Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff is pushing for the engine regulations to be unchanged in 2021 and beyond if no new manufacturer decides to join the grid.
Though a final agreement on changes to the current V6 turbo-hybrids is anticipated, recent comments by Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer and uncertainty over a possible Porsche entry is potentially meaning one of the key ambitions of Liberty Media, to encourage new suppliers, may not be met.
Therefore, if only the current four manufacturers, Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda remain, Wolff wonders what would be the point of changing anything at all?
“It’s still very much [up] for discussion,” the Austrian told RaceFans. We had a presentation that would have meant a redesign of the engine.
“All four OEMs currently engaged in Formula 1 have given their preference with an understanding from our side that we maybe needed a bit more noise and not a discussion around fuel consumption, that’s important.
“But just for the benefit of redesigning an engine, without anybody else entering, it doesn’t make a lot of sense,” he claimed.
“If somebody would commit to coming into F1 the way we have committed ourselves, all four of us – go through the lows and highs, the expense of the investment it needs – then let’s discuss engine regulations. But if nobody’s inside, it’s an academic discussion.”
While it may seem clear from the side of the Mercedes chief, Red Bull boss Christian Horner told the same outlet there is still another opinion to take into consideration.
“I think it’s down to the FIA and Liberty to decide what do they want,” he said.
Possible changes mooted so far include the removal of the MGU-H to improve the noise and the revs as well a reduce the cost, that is something that all manufacturers have accepted but it will be interesting to find out what the next step will be.
