Mercedes engine chief Andy Cowell has joined the list of figures criticising the FIA’s decision to restrict drivers to just three power units for the entire 2018 season before penalties.
Last season, many became disenchanted by the large number of drivers having to take grid penalties at different races after surpassing the previous limit of four, though, of those using the German manufacturers, only Lewis Hamilton used a fifth of certain elements, doing so by choice after crashing out in qualifying in Brazil.
FIA president Jean Todt has insisted the reason for reducing the number again for this year is as part of efforts to reduce costs but, as Cowell pointed out, that is far from the reality.
“It’s crazy,” he was reported by Italy’s Corriere dello Sport as saying.
“We will build at least 80-100 engines and then test them on the bench and take the three or four that have the best reliability and power characteristics. That’s a huge cost that the manufacturers will not be able to recover.”
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Not only is the idea to reduce costs for the engine makers but also the price the customer teams pay to use those engines, but Renault advisor and four-time F1 champion Alain Prost rubbished that suggestion too.
“My [Prost GP] V10 engine cost €23m in 2001 and we would have paid €25.5m the following year if we had survived,” he told Auto Plus.
“Today we are at engine prices between 12 and 14 million. Each manufacturer has therefore brought down prices with significantly more complex engines.”
Red Bull team principal has continually tried to obtain the full support of all team which would be required to increase the limit, however, each time, Ferrari has rebuffed those attempts.