Formula One news

Ecclestone outlines dramatic F1 engine plans

Bernie Ecclestone has outlined a dramatic vision for the future of F1 in a bid to make the sport more affordable for new teams. 

Ecclestone is working on a plan with FIA president Max Mosley in which a standard engine will be introduced for all cars and designed to last for half the season which they believe could reduce teams' engine costs by up to 90 per cent in two years.

The new proposals will be for a single, standard engine specification which each team will be able to build, but it will have to be identical to that of their rivals. Engine customer teams will have access to the same engine through an independent engine manufacturer.

The proposals are likely to be unpopular as many will see them cutting against the grain of F1 in which teams have always pushed development as hard as they can.

"The thing I'm most excited about is pushing and pushing the homologated engine idea," Ecclestone was quoted as saying by The Times newspaper. "The new engine will be equalised and there will only be two engine changes a year, so costs will come down dramatically."

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