Ecclestone outlines dramatic F1 engine plans

[modbaraban]

not really. you start making efficiency improvements like we have seen this year. less engine friction, lower thermodynamic losses from exhaust velocity and temperature, lower cooling requirements to the engine, less aerodynamic drag at given downforce, better HERS and KERS. you can go on and on. teams havn't even scratched that surface.

You see, all that would be quite expensive and wouldn't add anything to the show. Bernie sez fans don't care about friction losses. Why should the teams make improvements on their own anyway.... (as if competing ), Max sez. It's like a company with 10 departments that compete with each other instead of working together, Max sez

Eh, I like idea of "energy content limit" per race and I like the idea of budget cap. That would be interesting from technical side to give an engineer limited resources and unlimited possibilities. Quite a real world situation...
Sweet dreams...

This idea (brilliant, imo) has been discussed for quite awhile here. But I've never ever heard of this from anyone related to F1 decision makers. It doesn't seem like anyone out there is really concerned about efficiency, fuel economy or environment. It's much easier to get some green-ish trim for the tyres, isn't it?

[timbo]

This idea (brilliant, imo) has been discussed for quite awhile here. But I've never ever heard of this from anyone related to F1 decision makers. It doesn't seem like anyone out there is really concerned about efficiency, fuel economy or environment.

Yes, I read it here))) Sorry if I voiced it like it was my idea, didn't mean that. I think that some rich enthusiast may start this by offering a participation to major universities. But in F1 it seems unlikely...

It's much easier to get some green-ish trim for the tyres, isn't it?

Yes, but F1 MAY actually help green technology by being more vocal about it. Like all that safety roads campaigns that F1 drivers participate.

PS but I don't like when ideas that harm sport are being forced into F1 under "green-tech" disguise.

[donskar]

I like to read grandprix.com because of their effort (IMO they usually succeed) to act as "the voice of reason." Their take on the standard engine is interesting (emphasis added):

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20907.html

. . . the key point is for everyone to establish where the PR stunt ends and where the standardisation of engines begins. . . .

The level of standardisation will be the deciding factor as to whether or not the manufacturers will decide to stay in the sport or whether they will decide that orther forms of motorsport (or no motorsport at all) better serves their policy goals. There are some companies which like to run engineers through the F1 programme to teach them about the F1 mindset and others that want the world to see that they are building engines that are appreciably different to those of their rivals. It may be that the American Indy Racing League would provide a better differentiation for some of those involved.

Creating standardisation is not the best way to show the public that F1 is the pinnacle of technology, unless there are other systems which obviously make a difference. KERS may be one such system but all the teams are saying that KERS development is incredibly expensive. That will probably change in a year or two when everyone has developed the technology. This may give the impression that F1 is contributing to the environmental cause but it is unlikely that it will a differentiator between the cars. The thing that will almost certainly remain the difference between a good car and a bad car is the aerodynamics and - perhaps - the drivers.

[timbo]

Here's autosport take on the subject

Senior sources have suggested there is a fear within FOTA that Mosley is using the threat of a standard engine, plus recent suggestions of engine equalization rules and the return of customer cars, as a way to break what has appeared to be rare unity in team ranks following the formation of FOTA.

Suspicions of a bid to destabilize FOTA increased in China when high-level sources suggested that the organisation had been asked to change its name because Formula One Management owned the trademark to 'Formula One.'

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71558