F1 stakeholders met with the President of the FIA, Jean Todt, to discuss the new regulations for the 2021 power unit and beyond, which include a reduction in cost, maintaining road relevance with hybrid technology and improving the sound of the cars and the appeal for the fans.
Engine manufacturer representatives were presented with a roadmap for the development of the next generation of regulations, some of which approved, and some of which did not.
The proposals shared were developed jointly by the FIA and by F1 using data and input from teams, power unit suppliers and outside experts, and the overall framework for the 2021 power unit definition will be in place and published by the FIA at the end of the current year.
โIn order to uphold the objective of cost reduction, work will continue over the next 12 months to define certain elements of the Power Unit, but the design and development of the complete Power Unit will not be possible until all the information is released at the end of 2018. This aims to ensure that manufacturers continue to work on the current specification Power Unit,โ the FIUA said in a statement.
โDuring the remaining part of 2017 and 2018, the FIA and F1 will also work with the teams to establish power unit test and development restrictions as well as other cost containment measures.โ
Manufacturer representatives were presented with the vision for the key new features of the 2021 Power Unit proposed by the FIA and F1, they are as follows:
- 6 Litre, V6 Turbo Hybrid
- 3000rpm higher engine running speed range to improve the sound
- Prescriptive internal design parameters to restrict development costs and discourage extreme designs and running conditions
- Removal of the MGUH
- More powerful MGUK with focus on manual driver deployment in race together with option to save up energy over several laps to give a driver controlled tactical element to racing
- Single turbo with dimensional constraints and weight limits
- Standard energy store and control electronics
- High Level of external prescriptive design to give โPlug-And-Play' engine/chassis/transmission swap capability
- Intention to investigate tighter fuel regulations and limits on number of fuels used
A series of meetings will now commence with all the interested parties to discuss and develop the proposal in the spirit of the widest possible cooperation.
โThe 2021 power unit is an example of the future way the FIA as regulators, F1 as commercial right holders, the teams and the manufacturers as stakeholders will work together for the common good of the sport,โ Formula 1, Managing Director, Motorsports Ross Brawn said. โThe proposal presented was the outcome of a series of meeting which took place during 2017 with the current teams participating in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and the manufacturers who showed their interest to be part of the pinnacle of motor sport.โ
โAlso, we've carefully listened to what the fans think about the current PU and what they would like to see in the near future with the objective to define a set of regulations which will provide a powertrain that is simpler, cheaper and noisier and will create the conditions to facilitate new manufacturers to enter Formula 1 as powertrain suppliers and to reach a more levelled field in the sport.โ
โThe new F1 has the target to be the world's leading global sports competition married to state of the art technology. To excite, engage, and awe fans of all ages but to do so in a sustainable manner. We believe that the future power unit will achieve this.โ
