Eccelstone says engine manufacturer could leave in 2014

lets not risk it and keep the V8s...Or strap 2 more cilinders on it

 

The 4cyl turbo's did not end the sport. I dont see how these will either.

 

Dodici cylindri

 

+uno

 

Maybe not, but you never know. I, for one, won't spend my money attending a race with V6T engines... but maybe I'm the exception. The whole thing is ridiculous IMO. At WOT, the benefits of a turbo engine are basically nonexistent if they make the same power... which they will. Just listen to an Indy car and tell me they get your blood pumping. The new F1 engines will rev about the same, and with 2 less cylinders, there will be A LOT less pulses than a V8 at 18K rpm, with the corresponding uninspiring sound. I'll still watch them on TV though . Good day folks.

 

Si, e giusto...

 

Still don't see how changing engines all the time saves any money.

 

That is the reason I am going to Montreal again this year even though I really don't have time. It will be the last time to hear F1 normally aspirated for me. I heard the turbos in the 1980s and they do not compare with the sound we are all used to. The best IMHO was the early 1990s when we had the V12s, they were truly epic. I am sure it will be fine on the TV, but it should make my wife happy that our trips will not have revolve around F1 races any more. Monza has always been my favorite, but I think it will be a little less special at least acoustically.

 

Man, according to some of the resident "experts" here you guys are all idiots, hate progress and clearly have no taste since the turbo era cars sounded so epically awesome the world almost imploded.

(I will also be attending a race this year to hear the last of the real F1 engines.)

 

The V10 ---> V8 change was one of the most colossal wastes of money in F1 history.

 

Bwah, bwah, bwah!

FWIW, Force India have just announced a "long term deal" for power-train supply from Merc - Engines, KERS, gearbox and ancillaries.

Length of the deal wasn't mentioned, but "the hope is it will last thru the lifetime of this formula."

Cheers,
Ian

 

It is very interesting that Mercedes is willing to make such a commitment to Force India, maybe Force India's finances are better than we have been led to believe. It will be interesting to see what happens with the McLaren Mercedes deal for 2014, I can't imagine Mercedes wants to give Honda any intellectual property of their engines if they are truly supplying Mclaren in 2015.

 

+1

While VJ seems to have "issues" outside of F1, the team seems to be rocking along quite nicely. I suspect he's another of those teflon guys who's wealth exceeds any "funny business".

Another +1

However, *if* the reports are true, Mclaren have an option with 'em for 2014 & 15 - Merc must supply 'em, at least next year if Whitmarsh is to be believed. Then the Q becomes, "will Honda even be allowed into the pits/factory next season if they're still Merc powered?"

Cheers,
Ian

 

Doesn't really matter, IMO. Even if the Honda mill sucks, the FIA will allow them to tweak it over and over until it's equal with the others. Then they will be frozen.

 

I welcome the return of turbos in F1. I think the last turbo era was the golden age of F1, although with the new regulations, the next turbo gereration is unlikely to repeat the previous turbos.

Also, I find it a pity that F1 imposes a V6 configuration. For a 1600cc, that doesn't make sense to me. A straight four would have been better for packaging.

Also, using 4-cyl would have allowed engine to be derived from production engine, and F1 would have been a true laboratory for carmakers.

I remember BMW using production 1500cc 4-cylinder production engine blocks and extracting 1500hp in practice, and racing with 800hp! No atmo engine has ever been close to that!

Before withdrawing from F1, BRM was rumoured to have read 2000hp on a 1500cc V8 turbo experimental engine!

Unless the FIA completely emasculates the engines with imposed ECU, we are in for an explosive series.

 

While they weren't capable of 1500 HP, the V10s in their final days raced in 1000HP spec.

As if that's not going to happen.

 

From reading the article it seems like Bernie has heard the engines in individual cars.
IMO was you hear a collective 22 F1 cars running the circuit it will be entirely different.
If the sound is still below par I'm sure the FIA will oblige rules change to make them
sound a lot better.But Bernie's doing his job ensuring F1 remains exciting

 

New turbos are supposed to be at 750 bhp with 160 of that coming from KERS, I would not call that explosive. Sorry, wish it was different...

 

IMO if they are removing cylinders than they should up the revs. Bring them back up to 22000.

 

If that's the case, it's a step backwards.

But that was predictable when they introduced a number limit of engine per season.

Motor racing authorities seem to be scared of power nowadays.
In rallying, at Indy, in sports cars, and in F1, there is that constant wish to curb power.

 

My hope is that they don't end up sounding like the current batch of Indy cars. Just watched one of their races last weekend, they sound pretty "meh"

 

The powers that be in F1 have done nothing but the mess with the sport since the early 80's when they started to outlaw ground effects and then imposed fuel limits. And imposing fuel limits today is absurd when the world is awash in energy. What should have been done over the years is that Moe should have invested those hundreds of millions into track improvements -- long gravel/sand traps at dangerous sections etc etc (i have posted before) --- instead of buying palaces and kept the fast tracks fast AND SAFE. Also a traveling mash unit.

As to sound, most here claim to not like turbo's but only a few claim to have heard them in person. If you attended races in the 80's you heard both as there were always some N/A cars running with the turbo's - the Turtles and in 87 and 88 the field was split in half. The turbo's were the louder, more powerful sound, the high revving N/A more shrill. I agree the early 90's V12 were the best N/A and nice but they have been gone a long time.

Senna's 86 turbo was a V6 1.5l Renault and sounded fine, it's the anemic power level and fuel limit that is going to hurt the fun. TPTB have become old and frail and grumpy and have forgotten what fun is. If you were lucky enough to grow up in the first muscle car era, you heard big blocks with no cats and very little muffling drive by all the time, now that would get a dirty look.

 

Very true that race in St Petersburg was NOt exciting at all

 

I think Bernie is exaggerating about Engine manufacturers leaving Honda is planning to come back.
Now there's rumor Lexus want to enter as well in the mean time No manufacturer has stated their intent to leave