Over the last couple of months, the four major F1 manufacturers, the FIA and F1 have been meeting to formulate the next engine formula which is slated to be slotted in by 2025. This will be the first major change to the engine regulations since 2014 when F1 introduced the current V6 turbo hybrid engines. Red Bull, which became the latest manufacturer in the sport after it acquired Honda's engine IP, is looking for a clean slate. It wants to build a brand new endothermic 4-cylinder engine that's complemented by a larger hybrid element than that's used these days. Mercedes and Alpine however want an evolution of the current V6 turbo hybrid engines that use more of the electric element as this is in line with their various road car businesses.Ferrari Opposing 2025 F1 Engine Direction That Red Bull & Mercedes Want
That leaves Ferrari as the all-important tie breaker. Ferrari is also the oldest team in the sport and its most successful team. The equity of F1 and Ferrari are tied together so whatever Ferrari says becomes doubly important.
Mercedes has proposed a six-cylinder engine in the 90-degree V format but with a massive electric motor rated at 300-kW from the 120-kW motor. This would also mean more batteries as there is chat of reducing the fuel limit from 110 kg to 90 kg.
Ferrari had the most powerful engine in 2018 and 2019 but then it was hobbled by technical regulations
Ferrari has been in favour of a brand-new internal combustion engine which is coupled with an electric motor that has a broader role. It has been even open to a V4 concept that Red Bull is also proposing. In fact, this is something that could also attract VW group companies like Audi and Porsche whose CEOs have also been part of the meetings. The internal combustion engine bit will be powered by a biofuel, something Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has also said before. This would also catch the fancy of Porsche which has invested heavily in biofuels.
Red Bull for instance wants to get rid of the MGU-H to reduce costs. But the one thing that's being proposed by the FIA is the limitation of research and development in the combustion chamber and hybrid strategy something that's not going to please the Scuderia bosses as they view F1 as the pinnacle of motorsport and development has to be allowed for the sake of differentiation.
Ferrari is in no hurry to electrify as its first electric car will also come out in 2025 which will be a derivative of the Le Mans entry it has in 2023, but for the future this will be an important criterion. Since there is such a log jam on the formula, there could also be a possibility that the new engine regulations are pushed to 2026.
