F1's engine manufacturers and chief executives from Porsche and Audi took part in a meeting on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring that has been described as "very positive" by Formula 1.
The sport's stakeholders have yet to define the engine regulations that will power F1 into the future beyond 2025 when the current engine cycle comes to its conclusion.
F1 chiefs Stefano Domenicali and Ross Brawn and FIA president Jean Todt chaired a meeting destined to move the ball forward that included Ferrari’s John Elkann, Renault CEO Luca de Meo, Mercedes’ Ola Kallenius, and Audi chairman Markus Duesmann and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume.
"Very positive discussions took place today with all of the current and potential new Power Unit suppliers regarding the next phase of the Formula 1 Power Unit," said F1 in a statement.
"The discussions will continue over the coming weeks with further news to be announced following those discussions."
Domenicali, who described Saturday's meeting as a "step forward", has said that the fundamental hybrid characteristics of F1's current power unit will remain. But Red Bull - which is in the process of creating its own engine department as it takes over Honda's power units from 2022 - is calling for a "clean sheet" approach to the future regulations.
“This engine is going to be with us for the next 10 years when it’s introduced,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said.
“I would rather take the time to come up with something exciting, different, and relevant that fits the criteria of cost, of performance, and that encourages close racing.
“Of course we should also not discount sound and emotion. For me, those are the criteria that should be focused on.
“It would be a great shame to carry over what currently is a very expensive engine and try and make it cheap. You can’t fly in first class and pay an economy ticket.
“Hopefully there’s an opportunity - particularly if it was for ’26 - to come up with an engine that’s sustainable, that’s environmentally friendly, that uses biofuel, that is a bit more of a clean sheet, perhaps with elements of standardisation where costs can clearly be controlled, rather than just carry over what we currently have.”
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