F1 to bring back screaming V8s? (Update)
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| Christian Horner calls for return of V8 engines. Mercedes says they would quit. Others say don't let the door hit you on the way out as your engines have made our sport a boring parade |
Red Bull boss Christian Horner is spot on in calling for a return to V8 engines in F1. Who cares that today's F1 engines are more fuel efficient. Fans come to see a race, not a fuel economy parade. 0.000% of fans care what fuel mileage an F1 engine gets.
F1's new V6 turbo engines and complex energy recovery systems have resulted in fans complaining about the lack of noise while the significantly higher costs have contributed to the financial struggles of half the teams.
"Nobody likes to go backwards, but sometimes you have got to consider that desperate means require desperate measures," Horner said. "You're looking at the costs of these power units – how sustainable is it for all the teams and indeed the manufacturers?
"I think it's extremely unlikely [we'll go back to V8s] but if we were rational about it then yes we would."
"Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say 'we got it wrong'. With the engine regulations the people involved got it wrong. Not only have we got an enormously expensive engine, we've got an engine we're not allowed to develop as well, or have very limited advantage. All you do is freeze in an advantage that you currently see.
"Basically the right thing to do would be to create a window for the manufacturers that are behind to catch up if you really wanted to control the cost, but that then wouldn't be fair for Mercedes. So if you're going to open it up you've got to do it for all the competitors. Otherwise we're going to have Mercedes dominating for the majority of this engine life.
"It has to be down to the [engine] manufacturers. The teams can't carry the burden of any more costs – top teams or little teams. Unfortunately the cost of these power units has driven two teams out of the sport already and it's a big factor, it's a big issue."
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| A 2.4-liter Cosworth NA V8 engine |
11/10/14 We don't think this will happen.
However, if you check this AR1 Hot News item you'll see that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has broached the idea of Formula One ditching the vacuum-cleaner sounding 1.6-liter turbo-charged V6 hybrid engine specifications for a return to the 2.4-liter normally-aspirated screaming V8s.
Of course, there would be some resistance to the change particularly from the dominant Mercedes camp, and Honda, who are entering the sport next year. Still, the power-to-be have broached the subject.
And God Bless them.
At the risk of repeating ourselves, it is the opinion of AutoRacing1 that Formula One has royally screwed the pooch with the introduction of the new engines. Yes, there is a place in racing for developing such technology. But the worldwide pinnacle of motorsport is about raw speed and breathtaking power.
Long fundamental to that breathtaking experience that is a Grand Prix were the spine-tingling sounds of a screaming V10 or V8. Sadly, that is no longer.
We'll see what F1 does. However, after nearly a full-season it is clear the powers-to-be needlessly ripped away one of the fundamental accompaniments to what made F1 the spectacle that it was. And when you consider the drastic expense involved with the change, you begin to realize how royally they screwed up.
AR1 Staff Report