Todt seeks engine rules stability in exchange for cost reduction

FIA President Jean Todt is willing to increase current engine rules stability beyond 2020 if teams consider lowering the retail price of their power units.

The head of Formula One's governing body, who has endured a rather passive role with regard to Formula 1 since his election at the helm of the FIA, is now at the forefront of ongoing discussions with F1's stakeholders about the possibility of introducing a cheaper engine option from 2017.

While he feels the current hybrid approach complies with a modern vision of F1, Todt believes that reducing power unit costs to an acceptable level - which he considers to be around 12 million Euros (9 million pounds) - is the only viable option to ensure that the sport remains accessible to struggling teams.

"It has been a painful introduction for the new engine," Todt admits.

"People think it is not loud enough… I feel when you have a vision for the future of motorsport, this new hybrid engine is the proper vision of what motorsport needs."

" My opinion is it costs too much money. The manufacturers are willing to invest in R&D and we always say there is a very good synergy between racing and road car. Most of the manufacturers are producing hybrid cars so I feel it is a great opportunity for manufacturers to have this engine."

"Where the problem I feel is unfair is you can’t ask private teams with limited budgets, with the distribution of revenues which is completely unfavourable to them, to pay this amount for the engine. That is the reason why I have asked and it was voted by the majority at the last Strategy Group."

Last month, Ferrari used its historic veto right to block Todt's move to reduce the power train (engine and gearbox) costs plan.

Obviously disappointed, and somewhat angered, by Maranello's initiative, the FIA President now finds himself back at the drawing board, forced to find a way to entice teams to accept somehow a cost reduction.

A prolongation of engine rule stability beyond 2020 is one carrot Todt is willing to hand out.

"Economically, the more stability of the regulations, the better it will be," Todt believes.

" With the engine manufacturers, we promised there would be stable regulations with the engine until 2020. I would be prepared - if it could encourage them to reduce the price to the customers - to extend the stability of the engine rules."

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