F1: FIA to tender for independent engine

The FIA will announce a tender for an independent and cost-effective Formula 1 engine for 2017 early next week, according to the sport' chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

An engine supply costs teams around $23 million-$31m per season with the latest generation 1.6-liter turbocharged V6s compared to $11m during the V8 era. F1 boss Ecclestone has long said the cost of the V6s are too high, while the FIA said earlier this year that it was an oversight not to ensure the money required to pay for a supply was tacked when the new rules were introduced.

Speaking to reporters in the Austin paddock, Ecclestone said: "The FIA will put out a press release on Monday or Tuesday. [The engines] will probably have more power, probably use more fuel.

"It means I suppose there will be some regulation changes, which has already been anticipated for 2017 anyway, so there is nothing new."

With regards the claim that the move is a bid to force other manufacturers to reduce the current supply cost, Ecclestone said: "Not really, it's very simple. If we don't, we'll probably lose a few teams.

"It's nothing to do with us what people charge. We have no control, and don't want it. They can charge what they like. What is being introduced will be an awful lot cheaper than what it currently costs."

Ecclestone added that "there's a couple [of interested parties] on the horizon," adding Cosworth is one of them, and he is confident the independent unit would be competitive.

When asked for his thoughts that the four engine manufacturers currently involved in F1 – Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault and Honda – would be disappointed considering the money they have spent on the current generation engines, Ecclestone said: "The money they spent, the R&D they spent – it was for their road cars. They got more out of it for their road cars they say."

Ecclestone said he did not believe the introduction of an independent engine would see Formula 1 become a two-tier championship.

"We used to have people running turbo engines and people running normally-aspirated," he said. "That wasn't a two-tier system. It was a choice.

"Whatever it is, I anticipate they will continue running their engine and the others the other engine."

Originally on Autosport.com