Theissen rejects calls for engine thaw

(GMM) Mario Theissen has rejected claims that manufacturers falling behind amid the current engine freeze should be allowed to catch up.

Renault's Flavio Briatore is the most outspoken on the issue of engine disparity, arguing that some outfits have taken advantage of the ability to make changes on the grounds of reliability and cost benefits to add performance to their frozen V8s.

Discussions about a remedy have taken place, including at Singapore, with paddock whispers suggesting a meeting of the FOTA alliance occurred this week at a city hotel.

But BMW's Theissen told reporters: "The gap between individual engines is not that big but the topic has been exaggerated lately.

"I don't think this is a decisive factor in terms of performance," he added.

The BMW-Sauber team principal said the engine freeze has reduced teams' engine budgets and opened the door for technologies like the road-relevant KERS systems.

"The downside is, if you unfreeze the engines the cost rises will resume immediately," Theissen insisted.