf1, on Sun 19 Oct 6:49AM

  3. F1 = Ferrari 1st. There are too many rules and too few passes. For someone to pass in F1 they have to make a daring move or outbrake the other guy on the inside, and the other driver will most likely have to avoid hitting them, and this allows the "stewards" to assess a penalty on the driver. JUST LET THEM RACE!!!!! Build the best engine and car you can, bring it to the track, and drive it like you stole it till the checkered flag. In F1 its no longer the best team driver combination wins, its whoever gets out front, and the stewards do everything possible to keep ferrari out front and penalize everyone else. Bourdais getting penalized is a perfect example, NO WAY that was his fault, massa is an idiot and spun himself on bourdais' nose. They waited to give bourdais the post race drive through so that massa would get a point

    From Justin S, on Sun 19 Oct 6:19AM

  4. I would like MIKE.Q to read these [6] peaces

    From stivsf1, on Sun 19 Oct 6:02AM

  5. ONE do not have to agree with these new rules I for one do not [6]

    From stivsf1, on Sun 19 Oct 5:41AM

  6. IT is 100 percent sure B.E and M.M will stir F1 over this crisis [5]

    From stivsf1, on Sun 19 Oct 5:34AM

  7. CONTRARY to what most self made/appointed experts say and write [4]

    From stivsf1, on Sun 19 Oct 5:30AM

  8. AS otherwise there is the risk of no F1 at all [3]

    From stivsf1, on Sun 19 Oct 5:27AM

  9. WE should adapt to the necessity of the times [2]

    From stivsf1, on Sun 19 Oct 5:25AM

  10. Yea, good points dstorking. The US does have a NASCAR thing to contend with that F1 does not where they operate. Definitely not ovals in F1! Having said that, many F1 races are just as, if not more boring the oval races of any formula. Once you get over the sheer spectacle and sound of F1, the racing is pretty scarce - but they do draw crowds for the aforementioned reasons.

    I love F1 and I enjoy IndyCar. I used to work in CART during a really great time when the Unsers, Andrettis and even Nigel Mansel were duking it out. The formula can work quite well.

    From jeffjune2005, on Sun 19 Oct 1:11AM

  11. Does the FIA and Bernie intend on ripping the history of Formula One to shreds all together?

    What next? All drivers must be of one nationality?

    From DB, on Sun 19 Oct 12:47AM

  12. SPANKING GOOD RESULT LEWIS!!! I AM SURE THAT MAX MOSELY WILL AGREE TIP TOP YOU DONE GREAT , WHIP THE ARSE OFF THE LOT OF THEM,!! SORRY MAX NO PUN INTENDED!!GOOD LUCK LEWIS ,A AMBASSAdour for fair play is'nt he max ????

    From STEPHEN, on Sat 18 Oct 11:35PM

  13. hey! if ferrari is so much better why do we see more merc's as taxis in greece etc,? , i can only think that that in greece unlike in fia popularity and democracyprevails YASSAU !!!!

    From STEPHEN, on Sat 18 Oct 11:04PM

  14. Hey jeffjune2005 do you want to see them on ovals as well? If this is the direction of F1 how's it going to be any different that the boring IRL races. I guess it would give Michael Andretti a chance to actually do something in F1. Of course they would still have to hold the races in the oil fields though since Bernie hates North Americans. How does it help the sport to lower the costs for the teams if no one wants to watch them race (ever see the stands at an IRL event or the TV ratings)?

    From dstorking, on Sat 18 Oct 10:48PM

  15. i have finally defined that there is a coneccetion between black and brown it boils down not to the wash, but the shirts!!!salute benito,,do not forget who is british ,don't forget your country, oswald??,didn't,did he!!, ???,for once be behind the youth of the country that has greatly rewarded democracy that pherhaps a certain grand father may have not!!!!!!,enjoy the money!!!

    From STEPHEN, on Sat 18 Oct 10:34PM

  16. Big auto will have to bail anyway due to the economic crisis. The move is smart since it will provide a vision of the future and breathe life into the independents. Same as IndyCar, the cost have to be controlled and the entertainment value must increase to attract sponsors that can sustain the sport. F1 in its current state is out of sync with the changing word.

    Viva Williams!

    From jeffjune2005, on Sat 18 Oct 10:22PM

  17. go lewis go,i dont really think that even if the red mist team employed robots as there steering wheel jockey's they would ever incurr a bad fia stewarrds deciscion, maybe they love pasta too much by the way every renaut motor i have ever had always screwd up, if you want frensh go peugeot ,not renaso!!

    From STEPHEN, on Sat 18 Oct 10:21PM

  18. is this another spanking, that certain authoritive people can enjoy being part of and will any hands be tied?, dothe teams have to wear brown shirts !!

    From STEPHEN, on Sat 18 Oct 10:03PM

  19. i am fed up of bias towards a certain prancing horse, if fair play was in touch, what a differerance the standings would be , rule britanna and stop being so weighted towards certain southern europe so called europeans

    From STEPHEN, on Sat 18 Oct 9:56PM

  20. Great idea. Drive away the motor manufacturers and have a Ferrari only F1. The trouble is that no one will be interested.

    From TYGERZI, on Sat 18 Oct 9:43PM
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