http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 61588.html
Oh my goodness…the current prospects for the new engine formula:
Rough translation:
# there have been fuel consumption measurements in Spa: Mercedes is 2.5% in front of Ferrari, 4% in front of Renault and 7% in front of Honda. In this engine formula fuel consumption reflects engine power.
# in former times, when there were stable regulations, the different engine manufacturers more or less converged within 4 years in terms of power output, but not in the current V6-formula
# not even big players are able to close the gap, which is going to deter new engine suppliers from joining F1
# therefore half of the field has no chance to win
# next year is going to be worse in terms of grid penalties, because one PU less than in 2017 and one race more (3 PU’s, and 21 races)
# Mercedes and Renault are not willing to increase the available PU-elements for 2018, because they have already developed their PU’s for the required / increased milage
(=> my opinion: I can understand Mercedes, but Renault?? There is no single Renault-Team without grid penalties caused by exceeded use of PU components this year)
# a different penalty system won’t help
Pros: it’s easier to understand for the fans
Cons: if a team gets a constructers points penalty for exceeding the PU-components, it’s not fair to customers [because they don’t build the PU’s] and they are not responsible for engine failures. Or if a team gets a monetary penalty it isn’t fair either and helps the rich teams.
# another problem of the current system: there are only 4 suppliers and they have their own works outfits, so they also have their own interests for their works teams.
# an independent supplier is not possible because the current engine formula is way to complicated
# as a result F1 is in the hands of car manufacturers. If a team is not happy with a certain PU it’s nearly impossible to get another, because the works outfits don’t want to strengthen a competitor and it costs millions to supply an additional team (because of infrastructure and so on)
# McLaren now is very similar to Red Bull in 2015
# 40 years ago it was a no brainer for Cosworth whether they supply 5 or 8 teams.
# the intention of the new 2021 engine formula was simplification: V6 Biturbo without MGU-H, a stronger MGU-K and spec parts for e-motor, battery and TC
# but, the longer the discussions take, the more the basic idea gets washed out
# the manufacturers want to distinguish their PU-solutions and want as little spec parts as possible.
# Merc and Renault want to keep the MGU-H (with the TC the most complicated part of the current PU) because they say it’s kind of a future technology
# and it’s looking good for them because Brawn already said, they would allow the MGU-H, but only as a spec part.
# conclusion: apart from high costs, the manufacturers have gained not much. The vast majority of fans don’t care or don’t know what kind of technical masterpieces are in the cars. And for Merc PR would have been the same, if they would have won their 3 titles with simpler V6-Biturbos+KERS.
