Eric Boullier: Jean Todt’s engine equivalency cannot work for 2013 Formula 1 season
Renault team Principal Eric Boullier has voiced against Jean Todt’s engine equivalency idea for the 2013 Formula 1 season.
Boullier stated that the International Automobile Federation (FIA) will have a tough time in balancing the performance of cars on different engine specifications.
Todt presented the idea of running both V8 and V4 engines in the 2013 Formula 1 season so that the teams do not pay much for the technology transfer.
Boullier however thinks that the idea cannot be put to practice.
He said, “I don't see, to be honest, the V8s running at the same time as the four cylinders, It is too extreme and, to balance the performance would be a nightmare and a headache for the FIA.”
Boullier added that engine manufacturers will have many problems in specialising both technologies at the same time.
Previously Todt said that teams will get more time to adapt to the V4 technology and meanwhile will be contesting on the conventional V8 engines. Formula 1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone stated that Todt will surely change his mind because this is not possible
in the sport since engine specifications cannot vary that much.
“I think it was, as Bernie [Ecclestone] said [in Spain], a nice offer from Jean to try and find a compromise, but I think they, the engine manufacturers, need to see if they really want to do it,” commented Boullier.
Todt presented the idea of V4 and V8 engines to be used simultaneously when Formula 1 teams raised the point that the technology shift will cost more than the current V8 technology.
Engine manufacturers like Renault, Cosworth, Mercedes and Ferrari have already said that they are not ready to invest on the new technology.
The Formula One Teams Association decided in a meeting recently that the V4 engines cannot be adopted because the technology shift will not only take the Formula 1 teams to another level in the development battle, but will also be a new thing for the drivers
and will take time to master.
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