Teams may be able to run year old engines as part of an initiative to save costs, like the Manor-Marussia team have done this year, according to Autosport.
Marussia found a loophole in the regulations which allowed them to run 2014 Ferrari engines this season in an effort to alleviate its financial troubles. That loophole has now been closed, meaning Manor will have to run 2016 engines next season.
However there are talks behind the scenes to openly allow teams the option of running year old engines, which will be known as ‘Current -1’, at a reduced rate of around £10 million, almost half the current average bill.
“Fundamentally it’s the same as Marussia are doing this year, running a ’14 engine in ’15,” explained Force India’s Bob Fernley.
“It would be a similar type of thing. It’s a discussion point [in the strategy group],” he added.
Meanwhile such a rule change would allow Red Bull to run Ferrari engines which are slightly less powerful, meaning they’re less of a threat to the works team and would have to make gains on the chassis side if they’re to beat Ferrari.
Discussion about this post