Interest in the engine Formula 1 could introduce from 2020 appears to be growing after several more manufacturers attended the second meeting on Monday on the topic.
Motorsport.com claims former supplier Cosworth and Aston Martin, who is currently in a partnership with the Red Bull team, were the noticeable names alongside Zytek and Magneti Marelli who were also present for the first time.
This follows an initial meeting in March of the FIA Power Unit Working Group featuring the four current suppliers, motorsport managing director Ross Brawn, FIA representatives and the Volkswagen Group, who has long been linked with a return to F1 either with the Audi or more recently the Porsche name.
On Tuesday, we reported how Ross Brawn was looking at enabling greater support or allowing greater freedom for prospective new suppliers in the first years of their participation in an effort to avoid the problems suffered by Honda, as they struggle to match the performance and reliability of their rivals three years after returning as engine partner to McLaren.
It’s doubtful that had any bearing on the increased attendance but the meeting was said to be constructive and a general consensus seems to favour an engine similar to that currently being used, with an emphasis on technology still deemed an integral part of F1.
That would also be in line with rumours of a twin-turbo V6 and a return to the KERS used pre-2014, albeit with much more power, being the preferred choice for now.
A third meeting is expected to take place in September, with individual consultations with all parties expected in that time and a potential first concrete proposal put forward at an FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting also scheduled for that month.