Engine development revised for 2016-17

The engine manufacturers have agreed to in-season development next season and to increase the number of changes allowed.

This still needs to be approved by the F1 Commission and the FIA, given the circumstances I can't see why they wouldn't.

The agreement between the engine manufacturers needs to be approved by the next two stages of the F1 legislative process - the F1 Commission, on which all the teams have representation, and the FIA World Council.

One senior figure close to the negotiations said it was "quite unlikely that what was agreed will not happen".

Of course, while this would allow Renault and Honda to (hopefully) make the desperately-needed improvements to their power plants, Ferrari and Mercedes would have the same freedom to develop theirs...so the end result may not be that different to the current situation.

In future, new entrants to F1 will also get a special dispensation to use more development tokens (exact number yet to be decided).

Additionally, manufacturers will be allowed to supply year-old engines, whereas the current regs state they must provide same-spec engines to all customers.


All that said, there is still a potential Red Bull-shaped spanner in the works. They are still without an engine supplier and are threatening to pull out (taking Toro Rosso with them) if they cannot get a satisfactory engine deal.

Honda and Renault to be aided by planned engine rule changes

dyrewolfe wrote:The engine manufacturers have agreed to in-season development next season and to increase the number of changes allowed.

This still needs to be approved by the F1 Commission and the FIA, given the circumstances I can't see why they wouldn't.

The agreement between the engine manufacturers needs to be approved by the next two stages of the F1 legislative process - the F1 Commission, on which all the teams have representation, and the FIA World Council.

One senior figure close to the negotiations said it was "quite unlikely that what was agreed will not happen".

Of course, while this would allow Renault and Honda to (hopefully) make the desperately-needed improvements to their power plants, Ferrari and Mercedes would have the same freedom to develop theirs...so the end result may not be that different to the current situation.

In future, new entrants to F1 will also get a special dispensation to use more development tokens (exact number yet to be decided).

Additionally, manufacturers will be allowed to supply year-old engines, whereas the current regs state they must provide same-spec engines to all customers.


All that said, there is still a potential Red Bull-shaped spanner in the works. They are still without an engine supplier and are threatening to pull out (taking Toro Rosso with them) if they cannot get a satisfactory engine deal.

Honda and Renault to be aided by planned engine rule changes

basically, doesn't change anything. Unless, Mercedes' have found their ceiling, in terms of engine performance & improvements, something which I doubt.

dyrewolfe wrote:Additionally, manufacturers will be allowed to supply year-old engines, whereas the current regs state they must provide same-spec engines to all customers.

Basically, this is terrible. Means no customer will ever, ever challenge a works team. Ron was right, if you dont have a works deal, you're screwed & this now confirms it.