F1 teams brace for 2021 engine rules

The Formula One Group will unveil next week Formula 1's future engine rules which will come into effect in 2021.

Not much information has filtered through from F1 sporting manager Ross Brawn's working group, leaving teams to speculate about the specifics of the sport's future engine platform.

"Normally it's pretty well leaked," Force India boss Bob Fernley told Auto Motor und Sport.

"But this time it's different. We know a little but not much. The new owners are keeping their cards face down."

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The consensus among the teams is that hybrid technology will remain imbedded in a 1.6 litre V6 engine with the presence of an MGU-K.

It's unknown however if the unit will retain the MGU-H or whether there will be a single, larger or even twin turbo.

"If we omit the MGU-H, we lose 60 per cent of the electrical energy," says Mercedes Toto Wolff who wonders how the loss will be compensated for.

The Red Bull camp is all for ditching the complex and troublesome MGU-H element however, as a simplified and less costly approach would spur the interest of independent engine manufacturers such as Ilmor, Cosworth or Aston Martin.

"With MGU-H, we will not have those companies, and we definitely want them in the boat," contends Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko.

Regardless of the details, the unveiling of the new engine rules promises controversy as teams' interests converge or diverge.

But Formula 1's managers will have complete freedom to impose the power unit they see fit as they won't need the teams' approval for 2021 due to the expiring Concorde Agreement.

"There is no point in being political now," says Mercedes F1 chairman Niki Lauda.

"They have decided something, they will tell us, we will listen, and then we will decide if it's good for us or not."

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