Ecclestone still wants changes to engine regs

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is decided on pursuing his quest for cheaper, simpler engines that independent teams can afford.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the 85-year-old said he was unhappy with the sport's current power unit hybrid technology advocated by Formula 1's road-car manufacturers.

"Until we get an engine that can be built at a lot less cost, yes, there will be trouble ahead," he said.

Following demands made by the FIA, F1 manufacturers have agreed to work on solutions which would greatly reduce the cost of their current 1.6-litre V6 engines to customers, and thus increase their availability.

But Ecclestone wants F1 to move away from the cutting-edge technology, as well as reduce the power and control currently wielded by the car manufacturers.

Together Ferrari and Mercedes supply eight of the eleven F1 teams, giving their representatives - Mercedes' Toto Wolff and Ferrari's Sergio Marchionne - an overwhelming presence at the table of the decision-making F1 Commission.

"If we have a meeting of the F1 Commission and these two guys decide on something, which they do together, they have enough votes to stop anything going through, so they are controlling F1," Ecclestone said.

Both teams enjoy a fair advantage in terms of power unit performance, rendering any substantial regulation change an unlikely prospect.

"Frankly, if I was either of them, I would be in the same position," Ecclestone concluded

Scene at the Pirelli wet tyre test