Porsche already has an F1 engine in the works!

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Porsche is keeping a close eye on F1's developments and even admits that it has 'high efficiency engine' under development which could become the basis of an F1 project.

The German manufacturer recently announced its shock departure from the LMP1 World Endurance Championship and its move the burgeoning Formula E series.

Porsche is keeping its core LMP1 team together however, fueling speculation that its expertise could eventually be put to good use... in F1.

"We need all of these (LMP1) people in the future," Porsche's research and development chief Michael Steiner told Auto Motor und Sport.

"The great team we built for LMP1 is highly motivated and represents an enormous wealth of knowledge," he explained.

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"So it is a good idea to have a concrete plan for the engineers, mechanics and even for the drivers."

Porsche's representatives sat in recently on Formula 1's latest working group meetings chaired by F1 sporting manager Ross Brawn, in charge of defining the sport's future engine platform.

"Like other manufacturers, we at the invitation of the FIA are participating in the discussions about the future Formula 1 powertrain," Steiner admitted.

"The team at Weissach is not working on an F1 engine at the moment, but it is working on a high-efficiency engine at the concept level -- without a decision about what we are doing with this engine," he said.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.