Horner: "F1 should increase engine allocation"
- Published on 06 Sep 2017 11:21
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Christian Horner says he will propose that F1 scraps plans to further ramp up the controversial long-life engine rules next year. Already on new F1 chief Ross Brawn's table is an idea to reform the often farcical imposition of grid penalties for engine component changes.
But Horner, the Red Bull boss, told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that the real problem is that drivers are not allocated enough engines per season under the current and ultra-complex 'power unit' regulations. For instance, with some drivers already well into their allocation of four engines after 13 races in 2017, the regulations are set to reduce that limit to three engines in 2018.
"This problem should be the number one issue at the next strategy (group) meeting," said Horner. The Austrian newspaper said Horner proposes that F1 ups the per-driver engine allocation to five per season. Horner added: "It would be a pity if the world championship was decided by something like the number of engines." (GMM)
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Replies (10)
Login to replykngrthr
Posts: 203
Agree with him.
4 engines is rediculous, 3 is just stupid.
lets have a vote.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Nothing to vote about. Its silly to decrease it further.
Barron
Posts: 625
Stupido +1
Patentprutser
Posts: 392
The penalties in Monza were a joke. Drivers who dropped out in Q1 started at place 9 and 10 because of the penalties. Decreasing the number of engines per driver is going to make everything worse will every race at Spa and Monza a joke because of the grid penalties
talktohenry
Posts: 362
Disagree, better if they make engines which last longer and cut costs....
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Yes, but how are they going to do that? They are trying, Im sure of that, but looking at it, only one supplier can guarantee decent reliability for their customers. That'd be Mercedes. Cutting costs is something they should do anyway, and Im all for that, but the problem is that the regulations do as of now hurt the sport. Having 3 engines each isnt realistic, and would make the sport a penalty marathon snark fest. Like I've said, they dont need to increase it to 5 of each part anymore, most of them dont need that, but let them stick with 4 of each, or revamp the system to allow more flexibility in what parts the teams can use. Most doesnt need 4 ICEs, for an example, while most seem to use up MGU-H:es faster than I change underwear.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
I guarantee you there is nothing they would rather do. But when you're in an arms race, that's never going to happen. But Ferrari and Mercedes, as well as Honda and Renault really, are pushing the envelope as much aso the can for incremental gains, oftentimes that leads to failure because you went too far.
They should make the engines so simple that there is only so much you can do before you are entering the point of diminishing returns. Then allocate a number of engines equal to the number of races in a season. And if an engine blows up after three l they've used their allocated engines in races, they should be able to re-use an earlier one, or use an extra at the cost of say a 5 grid penalty.
denis1304
Posts: 284
If I remember correctly Wolf said that development to make engines last longer is actually more expensive than producing extra engine
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Could very well be. Then again, Mercedes really dont seem to have much of a problem with reliability, so they probably want the regulations to decrease the allowed allocations, since it'll impact their rivals worse than themselves.
talktohenry
Posts: 362
Basically the engines have't caught up with the regs and have been pushing it too far, once they relax development in line with keeping inside the regs, reliability will come.