Charged, along with Jean Todt, "to make recommendations and decisions regarding a number of pressing issues in Formula One such as governance, power units and cost reduction", and all by next month, Bernie Ecclestone insists that finding an independent engine supplier is paramount.

Though the idea has been shelved whilst the current manufacturers come up with their own proposals, Ecclestone and Todt clearly see an independent supplier as key to their own plans.

Other than the fact that engine costs have driven up overall team spending, and the fact that, as proven by the Red Bull saga, engine manufacturers are choosing who they supply, and with what, the reality is that the manufacturers suddenly appear to hold most of the cards.

This, of course, is not a situation desired by the FIA, the commercial rights holder or any potential purchaser of F1.

Consequently, Ecclestone is adamant that an independent engine supplier is crucial to the sport's existence.

"It does not mean we want to get rid of the manufacturers, on the contrary," he told Welt Am Sonntag. "We just want to have powerful engines that can be bought and run cheaper than at the moment.

"The bottom line is, the discussions surrounding a new engine from 2018 are not finished but still ongoing," he continued. "If we don't reach an agreement between teams, the manufacturers and us, the FIA can install a new engine format.

"We must not allow F1 to be destroyed," he insisted. "But if we continue as we do at the moment we're right on course to destroy it. I won't let that happen.

"For sure there will be a different engine in the future or a different set of rules for a new engine which is more powerful and cheaper, too. Technology must not be too dominant in this sport as we depend heavily on our audience. I think the majority of our audience isn't interested in what engines we run. They don't care about our highly complex technology either. They want exciting and entertaining races and lots of different winners. And this is what F1 has to deliver."

Pointing to Mercedes domination of the last two seasons, he said: "It's not good for the sport. It gets boring. Some people just tune in for the start and then turn off their TV again because Mercedes makes the races rather boring.

"With the engine of an alternative supplier we want to boost the competition and we want to make F1 more competitive throughout the field."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by mickl, 10/12/2015 22:40

"Cheapest way to level the playing field it to go back to manual gearboxes and no power steering with no rev limiter, that'll sort the men from the boys in driving skills.

Also allow ground effects, this could probably leave the cars looking quite the same as now so they can still fit as many sponsorship logos onto the cars."

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2. Posted by BWesty, 09/12/2015 12:53

"Ayrton senna,kyalami 1992,first lap onboard foota…: http://youtu.be/VUEVxhnxudU

Hello everyone
Watch this post above and then tell me how the current F1 vehicles are anything near as challenging to drive... sometime you have to go back to move forward...:)

Enjoy..."

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3. Posted by nonickname, 09/12/2015 5:52

"By 2018 F1 will probably be dead anyway. It needs change next year.Stick alittle energy recovery on the V8 and go to big tyres and simpler wings and everyone is happy."

Ecclestone: Independent engine supply key to F1 survival

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