Engine manufacturers have agreed to Liberty Media's proposal to drop the MGU-H from the 2021 engine formula according to Mercedes' chief Toto Wolff.
F1 bosses met for a second time on Friday, following an initial meeting at the Bahrain Grand Prix, to discuss the upcoming 2021 regulations which are set to bring sweeping changes to the sport, including revised aero rules, a new power unit and budget cap.
One of the sticking points of the new engine rules is Liberty's proposal to drop the expensive and technologically advanaced MGU-H, which turns heat into electric energy and currently provides around half of the hybrid energy.
Team bosses have called the proposal a "step backwards" and initially rejected the idea, but following Friday's meeting in Monaco, Wolff revealed that an agreement was now in place to drop it for the good of the sport, is doing so will deliver a better experience for fans.
"Things are not going according to our requirements at the moment but it’s a good process because we had a presentation in Bahrain that was to the point, we understood what Liberty’s strategy was in relation to the most important topics and we had an update yesterday on technical regulations, their vision around the engine, on cost caps and it was a further step ahead.
"We have given up on some of the stand points. We have accepted to lose the MGU-H. We think [losing] the technology is a step backwards but in terms of achieving compromise for the benefit of the spectacle, [it's] going.
"[It will mean] the revs going up, the fuel limitations going, I think we will have a louder engine, we will not be so limited by fuel… it’s not the most sustainable message we are sending out but we can understand from a spectacle standpoint it is something you need to consider and accept."
Wolff Angry Over Fuel Flow Proposal
Wolff made it clear that he doesn't believe fuel limitations should be dropped completely, revealing the discussions about doing so made him very angry.
"I had a bit of a moment in the Strategy Group. I had one, major [moment], where I needed to speak to my anger management psychologist, when we talked about getting rid of all fuel-flow limitations that we have, all fuel allowances and just completely open it up from the get-go now.
"I think we cannot close our eyes to what’s happening in the world. Hybrid energy recovery systems happen on road cars, they need to happen in Formula 1 in my opinion, but equally we have to understand what the fan is interested in.
"It needs the technology message, it cannot go without the technology message in Formula 1, but it needs to be at the level where we recognise the spectacle is important and shocking your senses with an engine sound is something where we can improve."
Budget Cap Progress
Wolff also revealed that progress had been made on the proposed cost cap – another item that was initially rejected as being "much too low", at an estimated $150 million.
"This was a very good point where Liberty recognised that a cost cap cannot be an event but needs to be a process," added Wolff. "It needs to go over several years and it needs to consider the various structures that have been put in place, they are taking our feedback on board and it is clear that we will all be protecting our structures in a way – we have all expressed that to them."
