Hot on the heels of Honda’s F1 exit due to financial concerns comes news of Cosworth’s exclusive tender deal to supply Formula One engines from 2010. Cosworth, of course, has a rich F1 heritage (YouTube clip above showing an old Williams engine revving to 20,000rpm is just a small example).
With this new tender deal the potential exists for all F1 teams to run Cosworth engines. However, if they choose, teams can still run their own engines, albeit with restrictions.
From 2010 any team, let’s say Ferrari, for example, can choose one of three options. The first is to simply run a supplied Cosworth engine—unlikely. Second, Ferrari could build their own new engine to Cosworth’s specification, with technical information supplied—unlikely. The third, and most likely scenario, would be that Ferrari continues to use their current engine with the freeze on technical development in place. Such moves may be necessary to bring costs down, but in 2010 a little piece of F1 will die.
Regardless of the engine choice each team makes, all teams must use a standard gearbox—a joint effort built by Xtrac and Ricardo transmissions.
The FIA is hoping to sign a minimum of four teams to run Cosworth engines by as soon as Thursday next week (11 December).
The FIA itself has described current Formula One spending as “unsustainable” and these moves are clearly designed to lower running costs, from P1 right through to the back of the field. And while the Cosworth deal may be a boost to the Northampton job market, the question must be asked: will F1 continue to be the world’s premier series for technical development and innovation?
Max Mosley’s letter to F1 teams explaining the engine and transmission deal is shown below.