- Engine regulations
Audi impacted 2013 engine decision - Newey
ESPNF1 Staff
June 27, 2011
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Adrian Newey: "Audi said they would come into the sport if there was a four-cylinder turbo" © Getty Images
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Adrian Newey has revealed that Audi was the driving force behind the aborted plans for Formula One to switch to four-cylinder engines in 2013.
Last December the FIA's World Motor Sport Council agreed on the switch to four cylinders, only for the F1 Commission to change its mind last week and propose V6s be brought in for 2014 instead. Newey said Audi's wavering commitment had contributed to the switch from four-cylinders to six, after the German car giant made a u-turn on a pledge to join the sport if it switched to four pots.
"The initial decision from the engine working group was for a four-cylinder turbo to be introduced for 2013," said Newey. "The big driver behind that was Audi. They said they would come into the sport if there was a four-cylinder turbo, and that's what everyone agreed in order to get Audi in. They subsequently decided that they won't bother after all, thank you very much, and we were lumbered with a four-cylinder turbo."
He said a V6 turbo is a much more practical solution due to its dimensions.
"You can then get into the politics of the whole thing," Newey added. "Certainly from an engineering point of view a four-cylinder turbo is not a nice engine to install, you've basically got to put a spaceframe around it, you can't make it a properly structural. A racing V6 is a much nicer engine to package. That will now be the 2014 engine."
Under the original four-cylinder the engines were only going to be allowed to rev to 12,000 rpm, but Newey said that might be increased amid concerns that the engines will sound too muted.
"The revs are still being debated, but it looks as if it will probably be around 14,000 or 16,000," he said.
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ESPN Staff
They should just have an open formula. If they are trying to be "green", give them X amount of gallons of fuel to make it to the end and however they do it should be up to them. If a team wants a supercharged V-2, a turbocharged I-16 or a naturally aspirated 7 cylinder boxer, that should be up to them. Also, allow unlimited amount of KERS as well. Part of the idea of racing is to develop technology that will trickle down into future road cars. Having an open formula and unlimited KERS would enable that technology to trickle down quicker.
Posted byWHy bother... Audi is no player in F1, never has been... Why threat important player as Ferrari and Mercedes to get Audi?!?
Posted byG'Day, I thought there was a bigger reason as to why the switch from four to V6, AUDI. Newey makes a very valid point about the engine mounting being easier with V6. The original BMW 4 Turbo was laid very flat and with an alloy space frame. Maybe give the manufacturers the choice of 1.6 maximum of six cylinders as it was back in the old days when F1 made 1500BHP. The manufacturers are going smaller in their road cars and F1 could give back to road cars through development like the Lemans cars do now. The change maybe good, only time wll tell.
Posted byThe BMW 4 cylinder turbo was awesome. The Renault V6, Honda V6 & TAG-Porsche V6 turbos were too. The Hart turbo, not so much! I give it 5 years then they'll be back to normally aspirated, or if they really want to go green, biodiesel. F1 is all about constant change, for the sake of change.
Posted byAdrian Newey. The enlightened One. The second coming. The new Jesus.
Posted byWhy not just allow both engines configurations? Those who want the V6 stay with the current V6. Those who want to go for the Corolla engines on steroids can do so too. If the 4-pot's performance is still at the same level, as claimed by Jean Todt, or better than the V6s then let it be judged by performance on track vs the V6. That's what Audi did with the turbo diesels in the Le Mans cars right? They went the turbo diesel route thereafter everyone started to follow suit.
Posted byif you keep that idea, iwill stop watching F1, its a stupid idea, 4 cylinder engines... bah