F1: Sauber wary of year-old engines idea

Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn says allowing the use of one-year old engines in Formula 1 carries the risk of "distorting" the competition between teams.

Manor was allowed to use 2014-spec Ferrari units this season after exploiting a loophole that required only concessionary permission to do so. This rule was tightened, but the matter was discussed at Monday's meeting of the Strategy Group, of which Kaltenborn is not part, and it is understood the regulation will be revised again to permit different specs.

Kaltenborn says allowing year-old engines will create a two-tier championship.

"Ideally I don't think you should have an option like this," Kaltenborn told reporters ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. "We are trying to get people together and not creating an environment when you end up with A and B cars.

"It's in a way distorting a little bit the competition or creating a competition in the competition. It's not ideal."

Although she conceded Formula 1 may have to introduce the measure to enable some teams to survive, she suggested the ruling could set a precedent for other regulations.

"Of course, if a team is struggling a lot, they will have to go this route," Kaltenborn added. "You don't want to say, 'I'd rather shut down' and not take this option. If a team has to do this for a year, then why not? But I don't think it should set a precedent now for other things to come."

With the current V6 units costing $23 million-$31m per season compared to about $11m during the V8 era, there were also discussions at Monday's meeting around bringing down the costs, something Kaltenborn agrees with.

"I'm not a member, so I don't know what exactly was discussed," she said. "But what I hear and read, there seems to be some sort of consensus on cost of engines which is definitely the right direction.

"We have been saying this for a long time. It's encouraging what is happening but it is yet to be seen as to whether it will be introduced again."

Originally on Autosport.com