F1 aims to lower the 'drawbridge' to attract new suppliers - Brawn

Initiatives to simplify F1's engine regulations are at the center of Liberty Media's vision of the future and crucial to the sport's need to attract new suppliers says Ross Brawn.

Formula 1's executives presented to teams yesterday in Bahrain a comprehensive series of strategic initiatives destined to drive the sport into a new profitable era.

The level of sophistication of F1's current hybrid power units is undoubtedly a massive barrier to entry for any potential new engine suppliers.

Lowering that barrier from 2021, or the 'drawbridge' as Brawn calls it, is pivotal to Grand Prix racing's future contends F1's sporting boss.

"Our view is we have four engine suppliers at the moment, we massively respect the commitments they've made, but in a way the drawbridge has been pulled up - no one else can come in," Brawn explained in an interview with Sky Sports' Martin Brundle.

"The engine is very complex, it's very expensive. The existing manufacturers have made a big investment in the engines and quite rightly they want to protect their investment, we understand that.

• Liberty outlines 2021 'strategic initiatives' for cheaper, better F1

"But we have to put that drawbridge down so we can get new suppliers in."

Yesterday's meeting with the teams in Bahrain will kick off a process of exchange with the teams in the coming weeks, with a fair amount of leeway for change says Brawn.

"I don't think anything is ever cast in stone in Formula 1," said the former Ferrari and Mercedes team boss.

"We have put our ideas to the teams and asked them to consider them carefully.

"They are not completely new because a lot of discussion has gone on already with the teams on the various aspects.

"I think it's fair to say the revenue model was new and our views on the cost cap were finally on the table.

"The teams quite rightly have said 'you've got these ideas on engines, you've got these ideas on the cars, but until we see the whole thing how can we comment? We need to see how it all fits together'."

"Chase [Carey, F1's chairman] made it very clear this is not 'take it or leave it'.

"This is our view of where it should be and if you come back to us with better ideas or considerations we haven't made, then of course we'll discuss them."

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