19/09/2008
NEWS STORY
As F1 fans, and many within the paddock, still lament the fact that F1 now features 2.4 litre V8 powerplants, with V12s, V10s, Flat-12s, H16s, Turbo V6s and so many other emotive configurations consigned to history, FIA President Max Mosley has admitted that he would be happy to see all teams use a standard engine.
Such a move would send shockwaves throughout the sport, but while many will dismiss such talk as the FIA President merely thinking aloud, others know that Mosley usually gets what he wants.
Talking to L'Equipe, he said: "I know that the big constructors will say to me that 'if there is to be a single engine, I want it to be mine', but in the real world, if a racing company can buy a cheaper engine then it will do so... without doubt."
While, in the eyes of many, aerodynamics are one of the major deciding factors in contemporary F1, it is the competition between the engine manufacturers which has helped shape the sport almost since its inception. While Mosley has gradually standardised much of F1, in the eyes of many, slowly turning it into a one-make formula, the concept of all teams using the same engine is surely unthinkable.
Remarkably, while Mosley is in favour of standard engines, following on from the introduction of a standard engine ECU and a move towards standard aerodynamics, he disagrees with Flavio Briatore, who has suggested that there should be a standard KERS device when the system is introduced next year
"This shows the inability of team owners to think logically," said Mosley. "Only when the KERS system has been extensively tested can we think about a common usage."