Red Bull has urged Formula 1 to “do something different” with the new power unit regulations set for 2025 or 2026.
In Austria, representatives from Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault were joined by Audi chairman Markus Duesmann and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume to discuss the new regulations with F1 bosses and the FIA.
Later, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described the talks as a “step forward”, with a statement also put out by F1 management.
“Very positive discussions took place today with all of the current and potential new Power Unit suppliers regarding the next phase of the Formula 1 Power Unit,” it said.
“The discussions will continue over the coming weeks with further news to be announced following those discussions.”
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Interestingly, one company not represented at the meeting was Red Bull, who will take over Honda’s engine operation under their new Powertrains division from next year.
That may well trigger further speculation that the Austrian company is looking to tie up with Audi or Porsche, both of which are part of the VW Group.
Despite their absence, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has some key areas he wants to see addressed with the new power unit formula.
“We see that costs of the current engine are extremely prohibitive,” he said.
“It wasn’t thought of when this engine was conceived, and I think there’s a fantastic opportunity for what could arguably be the engine for 10 years, when it’s introduced, to do something a little bit different.
“I think it has to address the emotion, the sounds, and of course it has to tick the sustainable boxes, but I think it still needs to be entertaining – otherwise, we should all go and do Formula E.
“Hopefully, the collective minds can come up with something attractive for 2025, or what would be more sensible is to do the job properly for 2026.”
After the meeting, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suggested the current V6 hybrids would stay but with a “massively increased” electrical component from the ERS.
Also important is the planned introduction of 100 per cent sustainable biofuels that will significantly increase fuel and engine efficiency.
However, whether that goes far enough to bring critics of the current engines on side could be up for debate.
“It would be a great shame to carry over what currently is a very expensive engine and try and make it cheap. You can’t fly in first class and pay an economy ticket,” Horner added.
“Hopefully there’s an opportunity – particularly if it was for ’26 – to come up with an engine that’s sustainable, that’s environmentally friendly, that uses biofuel, that is a bit more of a clean sheet, perhaps with elements of standardisation where costs can clearly be controlled, rather than just carry over what we currently have.”