F1 has started plans for reimagining the powertrain for the race cars. A meeting on the weekend of the Austrian GP featured the heads of all engine manufacturers, and prospective new engine manufacturing partners from VW group brands Audi and Porsche alongside representatives from the FIA and F1. But more than a month in there are has been little movement in formulating what could be the next engine formula as Mercedes and Renault find themselves on one side of the table looking for an evolutionary step over the current V6 turbo hybrid engine vs Ferrari and Red Bull who want to develop a brand new engine which could be more emotive and use biofuels and perhaps is also smaller drifting towards a V4 concept.
German auto publication Auto Motor Un Sport claims that even prospective new manufacturers Audi and Porsche are in favor of a reset, but the big auto manufacturers Mercedes and Renault owned Alpine are in favour of an evolution of the current turbo hybrid engine with a greater electrical element as it would help reduce development costs. Additionally Mercedes and Alpine want to develop something that can be transported to their roadcar division.
Mercedes and Red Bull have anyways been at odds this year and this debate will add to the drama
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However, likely there is no consensus as Ferrari is leaning towards a brand new powertrain that includes the development of a new four cylinder V4 engine with a hybrid element. The internal combustion engine according to Ferrari's Mattia Binotto should be powered by biofuels and the rest should be electric powered. Red Bull's Christian Horner is of the belief that F1 needs an emotive new engine which is simpler and is loud like the engines before the turbo V6 hybrid era of F1 which has been dominated by Mercedes.
Horner also believes that F1 shouldn't be held hostage by automotive brands like Mercedes which have an obligation of technology transfer towards their road car business. The next engine formula should be meant for racing first and Horner believes with the creation of Red Bull Powertrains that will absorb the Honda IP -- it will create an independent manufacturer in F1 that doesn't have a roadcar business to support.
Mattia Binotto has said that a hybrid engine which is powered by biofuels is the way forward
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Renault is of the opinion that new manufacturers should be allowed a higher budget cap and fewer test bed restrictions so that they can be competitive immediately but they don't want to move away from the turbo V6 hybrid philosophy, Everything at the end could boil down to Ferrari and what is the opinion of the VW group brands as F1 has been trying to attract them for decades.
If an agreement is not reached in time, since the concorde agreement is only in place till 2025, the FIA could also take matters into their own hands and come up with an engine formula on its own, bypassing the teams and engine manufacturers. Regardless of what happens time is running out for a decision on what the next engine formula should be if the plan is to deploy the new engines in 2025. This is also important for the sustainability goals of F1.
