Renault suggests freezing the F1 engine development next year to help manufacturers to prepare for new engine rules prepared for 2021.
The current engine formula is valid until the end of 2020, and engine manufacturers still have to develop their engines to remain competitive by the end of this era, despite already working on developing new engines for 2021.
Freezing the development of the current engine would allow them to focus on new engines, thereby ensuring that potential new manufacturers like Aston Martin do not have an advantage because as they don’ have to develop current F1 engines.
But the process of freezing, which was time used in the period from 2007-2013, must be done fairly and logically, says Renault’s managing director Cyril Abiteboul.
“The thing we do not want is to have the burden of parallel development of the two engines,” Abiteboul told Autosport.
“There are two things on Renault’s side: first, before we commit to new rules, we need to understand a bigger picture.”
“Second, we do not see that it is acceptable and sustainable to work on two engines simultaneously for the simple reason that if there was to be a new entrant, which is what we wish, he will have a fantastic advantage in being able to focus on the future, and not to have to worry about the present and the customers. ”
Helmut Marko – FIA must freeze and balance engine performance from 2019
Red Bull Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko backed the Renault thinking and believes the FIA must freeze current engines.
“If the new rules for engines are coming, we must freeze the engines as they are now,” Marko said.
“And it should be the rule that all engines must be within 3% of performance [as it is from 2007 to 2013]. Then we can live until 2020. Nobody has to develop these engines.”
When FIA last time froze engine development in 2007 and set the rev limit to 19,000 rpm, some manufacturers like Renault and Cosworth were allowed to do modifications to bring their performance closer to Mercedes, BMW, and Ferrari.
Red Bull has won all four championship titles in the period of frozen engine development (2010-2013).
