what do u think? Would this make for a better future in F1?
i personally dunn like the idea of this. Cosworth definitely have a better engine and it would have an upperhand
Honda, Toyota make quit threat
Honda and Toyota have threatened to withdraw from Formula 1 over the FIA’s handling of plans to ‘freeze’ engine development from 2008, according to a report in this week’s Autosport.
The Japanese manufacturers have always been among those most sceptical about the engine freeze concept, claiming that it will erode F1Â’s appeal as a technological proving ground.
But it now seems the stakes have been raised amid confusion over the deadline for submitting engine specifications for homologation by the governing body.
Teams were originally required to lodge their designs by May 31, after which only minor FIA-approved modifications (deemed necessary for cost or reliability, rather than performance, reasons) would be allowed through to the end of 2010.
However, according to Autosport, the FIA has since issued two directives stipulating different homologation deadlines.
The most recent of these, issued on June 1, asked the manufacturers to submit engines following either the Monaco Grand Prix or this weekendÂ’s British GP, depending on where they were in their two-race cycle.
Honda team boss Nick Fry told the magazine that his companyÂ’s participation in the 2008 world championship could not be taken for granted.
“The message that we and other manufacturers would convey is that while we have submitted entries for the 2008 championship, there are still no guarantees that we will be there,” Fry said.
“We are not compelled to be in Formula 1.
“Most car manufacturers do other things, whether it’s rallying, DTM or whatever.
“F1 is important to us, but the world will not come to an end if we stop doing it.
“People need to understand that.”
Toyota is believed to share the view of its Japanese arch-rival, and has stated before that it will not commit to F1 long-term unless “certain core values” remain.
However, FIA president Max Mosley made it clear only this week that he is not prepared to back down over the engine freeze scheme – and that he wants homologation to proceed as a matter of urgency.
“At the moment [the engines] are all on more or less the same level,” he said in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport published by the FIA on Wednesday.
“Therefore we have to freeze them as quickly as possible.
“If we give them time, than the people with a lot of money will have the opportunity to pull out a bit of a lead.”
Engine freeze will happen says Max
Formula 1Â’s bosses, FIA president Max Mosley and F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, have restated their desire to push through rules governing engine homologation for 2008, and are urging manufacturers to come on board and submit their engine blueprints as soon as possible.
The rules for the 2008 world championship, which 12 teams have now signed up to, require engine manufacturers to submit their engine designs for two years' time by the end of this June – when the sporting regulations must be ratified.
The teams would then be required to freeze development on these engines until the end of 2010.
So far only Renault, Ferrari and Cosworth are believed to support the concept, while others have been critical of the plan.
However Mosley insists that in the interests of maintaining a level playing field, the engines must be homologated as soon as possible.
“At the moment they [engines] are all on more or less the same level,” he said in an interview with Auto Motor und Sport published by the FIA on Wednesday.
“Therefore we have to freeze them as quickly as possible.
“If we give them time, than the people with a lot of money will have the opportunity to pull out a bit of a lead."
The F1 chiefs have also played down fears that the proposal will lock teams whose engines are less competitive into an unfair disadvantage.
When asked if the engine freeze was the equivalent of a football team being tied to the same players for three years, Mosley said: “It’s more like saying that the players have to wear the same type of boots for three years.
“I don’t think the public is interested in the development of football boot technology. They’re more interested in goals."
Ecclestone said: “They can change their staff if they want to.
He added: "I‘m becoming a Ron Dennis supporter. Ron always wants to have a level playing field.
"What Max wants to create is exactly that."
What about the German heavyweights? What are BMW and Maccie doing about the situation?
Surely Max can do better than that?
All I'll say is thank God Max became a lawyer instead of a doctor - he'd be suggesting that we prevent strokes by stopping hearts from beating.