Formula 1’s efforts to lure new manufacturers onto the grid in 2021 have taken a blow after Porsche and Lamborghini both ruled out returns as engine suppliers.
Significant changes were expected to be made to the current V6 turbo-hybrids to simplify, cheapen and increase the noise of the power units in just over two years time, however, in the face of opposition from current manufacturers, it is expected they will now be fairly limited.
Initial negotiations did indeed attract greater interest with the likes of Aston Martin, Cosworth and Porsche seriously considering the possibility, but after the first two already ruled out an entry, now the German carmaker has joined them.
The time for an F1 entry is just wrong,” an insider for Porsche’s parent company Volkswagen told Auto Motor und Sport.
Lamborghini is always a name mentioned given they are headed by former Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, however, the Italian pointed to the same reasons for opting out.
“The investment needed just to participate, let alone win, is too high,” he told Auto Bild. “As long as there is a two-class society in F1, it’s is not a playing field for us. If we get in, we have to be strong and win.”
Comparing the supercar brand to Ferrari, Domenicali added: “The priorities for Lamborghini are different. Ferrari was born in racing. Lamborghini was not.”
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One man not too concerned is FIA president Jean Todt, who understood the argument put forward by Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Honda.
“My priority is to make sure that we keep them four,” he said. “I always said it would be very unfair to the four engaged to say, ‘OK, we want to attract a new one so let’s change everything’.
“But what about them? What about all the investment they have been doing for years and we say, we change completely the regulations because we may have one or two coming?
“That is one of the reasons why it was not a revolution on the engine regulations.
“Now if we can secure those four for me that would be a great achievement.”