News that the Spanish Grand Prix is set to remain in 2020 is causing a debate among teams over the number of permitted engines next season.
A statement from the Catalan government on Friday permitted the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to sign a one-year extension to their current contract for what would be the 30th F1 race at the venue.
However, with that deal expected to take the number of races next season upto 22, it still requires agreement from the teams per the current arrangement.
At the same time, it is also suggested that the additional event would lead to an increase in the engine allocation from next year from the current three of the main components to four.
But Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto voiced opposition to the change because of what is expected to happen the following year in 2021.
“We are supportive on a 22nd race if that means some more revenues but we need to certainly be careful on the costs, the extra costs,” he said in Hungary.
“If you look as well at 2021 at the moment we are discussing for 24 races but no extra engines, no extra units, so I think it’s only a path to 2021, so increasing the number of units for next year would be simply wrong.
“It would mean, yes, more revenues, but then more costs, which would make no sense overall and so it should be on the power unit manufacturer to try to do an effort which is in the direction of 2021 to afford an extra race with the components we’ve got.”
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Red Bull boss Christian Horner countered Binotto, however, by believing the costs could be offset elsewhere.
“I think if we are to introduce a 22nd race, the majority of teams are taking penalties and using four engines anyway,” he noted.
“So one would assume that it would make sense to increase the allocation on power units and components and perhaps if we look at the ratio and say ‘well, OK, rather than using engines for going testing and if we reduce the in-season testing and pre-season testing slightly, that frees up an engine that the majority of teams they’re going to use anyway.
“From the next race there is going to be a whole raft of penalties coming through, and we’re only just halfway through the season, so introducing another race on top of that and expecting teams to get through on three engines and three sets of components is a bit of a tall ask.”