Categories: 2017 SeasonF1 News, Reports and Race Results

Budget engine plan in doubt but FIA moves forward with new proposals

Plans for an alternative customer engine have been scrapped by the Formula 1 Commission following a meeting of the entity in Paris, but the sport's manufacturers have agreed to review key issues put forward by the FIA associated with reducing costs and extending supply to customer teams.

The initial plan, which was initiated by Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA, included an alternative budget engine destined to customer teams and a performance equivalence scheme.

But the Commission's majority voting method practically insured the plan's demise from the get-go.

Following a Strategy Group meeting also conducted yesterday in Paris at the FIA's headquarters, the manufacturer's have agreed however, at the instigation of the FIA, to submit to the governing body by January a series of proposals addressing concerns and issues related to F1's power unit supply.

These proposals will focus on the following items:

- Guarantee of the supply of Power Units to teams
- The need to lower the cost of Power Units to customer teams
- Simplification of the technical specification of the power units
- Improved noise

"The proposal will include the establishment of a minimum number of teams that a manufacturer must supply, ensuring that all teams will have access to a Power Unit," stated the FIA.

"All stakeholders agreed that the developments will aim for the 2017 season at the earliest, and 2018 at the latest. The first meeting between the FIA and the Power Unit manufacturers on this topic will be held this week at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix."

While the FIA's budget engine plan has now been put on the back-burner, it did acknowledge "the four credible Expressions of interest made for the manufacture and supply of a less expensive alternative customer engine".

It added however that the plan "may be reassessed after the Power Unit manufacturers have presented their proposal to the Strategy Group".

Technical feature: Exclusive pictures of the Ferrari power unit

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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.