FIA reveals details of future F1 engine talks

The FIA has revealed details of Friday's meeting to discuss the future of engines in Formula 1 beyond 2020, with cost and sound high on the agenda for manufacturers.

A meeting was held at the FIA's headquarters in Paris on Friday, chaired by FIA president Jean Todt and attended by all the current manufacturers "as well as automotive manufacturers and independent suppliers not currently involved in F1". Liberty Media also had a representative, while there was input from the road car arms of many of the manufacturers.

The FIA says the meeting "resulted in broad agreement for the future evolution of Formula 1 power units," highlighting the following areas as the focus for 2021 onward:

• A desire to maintain F1 as the pinnacle of motor sport technology, and as a laboratory for developing technology that is relevant to road cars
• Striving for future power units to be powerful, while becoming simpler and less costly to develop and produce
• Improving the sound of the power units
• A desire to allow drivers to drive harder at all times

Todt was described as "enthused" by the positive discussions as F1 looks to put long-term plans in place to replace the 1.6-liter V6 turbocharged power units currently being used until the end of 2020.

"I was very pleased with the process, and the fact that so many different stakeholders were able to agree on a direction for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in such an important technical area," Todt said.

"Of course, now we must sit down and work through the fine details of exactly what the 2021 power units will be – but we have begun on the right foot, and I am looking forward to working through the process to come up with the best decision for Formula 1 into the future."