Autosport revealed over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend that the idea of introducing a mechanism to equalise power units among the manufacturers has been tabled by the FIA for dialogue at this week’s assembly of the F1 Fee.
It’s understood that the transfer has been prompted by issues that the Renault engine, which is utilized by Alpine, has fallen behind rivals and could possibly be as a lot as 30hp down on the perfect.
Whereas not confirming any figures, Alpine staff principal Otmar Szafnauer has admitted that the French producer is adrift of the opposition – which is hampering its aggressive fortunes.
“All of the groups do the identical evaluation and the FIA does its evaluation,” he mentioned when requested about how his engine stacked up in opposition to the opposition. “We’re considerably down.”
Though groups don’t like handing efficiency good points to rivals, the state of affairs surrounding equalisation throughout an influence unit freeze is a distinct matter.
With Renault unable to make any enhancements to its energy items as a result of the present engines are homologated, the state of affairs is barely unfair to anybody who finds themselves behind.
That’s the reason Crimson Bull boss Horner thinks that, if the FIA can present that there’s disparity between the engines, then it is just proper that strikes are made to place everybody on a stage taking part in discipline.
Requested by Autosport what he thought concerning the engine equalisation state of affairs, Horner mentioned: “It’s about seeing what are the deficits. The FIA has all the knowledge and they need to current precisely what the variations are.
“I feel that may be fascinating for everyone to see, and I feel that if there’s a deficit underneath homologation, then it is one thing that we needs to be smart about – in any other case, you are locked in for 2 years. I would not be averse to a wise dialogue.”
Winner Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB19
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Racing
Horner has prior to now made requires equalisation within the early turbo hybrid years when confronted with a Renault engine that was behind the benchmark energy items of Mercedes and Ferrari.
Szafnauer has welcomed Horner’s stance, particularly as a result of the engines have been frozen from 2022 to 2025 as a way of serving to Crimson Bull proceed to make use of Honda engines within the wake of the Japanese producer’s withdrawal from F1.
“I’m glad Christian mentioned that as a result of, if you happen to look again, the rationale the engines have been frozen was as a result of Honda was pulling out at the moment and Crimson Bull didn’t have an engine division to proceed growing,” he defined.
“The rationale all of us agreed was for the good thing about Crimson Bull, so it’s good that Christian recognises that.
“And, on the time of the association, there was additionally an settlement among the many engine producers that if anyone fell out by 1% then there can be good religion discussions to deliver that parity again.”
Whereas F1’s energy items have been frozen because the begin of 2022, Szafnauer believes the aggressive image has shifted since then as rivals have gained from making reliability upgrades.
“All people is allowed to repair their reliability points and, hidden in reliability points, can typically be energy upgrades,” he mentioned. “It depends upon what reliability concern you might be fixing.
Otmar Szafnauer, Workforce Principal, Alpine F1 Workforce
Photograph by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images
“I keep in mind in 2007 after we froze the V8s, I used to be the one who obtained each request from different groups for Honda. They got here to me first, and all of the requests again then have been for cost-saving and reliability.
“I’d move them on to the right engineers. However there may be quite a lot of stuff that may be disguised as reliability and then you definitely improve the facility.”