can't say that I blame him for what's he says... Carol f1live Mario Illien, formerly the designer of Mercedes-Benz's championship winning Formula One engines, insists the current rules do not inspire him to consider a return to the sport. Since Mercedes bought the F1 related part of his Ilmor firm in 2005, the Swiss engineer began focusing on his ties with the IRL and NASCAR series in America and even attempted a foray into the world of MotoGP. Since he departed the F1 paddock, the world championship has switched to V8 engines and progressively eased down the development chase to today's era of rev limits and an engine 'freeze'. In 2009, drivers are allowed only eight engines for the entire championship, and there is talk of reducing this number even further to just five in 2010. In Ilmor's era, such as when Mika Hakkinen won the 1998 and 1999 titles, engine makers were building up to 200 engines a season. Today, arguably the most important element is reliability, with most F1 engines actually performing on a similar level. "Personally I don't find it very interesting any more," he said in an interview with motorline.cc and echoing the view put forward recently by departed manufacturer Honda. "I have to say on one hand I am glad that I am no longer there. "The worst thing is that they are spending exactly the same money today as we spent in the past, but for relatively little progress." Illien said that although the modern engine regulations have introduced stability, he joked that the same principle of stability can also be applied to how fascinating this era of F1 engine development is. "Now no one talks about the engines," he lamented. "(In F1) it is practically a standard engine, with too much regulation. A great many parameters (of the designs) are prescribed. "My passion in racing is for the development, and that is no longer present." Asked if he would consider returning to F1, Illien said the conditions would have to be correct, in terms of the ability for engine makers to be creative with modern rules such as limits on the amount of fuel that can be used per race. "We will see what happens," he added. E.A. © CAPSIS International Source: GMM
+1 However, my gut tells me that "fuel efficiency" regulations, at least in the past, have resulted in "economy races" - And I *really* don't like economy races!.... Done correctly, it could be awesome, but the concept makes me a little nervous. My 02c, Cheers, Ian
The complaints about the rules are accurate enough, .... But was there any indication he was invited back, anyway? As far as I can tell, Mercedes only bought Chrysler in order to raid the Mopar engine designers. After Mercedes bought Chrysler, they released their first all new engines in years. And then dumped the rest of Chrysler. Ilmor just wasn't gettin' 'er done. (Remember Kimi's "Finn Flambe" years with McLaren/Ilmor?)
