F1 delays engine regulation changes to 2014; V6 turbo engines to be used

F1 CONSIDERS MOVE TO V6 TURBOS

The Formula 1 Commission is set to be asked to consider switching the sport's future engines to 1.6-litre V6 turbos in a bid to end the ongoing stalemate about future regulations, AUTOSPORT has learned.

Ahead of a crunch meeting in London today to discuss engine regulations for 2013, amid disagreement between manufacturers over plans to move to 1.6-litre four-cylinder engines, it is understood that a final push has been made by the car makers to find a solution that is acceptable to all the sport's stakeholders.

Sources have revealed that those behind-the-scenes discussions between the engine manufacturers have resulted in a plan for the four-cylinder plans to be dropped and instead 1.6-litre V6s to come into force from 2014 - one year later than the current change in regulations is planned to come into force.

With the support of all the car makers, there is no reason why the teams would be against such a tweak to the engine regulations - especially as it would guarantee all the current manufacturers staying in the sport.

And crucially for the FIA and its president Jean Todt, who has been adamant that F1 has to move to more environmentally-friendly rules, the plan includes sticking to the 'green' KERS technologies that were originally planned for the four-cylinder power units.

The FIA said earlier this month that it would be willing to hold off the switch the four-cylinder engines if there was unanimous support of the competitors.

If the V6 plan is received positively by the F1 Commission then it would go to the FIA's World Motor Sport Council for approval.

SOURCE: Autosport

F1 AGREES TO DELAY ENGINE REGULATION CHANGES TO 2014

Formula 1 chiefs have agreed to delay the introduction of new engine regulations until 2014, in a move that will see the sport switch to 1.6-litre V6 turbo power-units.

As AUTOSPORT revealed earlier today, F1's manufacturers tabled a proposal at Wednesday's meeting of the Formula 1 Commission to move away from the plans to have four-cylinder turbo engines from 2013.

That four-cylinder concept had divided opinions among the car makers and, after intense efforts between them and the teams, a proposal was put together for V6s to be introduced from 2014 - with them still featuring the 'green' hybrid systems that the FIA is so keen to see.

The manufacturers' proposal received the necessary agreement in the F1 Commission, which is made up of the teams and other representatives from the sport, and it will now go to a fax vote of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council.

With the WMSC having made it clear it was willing to consider a delay to the original 2013 plans if there was a push from the sport's competitors, getting the official sign off is likely to be a formality.

The late effort to find a deal on future engine regulations comes after an intense debate over the past few weeks about a way forward for the sport.

Ferrari was against the idea of four-cylinder engines, while Mercedes-Benz and Cosworth had expressed reservations about the costs involved of developing the new designs.

Only Renault was in favour of the move, and its managing director Jean-Francois Caubet had warned that the future of the French car manufacturer in F1 depended on the engine regulations changing.

"I told Bernie and Jean Todt that today we are in the 'red zone' because we have no idea what will be the future for Renault," he told AUTOSPORT in Canada.

However, keen to help do what was best for the sport, Renault also agreed to the V6 concept that now looks set to be incorporated into the regulations.

SOURCE: Autosport

Anything on the power of the new engines?

Edit: Nevermind, according to the BBC the power will still be about 750bhp and the rpm will still be limited to 12,000, which sucks.

Similar to the old turbo era (bar the power). The thing with turbo engines is that gains are significantly lower passed about 12,000-13,000rpm it just becomes increasingly difficult to harness the boost and fuel feed so don't be surprised by the imposed rev limit. KimisApprentice

Of course, but since I'm a madman when it comes to the power of F1 cars, I would love to see them try to rev up to 20,000 rpm. :P

Just V6s? Oh please. These new engine regs need to accomodate for something that's been absent from F1 for some time now.

Variety!!

Somebody tweak those rules to allow for Flat Six and Straight Six engines.

Hypothetically if you were allowed 6 cylinders and a free configuration the straight 6 would probably be best for the engine. Straight sixes are one of few engine layouts that have perfect balance. Alongside the boxer 6 and V12. That perfect balance would lower engine weight and reduce the amount of vibrations produced and rattled through the chassis. It's length might detract from some teams from running them. The V6 would have less length and a lower centre of gravity but would be heavier.

Given that there is a rev limit and a standard weight distrubution amongst teams there really isn't a feasible way for there to be a free configuration AND the benefits of a straight 6 would probably be outweighed by the costs attached to it given the current regs even IF there was a free config.

Anyhow... back to the show.