BrianCunningham

Official
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/m...ership-952183/

Nowanker

I'm still amazed that Honda couldn't produce. Quite un-Honda like. I see engineers committing Hari-Kari over it right now.
It'd be pretty ironic if Alonso goes to Indy car next year and winds up on a Honda powered team, but not as ironic as his great Indy 500 run trashed because of a blown up HONDA engine.
And not nearly as ironic if Honda finally comes through and Toro Rosso becomes the team to beat next year...

BigMonkey73

Alonso has to be thrilled!

As am I. This year has been such a horrid let down with every Honda engine failure. It's been painful to not be able to see drivers finish the races.

sunsalem

Not really.
They couldn't make it work not so long ago either and sold their team for a buck to Ross Brawn, who had the bad manners to win the WC the very next year by out-smarting everyone else with his trick double-diffuser.

That WOULD be a butt-load of irony right there!

thebishman

It appears the Macca chassis is good; its just needed a reliable and competitive engine to compete at the sharp end, especially with Alonso driving.

sunsalem

Question is will the 2018 Renault be that?
The engine disparity is killing F1.

ShahulX

red bull is competitive with Renault engines... and 2020 will be a new formula.. more simplistic it seems... granted by then Mclaren could be making their own engines (rumor), Porsche could be taking over redbull racing (rumor) and there may be a independent cosworth or bmw engine (rumors)

BrianCunningham

I wish their drivetrain formula would just go to production based

I would think that would keep everyone happy

sunsalem

Only on a few tracks is RB really competitive with MB...

2 3 more years we have to suffer with this *****.

We need a more cost effective engine for F1....one that doesn't break-the-bank and keeps other teams/manufacturers from getting involved in the sport.
With MB winning nearly 90% of the time this powerunit disparity sucks Big Time for us fans.

I'm not so sure...
You have a good point though, but LMP1 Hybrids and Indy car still aren't "production based" either.

chuntington101

Now then! A cosworth power Mclarren would be very nice!

Erik L

I dont know, I think the current engine formula with some tweaks may be the way to go for manufacturer involvement. The whole energy recovery, hybrid, electric thing is where cars are going in the not to distant future. I think if they could simplify it or somehow level the playing field so it would be easier for new manufacturers to get up to speed the current formula might be very enticing for manufacturers. I dont love it as a fan but I do appreciate the tech and from a business perspective I see the case for OEM involvement.

sunsalem

The Hybrid thing is here to stay.
BUT it doesn't have to be so complicated AND expensive that it threatens the survivability of the sport.


Racing should be about ENTERTAINMENT and branding, not technology research for consumer cars.

z28cp

But without the technology research, there isn't a lot of reason for a manufacturer to stay involved. My .02.

DaveZ.

BrianCunningham

I keep saying they should base it on a production drivetrain that would include a hybrid system

sunsalem

So much for anyone catching up to MB before the new formula:

chuntington101

You are joking right? Do you not remember the homologation rules of the groupe b and Le Mans? It would just lead to companies building cars like the MB One and selling them for $5 million each!

F1 isn't about road cars! It's about building the best of the best. It's a pinnacle Motorsport and should be kept as that. You wouldn't ask NASA to make the next space project carry 200 people!

All this crap about tech not coming into road car isn't anything to do with the racing. It's the car manufacturers. The tech has been there for YEARS! Power recorver turbines for example were used in the back end / just after WW2! The tech is already there the car manufacturers just don't want to invest in it and get it into production cars.

BrianCunningham

No I'm serious

yeah they'll be selling hooliganism cars
that's still sales isn't it?

So what's your solution?

sunsalem

How about every engine manufacturer must supply at least 2 customer teams?
The cost is $1 million per engine (or season?).
That will force manufacturers to keep costs down to a minimum.

Nowanker

I got it!
Let's limit the series to only two engine choices, and have all the teams run the same car and tires!
Oh, wait. That's Indy car....

Yes, I know... sarcasm doesn't come across well in print.

But seriously, I'm OK with the current formula. Maybe LESS aero on the cars, maybe with a little less HP to keep top speeds somewhat reasonable. Maybe a little narrower track too, all with the object of making it easier to follow at speed and execute a pass. Tires that don't produce so much 'marble' would be great too, but prob not likely!

Nowanker

Maybe not a bad idea. Each engine producer would need to weigh the marketing benefits of being in F1 Vs. the cost involved to subsidize the privateer teams. It might be irrelevant anyway, as I'd imagine much of the cost is in development. MB and Ferrari engines are already pretty much on par, Renault 'almost' there. That'd be 18 cars... Honda is supporting Sauber next year as well as TR?