The World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) has voted in changes to the power unit regulations for 2017 in an attempt to address concerns raised by the FIA.
Last year it was confirmed plans for an independent engine were put on hold with the current manufacturers tasked with addressing four key points regarding the power units. Those aspects were:
- 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
Following Tuesday's lack of progress due to a number of absentees at the F1 Commission meeting, an e-vote was required in order to finalise the future plans ahead of an April 30 deadline.
The FIA has confirmed the F1 Commission agreed on proposals - now approved by the WMSC - which will see costs reduced over the coming seasons, with a €1million reduction in 2017 and a further €3m in 2018. The FIA adds that: "Cost reduction on power units will be driven by changes to the Sporting and Technical regulations in 2017 and 2018, with a progressive reduction of the number of power unit elements per driver per season."
With a guarantee of supply being included as part of the homologation process, the token system will be scrapped in 2017, with plans to bring performance closer together by way of "constraints on power unit part weights, dimensions and materials, and on boost pressure [which] will be introduced in 2017 and in 2018".
Addressing the sound, it was announced "the manufacturers are currently conducting a promising research programme into further improving the sound of the current power units", with the aim of implementing any change no later than 2018.
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