14/10/2015
NEWS STORY
2016 regulations published by the FIA today state that in 2016 customer engines must be same spec as work teams'.
Article 23.5 of the 2016 Sporting Regulations (pdf) states: "Only power units which are identical to the power unit that has been homologated by the FIA in accordance with Appendix 4 of these regulations may be used at an Event during the 2016- 2020 Championship seasons."
This comes at a time when Red Bull, which is still seeking an engine deal for 2016, was unhappy with an initial offer from Ferrari to supply engines but of the same 2015 spec as those issued to Sauber but not the Maranello outfit's works team. Ferrari has since said that it will only be willing to supply Toro Rosso.
Rather than offering Red Bull fresh hope however, the rules, which effectively mean the engine manufacturer must supply the Austrian team with the latest spec units, are likely to push the team closer to withdrawal from the sport.
That said, the engine manufacturers meet with the FIA on Thursday and Red Bull's situation is sure to be on the agenda.
Though Bernie Ecclestone insisted in Sochi that the Red Bull situation is "sorted" and there will be "twenty-two cars on the grid in 2016", there was no such news coming from the Austrian team itself, quite the opposite.
Though the rule means that engine specs must be the same, this does not aply to software mapping or fuel.