The President of the FIA, Jean Todt, has responded to comments from Luca di Montezemolo in regards to the future engine of Formula One.
It was announced in 2010 that four-cylinder engines would become the standard power unit for the sport from 2013 onwards. This news drew heavy criticism from the Ferrari President, who claims such an engine is ‘absurd’ for the top-tier of motor-sport.
“I spoke to Todt and I’m glad the there is a different climate of dialogue than in the past. We’re engaged in technological challenges such as the four-cylinder [engine, which] seems absurd to me.
“We’ve not even built a ten-cylinder Ferrari and I’m still thinking that a six-cylinder [engine] would have been more in line with the sports positioning in the market,” said Montezemolo during the launch of the F150.
Todt has hit back, assuring the Italian that such a decision wasn’t rushed into, rather, it was the result of lengthly discussions with several experts.
“I think the team and the people at Ferrari know very well that we’ve discussed everything, and Ferrari has always been involved in those talks,” Todt told Motorsport-Total.
“Regarding the engine, everything has been decided – it’s done.
“It was not said suddenly that we do four cylinders, and a turbocharger. All of this is the result of lengthy discussions with experts,” he added.
The Frenchman claims he’d be happy with any size engine as long as it helps to reduce costs in the sport whilst creating a better show for the fans.
“If the result [of those discussions] has been that we want eight or ten cylinders, then I would have no problem with that. What I want, however, are lower costs, a better show and the introduction of new technologies.
“Soon it will be the Motor Show in Geneva and we have seen at the Motor Show in Paris last October that all top-tier manufacturers in the world rely on new technologies.”
