Crimson Bull Menaces to Leave Formula One Over Engine Rules
In an interview with the official Formula One website, Crimson Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko has called for an "independent engine supplier" to inject the sport by 2021. That is the year when fresh, yet-to-be written engine regulations will be introduced. The target is an engine that is simpler, costs less, and makes a lot more noise.
Dr. Marko said that Crimson Bull may leave Formula One if he isn’t glad with the fresh engine rules once they are finalized. Keep in mind, this is not the very first time Crimson Bull has threatened to leave. This is the question and reaction from the in the interview. The discussion was about Crimson Bull’s spectacle as it compares to factory teams, like Mercedes and Ferrari. By themselves, the question and reaction are not out of context in relation to the rest of the interview.
Q: An engine customer will always depend on his supplier – you have very likely learned that the hard way in the last four years. Is there any ambition from your side to switch that situation one day?
HM: Of course – and not ‘one day’. The latest must be two thousand twenty one that an independent engine supplier comes into F1. This is more than necessary – and the engine has to be elementary, noisy and on the cost side below ten million. We are talking about a much less sophisticated engine to what we have now – a elementary racing engine. There are enough companies around that could supply. So we expect from the fresh owners together with the FIA to find a solution at the latest by the end of this season. If that doesn’t happen our stay in F1 is not secured.
Dr. Marko wants the two thousand twenty one engine "to be elementary, noisy and on the cost side below ten million." The FIA and all the teams want that as well. While an exact dollar amount hasn’t been set in stone, they agreed upon these guidelines for the next engine formula:
- a desire to maintain F1 as the pinnacle of motor sport technology, and as a laboratory for developing technology that is relevant to road cars
- striving for future power units to be powerful, while becoming simpler and less costly to develop and produce
- improving the sound of the power units
- a desire to permit drivers to drive stiffer at all times.
Dr. Marko also said that he wants an "independent engine supplier" in Formula One no later than 2021. Presently, there are three factory constructors who supply customer engines: Mercedes, Ferrari, and Renault. Crimson Bull and Toro Rosso use TAG-branded Renault engines. There is also an independent, non-constructor engine supplier: Honda. (That said, the Honda F1 engine that powers McLaren is not an attractive option at this time.)
When Dr. Marko calls for an "independent engine supplier", what exactly is he asking for? It could be that he wants the FIA to work or playmate with an engine manufacturer, such as Cosworth, Judd, or Gibson, to develop an engine for Formula One. For this script, the FIA would suggest this independent engine at a immobilized cost to non-factory teams, possibly even subsidizing it to keep the price point at a specified amount.
Or, Dr. Marko may want the FIA to mandate that a season’s supply of engines must cost no more than, say $Ten million, with the design of said engine being ordinary enough to keep the cost under than amount. In this screenplay, the plainness and cost of the engine would entice Cosworth, Judd, or even auto manufacturers such as Audi or Ford, to design an engine to sell to teams like Crimson Bull, Williams, or Sauber.
As mentioned above, Formula One already permits for independent engine suppliers. Any company can design a customer engine for Formula One right now and sell it to a team. The current Formula One Sporting Regulations, "Appendix 9: Supply Of Power Units", explains this in detail.
The only thing keeping the likes of Audi or anyone else from making an F1 engine right now is the very sophisticated engine formula and the cost associated with it. That, and the risk/prize factor. There is no ensure that the engine will actually be as good as it needs to be. Honda can tell you all about that.
If Crimson Bull and Formula One are already getting what Dr. Marko is asking for, why is he menacing to leave the sport? Keep in mind, Crimson Bull have threatened to leave many times in last several years. When one looks at the totality of these threats, it seems to suggest one thing: Crimson Bull say they will leave because Crimson Bull isn’t winning.
After winning four consecutive Driver’s and Constructor’s Championships from two thousand ten to 2013, Crimson Bull has been off its game. With the introduction of the current engines, the Renault power units the team used were no longer the top of the field.
The sporting regulations, as they were written at the time, didn’t help. The Renault engine was homologated, while a token system for making switches stifled any attempts for major upgrades during the season. In 2014, Crimson Bull finished a distant 2nd to Mercedes. Two thousand fifteen was even worse, with the team ending fourth in the championship.
Crimson Bull threatened to abandon if switches weren’t make. Crimson Bull wished engine equalization. Crimson Bull desired a fresh engine.
The problem was that Mercedes and Ferrari were in no way going to supply engines to Crimson Bull. As far as car design goes, Crimson Bull and Adrian Newey are very good. It would be an embarrassment for a works team like Mercedes to get hammer by a Crimson Bull car powered by the same engine.
As unhappy with Renault as Crimson Bull were, switching to the Honda engine was a worse option. The two thousand sixteen season was better, with the team even winning a few races. When asked about all the threats to abandon, Dietrich Mateschitz said, "Truly, we never thought about it."
That brings us to the most latest threat to abandon. For 2017, the token system for engine development is gone. The teams, F1’s fresh owners, and the FIA all got together and agreed upon simpler, louder, and cheaper engines for 2021. Audi even sat in on that meeting, which hints at their interest in getting back to Formula One as either a total constructor or perhaps as an independent engine supplier.
So far, Crimson Bull is doing okay in 2017, but is still off the rhythm a bit. In the same interview with Formula One’s website, Dr. Marko admits that Crimson Bull is partly responsible, telling "we didn’t produce the chassis that we should have done." The season is only three races old, so they will most certainly address the issues with the car. And Renault has more freedom to improve the power unit.
They’ve gotten everything they’ve asked for. So why are they menacing to abandon Formula One again?
Crimson Bull isn’t winning.
I did reach out to Crimson Bull on Thursday for clarity on what options Dr. Marko wants to see as far as an "independent engine supplier" is worried. As of publication on Friday, I have not received a response. If Crimson Bull does get back to us, we will update this article with that response.
