Formula One Team Representatives, FIA President Jean Todt, the commercial rights holders for Formula One and potential engine suppliers all met at the FIA headquarters in Paris Tuesday 31 October 2017 to discuss the 2021 engine regulations and the way forward for the sport.
Manufacturers were presented with a road map for the development of the next generation of F1 technical regulations. This road map was in-line with the FIA’s objectives for the sport which include cost reductions, maintaining road relevance of the hybrid technology, and improving the spectacle for the fans and the sound of the cars.
“The proposals shared today have been developed jointly by the FIA and by F1 using data and input from teams, power unit suppliers and outside experts, and the overall framework for the 2021 power unit definition will be in place and published by the FIA at the end of 2017,” said the FIA in a statement.
The objective of the meeting was not to finalise any regulations but to rather present the way forward with the input of the various stake holders in Formula One.
On the cost reduction front, the teams will continue to work to define certain elements of the power unit. The final specifications, of which, will be made available at the end of 2018. This ensures teams continue to develop the current power units.
Key new features of the 2021 Power Units
- 1.6 Litre, V6 Turbo Hybrid
- 3000rpm higher engine running speed range to improve the sound
- Prescriptive internal design parameters to restrict development costs and discourage extreme designs and running conditions
- Removal of the MGU-H
- More powerful MGU-K with focus on manual driver deployment in race together with option to save up energy over several laps to give a driver controlled, tactical element to racing
- Single turbo with dimensional constraints and weight limits
- Standard energy store and control electronics
- High Level of external prescriptive design to give ‘Plug-And-Play’ engine/chassis/transmission swap capability
- Intention to investigate tighter fuel regulations and limits on number of fuels used
There was no mention of any change to the fuel flow restriction which is what limits the high revving nature of the cars. The current rev limit is set at 15 000 rpm. During qualifying and the race the teams limit the cars to 12 000 rpm because of the fuel flow rate limit. If the limit is not increased, it will make no difference to the sound of the engines.
The change to the manual deployment of the electrical energy brings us back to pre-2014 where the drivers could deploy the extra electrical energy when they felt necessary. This should put more control in the drivers hands.
Formula 1, Managing Director, Motorsports Ross Brawn said: “The 2021 power unit is an example of the future way the FIA as regulators, F1 as commercial right holders, the teams and the manufacturers as stakeholders will work together for the common good of the sport.
“The proposal presented today was the outcome of a series of meetings which took place during 2017 with the current teams participating in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and the manufacturers who showed their interest to be part of the pinnacle of motor sport.
“Also, we’ve carefully listened to what the fans think about the current PU and what they would like to see in the near future with the objective to define a set of regulations which will provide a powertrain that is simpler, cheaper and noisier and will create the conditions to facilitate new manufacturers to enter Formula 1 as powertrain suppliers and to reach a more levelled field in the sport.
“The new F1 has the target to be the world’s leading global sports competition married to state of the art technology.
“To excite, engage, and awe fans of all ages but to do so in a sustainable manner. We believe that the future power unit will achieve this.”
