2010 Engine line up

With the combination of the FIA's engine freeze and the development on aerodynamics nowadays engines only get mentioned when they fail. Personally i think this is a shame as i have always been more interested in the mechanical side rather than the aero but hopefully the need to change power-supplies in the future we will see more focus on power-plants in the future of F1.

At the moment there is a lot of speculation around who will be running what engine next year so i thought i would draw up a list of who will be running what. It is important to remember we have lost 2 engine manufactures in the last 12 months and so next year, with the addition of cosworth, there will be only 5 engine for 13 teams, of which there is a limit of teams per engine supplier

Mercedes
Mclaren
Mercedes GP
Force India

Ferrari
Ferrari
Torro Rosso
Sauber

Renault
Renault
Red Bull

Cosworth
Campos
Manor
USF1
Lotus
Williams

As well as updating this thread with any news i would also like to use it as an opportunity to discuss how important you feel engines are in Formula 1 these days and whether we should be using F1 as a test bed for future technologies for road cars, and what you new technologies you would like to see.

Surely BMW's replacement would use Cosworths.XSamFisherX

I wasn't sure about BMW as there is no garuntee they will find a buyer so they may have to open up a place for a new team who would proabably go for Cosworth. If BMW was saved they may consider someone like Toyota or Renault who will most likely be without any customers next year, or they may even go for Ferrari, who in my opinion, produce the second best engine on the grid behind the Mercedes, as they would probably get a greater amount of support because the engine manufactures won't be as streched as Cosworth.

Spa - the joy of a real race track!

Just arrived at Spa after a 6-55am BA flight from Heathrow. Ross Brawn and some of his senior engineers were on it as well as some of the photographers.

Then the 90 minute drive from Brussels to Spa, which is about half an hour south of the city of Liege. Amazingly it's a beautiful day here. I've been coming to Spa for the Grand Prix for 20 years and I can count on my fingers the number of times I've seen a hot sunny day here. Let's hope it lasts. The forecast is for it to stay sunny or partly cloudy all weekend, with a high of around 22 degrees.

I always love that moment when you drive down the forest track which leads to the car park here and there in front of you is your first sight of Eau Rouge. It's like seeing a favourite mountain.

I used to stand up there with the legendary journo Denis Jenkinson and he could always tell the top 6 just from the way they went through the corner. He was always right.

This track is very special and it's special to me because it's a track where my Dad, Bill, always did really well. He was a works Lotus driver in the late 1950s and early 60s and also ran the Lotus sportscar team doing Le Mans, Spa 24 hours and all the big events. He told me all about this place long before I ever came here and I have always loved it.

One of my strongest memories of this place is the time when Kimi Raikkonen was battling with Michael Schumacher for pole position, it was 2002 and Olivier Panis had blown an engine in the BAR at Radillon, at the top of Eau Rouge, which meant that there was a curtain of dense white smoke sitting on the hill. Raikkonen plunged into it without lifting, or caring where in that pall of smoke the stationary BAR might be. It was one of the bravest and most committed pieces of driving I've ever seen. Raikkonen always goes well here and even though they have stoped developing the Ferrari I think he'll get a good result here, especially as the KERS will help him on the long run from Eau Rouge to Les Combes.

Another strong memory here is the time when there was a massive pile up at the start in 1998 and I was doing on the spot reports for ITV F1. I realised that it was going to be a long afternoon, so I popped into a portaloo. Out of the blue Murray Walker threw to me, so I had to hurriedly retrieve my mike and make something up on the spot.

I'm looking forward to this race. Ross was saying on the plane this morning that they just need to get the tyres up to temperature and they will be competitive, but in trying to make that happen in the past by loading up corners of the car, they've introduced imbalances. He's hoping that it will work this weekend. Red Bull should be quick, although they are going to be concerned about engines for this race and the next one at Monza after Sebastian Vettel lost his fourth of the season in Valencia.

Mark Webber needs a strong weekend and a win. If he doesn't win and take a big bite out of Jenson Button's lead then it's going to make it hard with the races we have coming up.

On the tittle tattle front, it looks like Williams is moving closer to using Renault engines next year. And all routes seem to point to Nico Hulkenberg getting promoted to a race seat next year, possibly alongside Robert Kubica.

Red Bull are divided on switching to Mercedes. I hear that some of the team want to do it, but there is some resistance from some key people.

Source: JamesallenonF1.com

ED: The reason i posted this article here is that near the end he mentions both Williams and Red Bulls plans for next year with regards to engines

Hydrogen? Would love to see it but nobody wants it 'cause it is flammable. .XSamFisherX

So is petrol. :lol:

[QUOTE="XSamFisherX"]Hydrogen? Would love to see it but nobody wants it 'cause it is flammable. .KimisApprentice

So is petrol. :lol:

MERCEDES TO SORT ENGINE PLANS BY MONZA

Mercedes-Benz is hoping to reveal its customer engine plans for 2010 at the Italian Grand Prix, amid mounting speculation that a deal to supply Red Bull Racing has now been agreed.

AUTOSPORT revealed in April that Red Bull Racing was chasing a supply of Mercedes-Benz engines for next year, once its current contract with Renault comes to an end later this season.

It is understood that Red Bull Racing's recent engine problems have accelerated the moves towards Mercedes-Benz, with an announcement on the outcome of those negotiations expected imminently.

A Mercedes-Benz deal with Red Bull Racing would mean McLaren's engine partner supplying four teams in total next year - as Brawn GP and Force India will also receive customer units.

Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug told AUTOSPORT that he could not reveal the details of any discussions that his car manufacturer was having, but said news would come at the Italian GP in a fortnight's time.

"I definitely will not mention any team names," he explained. "These are confidential negotiations, and I hope by Monza we know everything - so that is a fortnight away. Everything should be finalised by then.

"We have talked to various teams, more than one team, and I would like some understanding that these are confidential discussions so I cannot talk about it any more."

F1's regulations stipulate that any manufacturer supplying more than two teams in F1 needs special dispensation from the FIA. Haug confirmed that his company had received such approval to supply four teams.

"We have that in writing, and I think the FIA is very interested in a manufacturer who helps in this situation," he explained. "There are not so many who would jump in and volunteer and would want more than one customer team, but you have to have the logistics, you have to have the capacity and you need to build it up.

"We could not have done it two years ago, but all in all we build half the engines for four teams including rebuilding that we did for our own team two years ago. This is a big, big efficiency programme. It also helps refinancing, but you need to be absolutely very lean. I am not sure whether everyone could do that."

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said earlier in the Belgian GP weekend that his team was close to making a final decision about its plans - and that recent engine problems would not be the only factor in what his team did.

"We're obviously in a position where, as an independent team, we have a choice of engine," he said. "We've been very, very happy with the supply that we've had from Renault for the last three years.

"Any decision that will be made, will be made not on the outcome of a single weekend but based on what we believe offers us the best opportunity of performance and relationship for the future.

"We haven't made any firm decisions yet, but we're obviously nearing a time when we need to make a commitment for next year."

SOURCE: Autosport

Mercedes: No rush to reveal engine plan

Mercedes-Benz is likely to delay an announcement about its customer engine plans for 2010, which was originally scheduled for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

The German car manufacturer's motorsport boss Norbert Haug had said in Belgium that he expected next year's engine deals to all be finalised by Monza, but the company's ongoing talks regarding taking an equity share in Brawn GP appear to have delayed matters.

Haug told AUTOSPORT: "We are not in a hurry and we are not quite sure when we will announce something. I said I hoped it would be before Monza, but I don't know if that will be the case now."

Mercedes-Benz already has engine contracts with McLaren and Force India for next year, and a deal with Brawn GP will also happen once discussions regarding an equity deal are complete.

The fate of a potential deal with Red Bull Racing remains unsure, however, with sources suggesting that an arrangement that had appeared near certain a few weeks ago could yet fall at the final hurdle.

The Milton Keynes-based team has been chasing a Mercedes-Benz deal for much of the season, and its recent reliability troubles with current supplier Renault had appeared to act as a catalyst for a deal to be signed with the German car manufacturer.

However, it is understood that Brawn GP's equity tie-up with Mercedes-Benz may have complicated matters - with sources suggesting that there are questions about whether it would make sense for the car maker to supply three potential title-winning teams.

Mercedes-Benz is keen, however, to supply four outfits with engines because of the commercial benefits.

Should the Red Bull Racing deal not happen, then speculation has linked Williams with a customer deal if it chooses not to pursue the option it has with Renault. Alternatively, Mercedes-Benz could limit its supply to three teams for 2010.

Haug has also confirmed that Rubens Barrichello will be able to re-use his Belgian Grand Prix engine in a race, despite the oil leak and fire he suffered at Spa.

"It's fine," he said. "It was a leak in the oil cooler, so the oil came out and burned. Finally in the pits it burned the engine, from the outside a little bit, but the engine is absolutely fine. He can race with it again."

Source: Autosport.com

Engine 'de-freeze' possible at end of 2009

Rival F1 engine manufacturers could be permitted to catch up with the sport's pacesetter Mercedes.

It is clear that Mercedes, supplier of the McLaren, Brawn and Force India teams, possesses what is currently the best engine in the field.

Engine development was recently frozen to cut costs, but in the areas where some work is still allowed, it is obvious that Mercedes has done the best job and drawn clear.

Renault was permitted by the FIA last winter to catch up with the engine pace, and it is now believed that it is the Toyota V8 on the bottom of the pile.

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali admitted after Sunday's Italian GP that the issue of a temporary 'de-freeze' for lagging engine makers is once again a topic of conversation.

"This is for sure something that we will be discussing in the engine working group because today we have seen a really great performance from the Mercedes engine and before we make a final decision we have to see the numbers connected to that.

"It is a point that is on the table to discuss among the teams, as it is something that we need to understand," he added.

Source: Autosport.com

Cosworth power an option for Williams

Cosworth is an "option" for the Williams team next year, co-owner Patrick Head has been quoted as saying.

With Toyota's future on the grid in doubt and its V8 thought to be the least powerful in Formula One, the independent British team Williams is openly on the lookout for a new engine supplier.

Head told reporters at Monza last weekend that, contrary to reports, Mercedes was not an option for the Grove-based outfit despite earlier preliminary talks.

But while Renault is considered the frontrunner to supply Williams next year, particularly if the currently Renault-powered Red Bull Racing moves to Mercedes power, the French carmaker's commitment to F1 is also in doubt.

A report on the Dutch formule1.nl website quotes Head as saying the Renault situation, particularly in view of the forthcoming World Motor Sport Council hearing, "certainly doesn't make it easier" for Williams to cement its engine plans.

He is also quoted by Stuttgartern Rosen as saying Cosworth is "an option".

Cosworth, the British engine maker returning to F1 next year as the FIA's official supplier, is already contracted to supply the new Campos, USF1, Manor and Lotus teams.

SOURCE: F1-live.com

Red Bull puts engine decision on hold

Red Bull Racing's 2010 engine plans are on hold until after it finds out about Renault's Formula 1 future in next week's FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, AUTOSPORT has learned.

The Milton Keynes-based team had hoped to make a switch to Mercedes-Benz for next year, but that ambition cannot move forward because the FIA has not yet granted the German manufacturer the right to supply an extra team beyond McLaren, Brawn GP and Force India.

Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz cannot increase its supply of power units without approval from partner McLaren - something that has not yet been forthcoming amid the fallout from the plans for Mercedes to buy into Brawn GP.

Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug said at last weekend's Italian Grand Prix that its engine plans were now resting on approval from McLaren and the FIA, having originally hope to announce the engine plans in Monza.

"McLaren and us are exclusive partners," said Haug. "Without the allowance, without the co-operation....we are not ready [to announce the plans]. Whether we will have yet another customer team, that is not decided yet. It needs to be decided with the FIA as well."

That situation has left Red Bull Racing unable to finalise its engine plans for next year. The situation is further complicated by the fact that current partner Renault may not be in F1 in 2010 if it is banned or chooses to quit in the aftermath of the Singapore GP race-fix allegations.

The uncertainty about engines is a big problem for Red Bull Racing, after its progress into world championship challengers this year shows that its ambition is now for titles. Accepting a second-rate engine deal is not on the team's agenda - which is why it has only been considering the Mercedes-Benz or Renault route.

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has said that he will not worry more about its engine situation until after next week's FIA World Motor Sport Council hearing into Renault.

"Obviously we need to wait for the scenario of the 21st," Horner told AUTOSPORT. "We have a strong relationship with Renault, who have been a very good partner of the team for the last three years, and we will wait and see how things pan out."

The imposition of an engine freeze in F1, allied to restrictive design rules, makes the packaging of different engine types much easier to sort out than in the past - as Brawn GP showed this year when it installed a Mercedes-Benz power-unit on the eve of the campaign.

SOURCE: Autosport.com

Ferrari power for new Sauber/Qadbak team

If given the green light to race next year, the team currently known as BMW Sauber will be equipped with Ferrari engines and transmissions, it is reported in the German press.

Publications including Sport Bild said the transaction selling the Hinwil based outfit to the mysterious Swiss-based foundation Qadbak is for €80 million.

Little is known about Qadbak Investments Ltd except that it represents "certain Middle Eastern and European-based families". Earlier this year through a subsidiary it bought the English football club Notts County.

BMW Sauber's parent BMW AG made the press announcement on Tuesday, and a spokesman for the Swiss based team has now said: "The team expects to line up on the grid for the first race of the 2010 season."

SOURCE: F1-live.com

TEAMS SET TO DISCUSS ENGINE EQUALISATION

Formula 1 teams are set to discuss the possibility of allowing a re-equalisation of engines for next season in order to have a more level playing field.

The sport is currently under a regime that freezes engine development during the year, but last year the FIA allowed Renault to modify its engine during the off-season.

Now teams are ready to discuss another 'unfreeze', as the Mercedes-powered cars have dominated in power circuits this season.

The German car maker supplies engines to six of the 20 cars on the grid, and it is likely it will sell its power units to a fourth team in 2010.

"I think that for sure it is something that we are discussing in the engine working group, because with all respect, we have to understand," said Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali.

"We have seen a great performance of the Mercedes engine, but before giving the final sentence on that we need to understand exactly and see the numbers and the power curve and everything connected to that.

"It is a point that is on the table to discuss between the teams because it is something that we need to understand."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner agreed that it is a matter that should be looked at.

"I think it is something that perhaps needs to be carefully looked at," Horner told AUTOSPORT.

"The FIA has all the information they can see where the differences are on, I don't think it is a coincidence that you have three Mercedes-powered teams that dominated six out of the top seven places in qualifying and looked dominant again here in the race today.

"So, the FIA I am sure, they have all that information to hand, but it is always the danger of a freeze that you can freeze in a competitive advantage."

AUTOSPORT

FIA AGREES TO ENGINE RE-EQUALISATION

The FIA has agreed to allow a re-equalisation of engines in Formula 1 next year, but has said moves will only be done so by pegging back the best power units.

Last year, Renault was allowed to re-tune its engine to help bring its performance up to the level of its rivals - with some manufacturers having benefited from minor tweaking during the engine freeze.

Calls for a further parity re-emerged after the Italian Grand Prix, when many teams believed that Mercedes-Benz had opened up a clear advantage at the front of the field.

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner told AUTOSPORT at Monza: "I think it is something that perhaps needs to be carefully looked at.

"The FIA has all the information they can see where the differences are on, I don't think it is a coincidence that you have three Mercedes-powered teams that dominated six out of the top seven places in qualifying and looked dominant again here in the race today.

"So, the FIA I am sure, they have all that information to hand, but it is always the danger of a freeze that you can freeze in a competitive advantage."

Teams are set to discuss the matter soon and the FIA has made it clear that it will allow changes to be made - but not by bringing the worst power units up to the level of the best.

In a statement issued after the FIA World Motor Sport Council hearing on Monday, the governing body said: "Following suggestions that there is a differential between the performance of engines used in Formula 1, the World Motor Sport Council has decided that should this be the case, and should the teams wish to eliminate this performance differential, they may be allowed to do so by reducing the performance of the more powerful engines. However, no engine upgrades will be allowed."

This could result in Mercedes-Benz being forced to make changes to its engine to bring its performance back down to the level of its rivals, although achieving this will be far from straightforward.

SOURCE: Autosport

2009 ENGINES - WHO HAS HOW MANY LEFT  ?

Below is a list of how many new engines each driver has used thus far. If you drive a Renault, or have a Ferrari V8 behind you, then things are looking pretty rosy. If your name is Vettel, however, then you are probably slightly worried. The one unknown, of course, is how many of each driver's used engines is still useable - and how much life each has left in it…

McLaren-Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton - 7
Heikki Kovalainen - 7

Ferrari
Giancarlo Fisichella - 6
Kimi Raikkonen - 6

BMW Sauber
Robert Kubica - 7
Nick Heidfeld - 7

Renault
Fernando Alonso - 6
Romain Grosjean - 6

Toyota
Jarno Trulli - 7
Timo Glock - 7

STR-Ferrari
Jaime Alguersuari - 6
Sebastien Buemi - 6

RBR-Renault
Mark Webber - 7
Sebastian Vettel - 8

Williams-Toyota
Nico Rosberg - 7
Kazuki Nakajima - 7

Force India-Mercedes
Adrian Sutil - 7
Vitantonio Liuzzi - 7

Brawn-Mercedes
Jenson Button - 7
Rubens Barrichello - 7

OFFICIAL F1 WEBSITE

Williams says engine decision imminent

Williams chief Frank Williams says his team must make an "imminent" decision on its engine plans for the 2010 season.

Williams, currently using Toyota engines, was believed to be interested in a deal with Renault, but a possible agreement was delayed by the French squad's involvement in the race-fixing scandal.

Now the Grove team is still considering its options, but Williams has made it clear that, from a technical point of view, the decision must be made very soon.

"You've got to get on with it and make up our minds - it must be imminent," said Williams.

"It's a technical choice and it requires a thorough vetting and consideration period by Patrick [Head] and Sam [Michael] plus some negotiations by Adam [Parr] once it's decided.

"We have to hurry up because we don't want to get behind on designing our car."

When asked if people get excited at the idea of Williams-Renault, the team boss said: "Absolutely."

Williams also suggested Cosworth was still possibility.

"Cosworth is an independent company. The warmth that a manufacturer's engine provides is a useful feeling," he said.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said his team, using Renault power units, was in a similar situation.

"We're in a situation where we need to get off the fence in the relatively near future, but nothing is fixed at this point in time," Horner said.

SOURCE: Autosport.com

WILLIAMS PARTS COMPANY WITH TOYOTA

Williams has confirmed that it will part company with Toyota at the end of the 2009 season.

The move ends an engine supply deal that began at the start of 2007, and had been anticipated for several weeks, with senior Williams figures openly admitting that the team was reviewing its engine options for 2010.

Team boss Frank Williams thanked Toyota for its support over the last three seasons.

"At a time of great difficulty for us as a team, Toyota stepped forward and agreed to supply us with engines for 2007 through to the end of 2009," he said.

"Toyota has been a very decent partner who have always respected our independence and provided us with a first-rate technical product. We are proud that we have been able to work with such a great company and we are grateful to the team in Cologne for their support.

"I would like to single out for our thanks the Toyota engineers and technicians who have worked within our race team tirelessly for the past three years."

Toyota motorsport boss Tadashi Yamashina added: "We have enjoyed a productive working relationship with Williams and I believe both companies have benefited from that partnership. We respect the wishes of Williams to look for other opportunities and wish them well for the future."

Williams's statement said that its new engine supplier would be announced "in due course."

The team has been linked with both Renault and Cosworth for next season.

AUTOSPORT 

Red Bull-Mercedes deal delay due to McLaren

Helmut Marko has confirmed that McLaren is vetoing Red Bull Racing's preferred switch to Mercedes power in 2010.

"Mercedes is clearly our preferred partner, but contrary to all assurances that the McLaren problem will be solved long ago, it still is not," the energy drink company's motorsport adviser told Sport Bild.

Red Bull, dissatisfied with its current engine supplier Renault, wanted to confirm its new partner this weekend in Brazil, but is still assessing its options. "We have four options: Mercedes, Toyota, Renault and Cosworth. We are examining them in detail," he said.

Some insiders have expressed surprise that Red Bull, and also Williams, seriously consider Cosworth a viable alternative, but Marko insists that "we would not be considering (it) if the data did not indicate a good package."

SOURCE: F1-Live.com

WILLIAMS TO USE COSWORTH ENGINES IN 2010

Williams will switch to Cosworth engines next season, AUTOSPORT has learned, after believing its prospects for success in 2010 are best served with the independent engine maker.

Although the Grove-based outfit came close to a deal with Renault, high level sources at the French car manufacturer have revealed that Williams has now informed the company that it is no longer interested in a tie-up for next year.

With Toyota already having confirmed that it is ending its customer supply deal at the end of this year, it means that Williams has now settled on a switch to Cosworth.

Williams is refusing to confirm its engine plans until after the end of the season, but its engineering director Patrick Head praised Cosworth's efforts in preparing for its return to Formula 1.

"They are certainly very committed to it and working hard," he said. "They have been one of the options but we are not stating where we cast our final hook in terms of what is available to us until after the final race of the season. But I think our design office know what they are designing for."

Sources claim that one of the key attractions for Cosworth is the fact that the engine supplier will be able to re-tune its power unit until early next year - something no other manufacturer is able to do because of F1's engine freeze.

The tweaks could help ensure Cosworth's engine is competitive throughout 2010, which is why Red Bull Racing is also considering a switch to the power unit if it is unsuccessful in its bid to secure Mercedes-Benz power.

Head said that his team had chosen to finish its partnership with Toyota because it fancied a change of direction.

"We had a very good relationship with Toyota," he said. "We made a decision about two months ago that we wanted to go in a different direction and I think the reasons are not for public consumption.

"We haven't had any falling out so it's an amicable parting. There were a number of factors that caused us to make the decision but I don't think that the combination of the reasons we decided to make a change are not ones that we are prepared to share. But it was nothing that caused any shouting and screaming, we chose to change direction.

"Ross Brawn and the team showed that you can make an engine change on Christmas Eve and still produce a pretty competitive car but I don't think our design office would thank us for doing that and they will have a little longer than that to design the car around the engine."

AUTOSPORT

FRANK WILLIAMS CONFIRMS COSWORTH SWTICH

Frank Williams has officially confirmed that his team will switch to Cosworth engines next year, as AUTOSPORT revealed earlier this month.

Although the Grove-based outfit has so far kept silent about its engine plans, its move to Cosworth was decided on in the last few weeks after it ended talks it had held with Renault.

And now Williams himself has let the cat out of the bag about its intentions for 2010 after telling the Gulf News newspaper that his team was making the switch to Cosworth.

"We've finished our contract with Toyota and we've moved on to a British engine manufacturer Cosworth with whom we have won many world championships in the past," he said.

"They are 50 miles away from Williams which is very convenient. Besides we also like our independence. We will be not under the influence, not that Toyota ever bossed around, but we've just gone a private and independent route."

He added: "Our performance needs to improve. We staggered in the second half of the 2009 season. It's fundamental that the car is not fast enough, but from what I've seen we should have been a little more competitive."

Williams also revealed that the team will announce its driver plans for next year on Monday, with the team set to reveal Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg as its line-up.

"We will announce our drivers for next season on Monday," he said. "[Nico Rosberg] will be leaving and we just thought it was quite a long time.

"There are a few things going on at Williams for next season, with our engines, so we thought we can do better. Nico is German and Mercedes need at least one German driver to sit before their engine."

SOURCE: Autosport

RED BULL SET TO EXTEND RENAULT DEAL

Red Bull Racing looks set to continue using Renault engines in the 2010 season, after ruling out a possible switch to Mercedes power units.

The Milton Keynes-based squad was chasing the German engines for next season and its hopes of reaching a deal were boosted when F1 rules changed to allow a manufacturer to supply units to four teams.

The delay in reaching a deal, however, has been one of the main reasons why Red Bull now is set to continue with Renault for another year.

The team also believes the Renault unit will be strong next year, when refueling will be banned.

"Since Monza, Renault have remarkably raised their game and done everything they could for us to have such a strong finish of the year", said team boss Christian Horner.

"Renault has fuel-efficient engines which will be very important in 2010."

Mercedes boss Norbert Haug said over the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend that his company was still discussing the viability of supplying another team.

"The approval is there for one year, and it is still in discussion internally. There is no final decision taken," said Haug, who insisted a team could do a good job despite a late decision on engines, as shown by Brawn this year.

"This is probably not the ideal scenario but one thing for sure is that the current world championship winning team got the engine later, and we are not delaying the process," Haug added. "One thing that is proven is that it is possible to get the job done even with a later decision."

AUTOSPORT

VOLKSWAGEN CONSIDERING F1 ENGINE SUPPLY

Volkswagen is seriously evaluating a move into Formula 1 as an engine supplier from 2012, when new power unit regulations due to be introduced could make the sport attractive enough for the German car maker to get involved.

Although F1 has been rocked by the withdrawal of three manufacturers in the last 12 months - with Honda, BMW and Toyota all quitting the sport - the Volkswagen Group believes that the sport is actually becoming more attractive with the way rules are heading.

The German car manufacturer's representative Hans-Joachim Stuck says his company would not be interested in becoming a partner with a team - as was rumoured several years ago when it was linked with a deal to buy into Red Bull Racing - but would be up for supplying engines.

However, Stuck has made it clear that the possibility to supply power units to a number of outfits, especially if there was a 'world engine', would be enough to attract Volkswagen into F1.

"If you're the world's largest manufacturer is natural that we're thinking about [Formula 1], but not before 2012," Stuck told AUTOSPORT about Volkswagen's F1 ambitions.

"We're looking for innovative things, and Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport. Two years ago there was some talk that Volkswagen is going to buy the Red Bull F1 team, which we didn't need to buy. Why should we stick with one team if we can give our engines to more teams?

"If you buy Red Bull and Adrian Newey wants to go flying or fishing, the team is not successful any more. Look at BMW. They bought this multi-million dollar wind tunnel and a supercomputer and they now close the doors. Building an engine and providing it to a team is the best way."

Stuck claims Formula 1's return to expanded grids, and low-cost regulations, has put the sport firmly on Volkswagen's radar.

"Now it's amazing; Formula 1 goes the right way," said Stuck. "Many manufacturers have pulled out, which I think is a great deal, because we have manufacturers that we don't know for how long they will do it.

"They should become engine manufacturers and then lease the engine, sell the engine or give it to somebody. Then you lose all the hassle with teams, wind tunnels, engineers, you know.

"It's like Formula 1 in my days. We had March, we had Lotus, and we had Ford engines. Then Renault came in as engine manufacturer, with a formidable engine. This was perfect.

"I followed Formula 1 for the last seven years with BMW and I always asked myself on the grid, with only 20 cars, what if we could have 30 cars? Now we're getting back to this.

"We have three more teams next year, 26 cars, and by having a global engine, which is good in cost and reliable, we can have 30 cars on the grid."

The Volkswagen Group has recently enjoyed great success in racing with its different brands.

Besides its multiple Le Mans wins with Audi, its WTCC titles with Seat in the past two years and its Dakar victory this year, Volkswagen also powered drivers with VW engines to the British and German F3 titles this, rounding out the season with victory in last weekend's Macau Grand Prix.

SOURCE: Autosport

Tis an odd story this, I wonder if it'll happen or not.

ENGINE PARITY KEY TO RBR RENAULT DEAL

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner says moves to ensure there is engine parity in Formula 1 next year are vital - with the issue stalling his team's new supply deal with Renault for 2010.

The Milton Keynes-based team is still waiting for confirmation about its engine plans for next year - despite having Renault listed as its 2010 partner by the FIA earlier this week.

The official 2010 entry list published on Monday said that Red Bull Racing would be supplied by the French car manufacturer - which appeared to rule out a switch to either Cosworth or Mercedes-Benz.

However, Horner has revealed that despite submitting Renault as its proposed engine supplier next year, Red Bull Racing still does not have a contract in place for next year.

He thinks it will take at least another week before the situation becomes clear - with a decision about F1 engine parity key to the matter.

It is understood that one of the topics up for discussion in next week's Formula 1 Commission meeting is whether anything needs to be done to ensure all engines are equal in performance.

The FIA said earlier this year that if teams agreed action was needed to make engines more equal, then it would be open to changing the rules.

Speaking to AUTOSPORT about the situation, Horner said: "I wouldn't read too much into the entry list. We're obliged to put an engine as per the regulations. But we are allowed to change the engine at any point up until the first race.

"Obviously we have to put an engine on the list and the most likely engine to have in the car next year, at this moment, subject to Renault's confirmation, is a Renault engine. We have to put engine on the list, and that's the logical choice so far."

Horner revealed that Renault is reluctant to commit to the deal, however, until it knows exactly what the plans are for engine parity in 2010.

"We've enjoyed three good working years with them," he said. "They're a very good partner and it's been a very successful collaboration with them.

"They've supported us well through difficult times this year, particularly with Sebastian Vettel's car, where we've had to limit the engine mileage. They obviously have concerns over engine parity at this point in time, and until engine regulations are clear, I can understand a hesitation on their side."

He added: "I think it depends on what's done with the engine regulations moving forward in terms of parity. The teams have decided that the engine should not be a performance differentiator under the frozen rules. I think it's vital, not just in the case of Renault, but in the case of all the engine manufacturers, that a solution is found."

Despite not yet having a Renault deal in place, Red Bull Racing is not actively chasing other options.

A move to Mercedes-Benz, which had been close at one stage this year, was blocked by McLaren, while Horner has also now played down the chances of a switch to Cosworth either.

"At this stage, realistically no," he said when asked if Cosworth was an option. "In principle we have an agreement with Renault and hopefully in the next week or so everything will be finalised."

SOURCE: Autosport

Red Bull retains Renault engines

Red Bull Racing will continue with Renault engines in 2010 as part of the company's renewed commitment to Formula 1.

Although Red Bull was listed with Renault power on the provisional 2010 entry list issued by the FIA, the continued uncertainty over Renault's future F1 plans meant the deal could not be fully confirmed.

But in announcing that its factory team would stay in F1 in partnership with Gerard Lopez's Genii Capital organisation, Renault also said that it would remain as engine supplier to RBR for a fourth season.

SOURCE:Autosport.com

Cosworth engines ready for shipping