According to Auto Motor und Sport, Liberty Media will reveal the 2021 engine rules on 21 October, with the first framework of the proposed budget cap to be revealed a week later on 7 November.

The engine rules have been the focus of discussions for some time and the direction in which the sport heads from 2021 could decide whether manufacturers such as Porsche and Cosworth return to the sport, both having attended meetings of the Power Unit Working Group.

The complexity of the current power units has driven up costs and as a result would-be manufacturers are looking for less complex engines and reduced costs, while (some) teams, are seeking alternative suppliers to the current four.

In terms of fans, the current formula, introduced in 2014, though a masterpiece in terms of technology and reliability - unless your name is Honda - have been a let down, particularly in terms of noise. That said, it is understood Ross Brawn has found a solution, albeit a microphone placed in the exhaust.

The initial proposal in terms of the budget cap will also be interesting with Liberty Media seeking to level the playing field and thereby give the likes of Force India and Haas and the other smaller teams the opportunity to win races.

However, the bigger teams have made no secret of the fact that they are not happy about such a move.

In the wake of recent criticism of the Strategy Group, there is talk of it being scrapped and more emphasis placed on the technical team that has been put together by Ross Brawn, the technical boss of Formula One.

Worryingly however, this suggests that the drawing up of the rules and regulations for the sport are moving away from the FIA and towards the sport's owners, which surely at some stage creates a conflict of interest as they are likely to want a formula that creates the best show commercially - as in four or five drivers fighting for the title up until the last lap of the last race - as opposed to the best sport.

While on the surface all looks smooth at the moment, one cannot help but feel that the sport is heading for a watershed in the next couple of years, as 2020 sees the end of the current Concorde Agreement.

Up until now, the relationship between the teams and the sport's new owners has been good, but as Liberty attempts to take the sport forward and the teams begin to flex their muscles, Chase Carey is going to discover exactly why Bernie Ecclestone needed his dictatorial approach.

Indeed, it is interesting that while Singapore and China have agreed new contracts, they are for 4 and 3 years respectively, effectively taking them up to that all-important 2020/2021 timeline.

It's as if everyone knows that there's a storm heading towards the paddock.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by mickl, 13/10/2017 14:17

"Just to go back on the noise and those who carp on about loudness. It's not the loudness that matters per se but more the quality of the noise.

A Honda...I mean a tractor.....nope, I do mean a Honda going past as 200 decibels isn't really going to bring anyone pleasure as such...."

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2. Posted by Jezzer, 12/10/2017 14:12

"Mickl, you shouldn’t make jokes like that (vroom vroom noises), the FIA might just decide it will be a cheaper option than the microphone up the a*** one and go with it they are, after all, incapable of making ANY sensible decisions. "

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3. Posted by mickl, 12/10/2017 13:54

"TBH I don't mind the noise now. It's interesting to hear the tyre squeal and other background car noises that used to be drowned out by the engine that probably gives a better picture of how well or how hard the drivers are working the cars. The noise is a secondary problem at best, as we all just want close racing which a loud engine noise is never going bring about. A V8/V10/V12 won't do diddly squat to help the racing with the current aero rules. Although I do find the Honda engines sounding too tractor/bag of spanners like at low revs.

Liberty could just ask the fans to make "vroom, vroom" noises everytime a car goes past instead of shoving a microphone up it's ****. After all, they're all about engaging the fans........

"

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4. Posted by Jezzer, 12/10/2017 9:11

"It’s all going down the toilet. When the governing body is more concerned about drivers names on the cars and the drivers only changing their helmet design once per year what chance does F1 realistically have?"

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5. Posted by bfairey, 12/10/2017 6:49

"2.4L v6 and get rid of some of the aero."

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6. Posted by sunny, 12/10/2017 4:26

"Liberty does not own formula 1, Liberty does not make the formula 1 rules. "

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7. Posted by Spindoctor, 11/10/2017 13:58

"It's worth noting in this context, that in Britain Sky has bought the right to show The Premier League on its Pay Channels for billions of pounds, it has no control over the rules of the game. Although this has led to matches being played at weird times and days, the Game is largely unchanged.

If FIA is prepared formally to cede control of F1 to Liberty, then a threshold has been crossed and F1 is doomed as a Sport. Many of today's ills come from the time when Bernie took informal charge of F1 and bad as Bernie's influence has been Liberty simply lacks any knowledge of, nor interest in F1 as a Sport."

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8. Posted by Hobgoblin, 11/10/2017 8:00

"It's all a bit academic, as it all finishes next year when it moves to pay-view only.
It's been fun."

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9. Posted by LukeP, 10/10/2017 19:41

"Agree with Matt below; we want to see close racing! Honestly I'm used to the noise now.

I saw a race at Silverstone in 2015 and they're still pretty loud when the tear past you... not as loud as the GP2 cars, which was a bit amusing, but you could genuinely see the speed difference through sections like Maggots/Becketts. I'd love to go and see the 2017 cars do that same section.

In fairness, we have actually had some competitive racing this year! It's just all gone away from Ferrari in the last 3 races... we could easily be having the best season for years (2 manufacturers genuinely competing) were it not for this... 3 manufacturers now that Red Bull seem to be on the pace (no doubt partly due to Renault at least having reasonable race pace).

I don't think much needs changing, except the costs to come down (this will have many benefits... not least mid-field teams may also be able to challenge for podiums on "normal" weekends), and less reliance on aero that is disrupted by the cars in front."

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10. Posted by Cherevee, 10/10/2017 18:53

"So Ross's solution is a Soundaktor?"

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11. Posted by Anthony, 10/10/2017 16:19

"Mad Matt is absolutely right. Aero is the problem."

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12. Posted by Mad Matt, 10/10/2017 15:45

"I don't think Liberty can make the rules unless the FIA are willing to just rubber stamp whatever they say.

As I've said before I really don't care too much about the noise, or cars which are two seconds a lap faster, or most other things. What I and I think most people, want to see is genuine close racing.

That's only going to come about with different aero regs."

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2021 engine rules to be revealed later this month

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