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Cosworth eyeing F1 comeback with low budget engine

Published on 12 Aug 2015 13:07
6
By: Calle Nilsson

Cosworth might be considering a return to F1 as an engine supplier in 2017. This is the claim of Jonathan Noble, editor at Motorsport.com. Amid discussions to cut costs and make it easier for customer teams with lower budgets to survive in the sport, a dual engine route has been discussed by the Formula One Group. This route would introduce a simpler and cheaper turbo V6 engine, or even old V8 engines, as an alternative for customer teams.

"I think we can possibly have the other teams running maybe with a different type of engine that will be the same performance, but a lot less money, " Bernie Ecclestone, F1's commercial chief told Motorsport.com. Ecclestone also think current engine suppliers should be able to proceed in developing their engines.

"I'm saying we'll leave everything as it is for the constructors. Don't touch it."

However, it would be close to impossible for current teams to develope two different engines at once. The solution could be for Cosworth to resurrect their F1 Programme. Since their departure from F1 in 2013, a return with a cheaper engine has frequently been rumoured, not least when Cosworth opened a new engine plant in Northampton, England, which was said to be able to produce engines meeting requirements of the for 2014 new engine regulations. The british company is supposedly in serious talk of a return to the sport, considering whether it will be economically feasable for them to supply teams with engines again. An unnamed spokesman from Cosworth told Motorsport.com that F1 is an important platform for the company.

"Cosworth's business is on an upward trajectory and remains focused on three core pillars: automotive, performance aftermarket and motorsport.

"Formula 1 has always played a key role in Cosworth's business, and the company will always remain close to the sport. However, we are not in a position to comment on specific rumours."

The latter statement might however imply that the rumours about their return to the sport might just be rumours. In any case, their return will remain pure speculations until the Formula One Group has decided further on what directions they want the 2017 season to take.

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Replies (6)

MP4/4 SW

Posts: 6
I don't see this being a positive for customer teams, Cosworth had OK engines but they were really unreliable
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- Aug 12 2015 - 13:54
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  These last years they were, but otherwise Cosworth hasn't had too bad engines. They are after all second to Ferrari when it comes to most wins (engine supplier-wise). But I guess its better than nothing, and if it could help them economically, sacrificing some reliability might be worth it, longterm.
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  Aug 12 2015 - 14:00
- MP4/4 SW
  
  Posts: 6
  True, they have had decent engines in the past, with good power outputs, but in this day and age they need to be reliable due to the utter nonsense of engines they are using now. I don't see much teams keen on using them though unless Sauber decide to jump ship from Ferrari, but even that's maybe a bit of a long shot seeing as Ferrari's development programme is catching up to Mercedes quicker than Renault (Unfortunately)
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  Aug 12 2015 - 14:06
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I could see both Sauber and Manor making swap to a cheaper alternative, if they survive until then. If it will be a cheaper option than any of the existing suppliers, they'll be alot cheaper than Ferrari's engines, so any of the existing customers could have a better time economically. And it could help more new teams back to the sport. And the engines they'd supply their customers with would not be Hybrid Turbo V6s, just Turbo V6s, or even old N/A V8s, so as for reliability they'd have to worry less about things like ERS failure, brake issues, MPU-K failures, and so on, which is something, I guess. And the first year they'd get one more engine to use without penalty per driver, which is sort of helpful.
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  Aug 12 2015 - 16:35
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  As of Renault's developement... there are upgrades on their way. A little too late, in my opinion, wont exactly save their season, but better than nothing. Assuming it will improve their performance, however little said improvement may be. Its nice that Ferrari has improved, but I doubt we've seen a serious Mercedes this year. I can only imagine how it might look like if they decide on using more tokens to improve their engine further.
  I am however glad that Honda slowly but steadily seem to gain some ground, although very little. Has been a pain as a Honda fan to see them lack the reliability they are so renowned for with their road cars.
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  Aug 12 2015 - 16:49
scf1fan

Posts: 58
Ok RB, put your money where your mouth is! Here is your chance to prove you can do something other than just ride on A.Newey's coat tails. You'll get a lot of credit as racers if you can help bring back one of the great names in F1 history. (IMHO anyway. :-)
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- Aug 15 2015 - 06:42