Formula 1 is the epitome of automotive technology and the fierce rivalry between all the competing teams fuels the constant push for technological superiority. With the growing trend of multi-billionaire funded teams, there is an endless budget for R&D, an essential process needed to ensure a teams competitive advantage. To also ensure a level playing field, numerous laws and regulations have been put in place but as almost all binding words, there are loopholes.
These discrepencies benefit those that are capable of exploiting it and in F1’s case, those that have the financial means to do so. That naturally leads to an uneven racing field with some top competitors having up to 30hp more than others. Take the Italian GP for example, Sebastian Vettel’s utter domination in the wet and dry took many by suprise and naturally it evoked cynicism.
” The young German drives for Scuderia Toro Rosso, which essentially – and controversially – runs the same cars as the senior Red Bull Racing team, only with one major difference: the engine. While RBR uses Renault engines, STR is powered by Ferrari. And according to Red Bull chief Christian Horner, the performance advantage which Ferrari has cultivated over Renault is what allowed Vettel to beat out the Renault-powered Red Bull cars, to say nothing of the rest of the field.” – AutoBlog
Horner insists Renault has stuck to the rules while others like Ferrari, Mclaren and BMW have achieved a power advantage by capitalizing on the loopholes. “We don’t need an engine formula to completely open up,” said Horner, “but there should be a parity as much as possible among the engine suppliers – otherwise we will all end up with one engine at the end of the day.”
So that brings me to what I wanted to ask you, should Formula 1 feature standardised engines?
In my opinion, no! They should maintain their current position as it promotes competition, engineering and technological brilliance, as well as outright performance that could and should be transferred to road cars, cars that people like you and I lust over. Plus F1 has always been about beautiful, twisiting, loud engines built by serious competitors in the hope that their engine would outperform the others. Enzo Ferrari once said, “aerodynamics are only for those that do not know how to build good engines”, and somehow I cant agree with him any more.
So no, Formula 1 should not be put on another boring legislative leash that impedes brilliance, but that’s just me. Let’s hear you.
