F1 Engine Manufacturers should be committed: Haug

Mercedes motorsports boss Norbert Haug has said that the Formula 1 engine manufacturers should remain committed to the engine regulations in the future. He said that it is important that all the manufacturers should show their commitment before the changes in the engine regulations will be introduced by FIA.

After the FIA’s decision of introducing the ‘greener units’ from 2013, the engine row has heated quite a lot in past few weeks. Three out of four engine manufactures has raised concerns on the greener turbocharged plants. Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Cosworth are concerned about the cost of the greener units and have asked FIA to delay it. On the other hand Renault want turbocharged units in 2013 and have said that if FIA postpone the plans they will relinquish Formula 1.

After the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on the 2013 regulations, the FIA said that they can delay the introduction of new power units if the stakeholders of Formula 1 request to change the time period of its introduction.

Mercedes-Benz supply engines to three Formula 1 teams Force India, McLaren and their own team Mercedes GP. Mercedes boss Haug said that they are prepared to supply greener engines to the outfits but also said that a decent discussion is also need before the introduction.

When Haug was asked whether they are ready and in favor of the greener engines he said, “We are prepared of course, but we need to see the whole situation. We should have in our view at least the four manufacturers that are here they should be committed and we have discussed that together.”

He said that before the introduction, all the four engine makers should have one opinion before any decision takes place. “You have the four manufacturers would be preferably to have probably a new one, or probably more new ones who are interested. But as you see there are some discussions, some problems whether all these manufacturers are committed. I think establishing rules and then have only two, three manufacturers who are committed is just a problematic situation that needs to be solved together and that needs a decent discussion.”

Haug said that until the end of the month discussions on the new engine regulations will continue. The major stakeholders will meet and discuss the issue about the new engine regulations in the F1 Commission meeting. The meeting is expected to takes place this week as reported.

Apart from the four engine suppliers of Formula 1, former BAR team Principal Craig Pollock has announced that he is launching a new engine company. The engine company is scheduled to join the grid in 2013 as a new engine supplier. The company will be called PURE (Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d’Energie) and will provide new-spec engines in Formula 1.