Ferrari on the look-out for new customer engine deals

Ferrari is desperate to secure customer engine deals with other teams before next year’s switch to smaller V6 engines.

At present, Ferrari have two customers in the form of Sauber and Toro Rosso . However, the latter has publicly expressing their desire to switch to Renault power due to their relationship with senior team Red Bull Racing team.

And although Sauber have not yet committed to Ferrari, they are expected to do so while Ferrari are believed to be in talks with Force India as well.

Ferrari’s head of engines Luca Marmorini admits it is important for the Italian team to supply other teams as well as it will allow for more testing of their 2014 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine.

Speaking to AutoSport, Marmorini said: “Customer teams are a very important opportunity for an engine supplier”.

“First of all, we can test more engines and now we can’t test during the season, we can collect much wider data.

“It’s also important to have a reference with cars using the same engine and have a good relative pace.

“So Ferrari is strongly committed to supplying a good engine to customer teams.”

As far as Toro Rosso are concerned, Marmorini says Ferrari would be happy to continue working with Red Bull’s junior team.

“I don’t know if Toro Rosso will be with us next year,” he said. “We are still working very well with them now.

“They’re an important contribution to Ferrari engine development, but I also think we are giving them a competitive engine.”