Bernie Ecclestone says the F1 engines supplied by Mercedes and Ferrari to their customer teams have “a lot less power” than the ones used by their respective works outfit.
F1’s commercial rights chief has been openly and repeatedly criticising the two manufacturers for the past few months in the light of their reluctance to endorse measures to introduce cheaper power units.
Ecclestone first warned that Mercedes and Ferrari’s grip on the sport could end up destroying it altogether before adding that he believed there was a gentleman’s agreement between the two rivals.
With eight out of the 11 teams supplied by either Mercedes or Ferrari, the 85-year-old supremo doubts any other squad can challenge the big two in 2016.
“Mercedes supply four [sic] of these power units to the smaller teams and obviously they supply them with a lot less power than they have in their own cars,” he told Canadian radio TSN. “So you’ve got rid of four teams.”
“Ferrari supply three teams in exactly the same way. Ferrari’s not as powerful, their engine, as Mercedes, but it’s getting there. Anyway they supply other teams and the teams they supply the engine’s not as good.
“So all we’ve got really and truly is Mercedes and Ferrari - I hope - racing each other.”
A staunch opponent of the current engine regulations, Ecclestone once again hit out at the 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged units by saying these are deterring new constructors from entering the sport.
“The problem we have is the power units. When Formula One was built, there was a manufacturer that made engines and everyone used it, except Ferrari. It was a level-playing field then. Now, it is not.
“So we’re in the process of doing something about it. We’ve just got to make these engines much more simple in order to have another manufacturer come in and supply people.”
Along with FIA president Jean Todt, Ecclestone was recently given a special mandate by the sport’s governing body to forge ahead with recommendations on a number of “pressing issues”, including “power units and cost reduction”. They have until January 31 to bring their proposals forward.
Honda exclusive Q&A: Realistic expectations for 2016
Feature: What happens on any given F1 Saturday?
Technical preview: What changes in 2016?
When F1’s radically redesigned 2026 cars finally roll out in Barcelona at the end of…
Max Verstappen has never been one to sugar-coat reality – and as Formula 1 braces…
Ferrari have survived decades of criticism about strategy calls, driver politics and pit stops that…
While the paddock has been whispering for months that Mercedes might be holding the winning…
Dan Gurney passed away on this day in 2018, and here at F1i we'll never…
What began as a painful reminder of loss has ended with a moment of profound…