Ilmor and Cosworth back F1 2021 engine regulations

Engine companies Ilmor and Cosworth have both backed the new rules regarding Formula 1 engines which are set to be introduced in 2021. Last week, teams were officially told how the new regulations would shape up for the next era of F1.

The current 1.6-litre V6 engine will stay, however, the complex MGU-H will be abandoned. Current F1 manufactures Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault, have all criticised the rules and the direction they believe it is taking F1. 

However, Cosworth managing director Bruce Wood said: "We think the [proposed] rules are something that open it up to a much wider group of people technically and to a much smaller amount of money, which can only interest more people. The key thing is that anybody new coming in would have to spend a lot, lot less.

Steve Miller, managing director of Ilmor says that the announced regulations are not only good news for manufacturers but for fans also: "It's inherently the right thing to do to get away from an over-complicated product that doesn't sound good and is not really turning on the fans.

"If they come out of this with a measured view of what's required to get more manufacturers on the grid, then it is easily achievable from the platform they are working from and I think they are headed in the right direction," he added.

The present manufacturers of Formula 1 are upset because they have thrown hundreds of millions building and developing the current power units, and do not want to see the money go to waste. The news to ditch the MGU-H has not gone down well, as Renault's Cyril Abiteboul explains.

"We actually believe that the MGU-H is a fantastic device in order to have sustainable power around the lap and during the whole race," he told BBC. "So that is the sort of disconnect we may be finding ourselves in right now. My problem with the removal of the MGU-H is that as soon as you do that it is a new engine.

"It fundamentally changes the way the energy is managed within the engine, the way the turbo is working and so on and so forth. It is a new combustion concept, a new way to manage turbo lag and efficiency, so it is new design of turbo and so on - a new engine."

Fergal Walsh