Bernie Ecclestone recently spoke very positively about Formula 1 with his Christmas message. He praised the sport and its administrators for the way in which Formula 1 had been driven through corona times. However, he is far from full of praise for everything. The current engine formula is a thorn in his side.
With the suggestion that Formula 1 as a platform should remain relevant for the mainstream automotive industry, Ecclestone enters into talks with MotorSport Magazine In short: “You don’t have to. People forget that Formula 1 is an entertainment industry and that if the public is no longer entertained, you no longer have a business.”
He would much rather see Formula 1 take a step back to the past: “I will get into trouble because of this, but let’s get the old V8 engines from the stable. Everyone still has them, the costs are reduced, the noise returns and if we keep them in Formula 1 for five years, they have plenty of time to think about a new engine. “
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Could Ecclestone’s idea be a solution for Red Bull, which is formally without engines due to the departure of Honda from Formula 1 from 2022? The answer ‘yes’ is quickly given, because Red Bull was the last team to become world champion with the V8 engines. In fact, the team dominated that time from 2010 to 2013. However, with V8 engines, Red Bull also faces the problem it now has with the V6 turbo engines.
Red Bull does not have the knowledge and tools to build an engine itself. Adrian Newey’s designs were powered by Renault V8 power in Red Bull’s dominant years and we know that the team around Max Verstappen does not like to knock on the door of the competitor. So in the unlikely situation that Ecclestone gets his way, Red Bull keeps the same problem. All other teams will have a Ferrari, Mercedes or Renault engine, while Red Bull will be left empty-handed.
Ecclestone himself, however, also knows that his idea will never materialize and that Red Bull will therefore depend on what it can arrange with Honda: “Red Bull will take over that engine, but that can only work if others agree to a engine freeze. Otherwise, they will spend God knows how much to stay ahead, “said Ecclestone, recalling Formula 1 at last:” Let’s get rid of those damn wretched engines today. “
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