Teams to sign up for spec Cosworth engine?
12/10/08 This rumor is close to being upgraded to 'fact' as AR1.com has learned that teams/FOTA did agree to the use of a standard FIA engine as an option for teams.
12/10/08 The Renault F1 team have played down suggestions that they are interested in using the standard Cosworth Formula One engine. In a brief statement released on Wednesday morning, the French manufacturer said:
"Following speculation that appeared this morning in the Italian press, the ING Renault F1 Team would like to state that the positions of the Team and Renault are in complete accordance to those of the FOTA," said Renault in a statement.
"We would like to point out that neither Mr. Briatore nor Renault have spoken to the press regarding this matter before this official press release."
12/10/08 (GMM) It is believed five teams have indicated they would consider signing up to Max Mosley's offer of a low-cost Cosworth powertrain package in 2010 and beyond.
As the formula one world reeled with the news that Honda is pulling out of the sport, the FIA president said he needed at least four teams to urgently sign up or the cost – 2m euros plus 5.5m euros per season per team – might increase.
It has been reported that, among presumably the four non-manufacturer backed teams in pitlane, Renault has also expressed interest in taking an inexpensive supply of Cosworth power.
"Since the president's letter last Friday, there has been a very positive response from F1 teams regarding our engine proposals," a spokesman for the governing FIA said.
He would not comment specifically on the suggestion that Renault is among the teams interested in the plans.
Renault also declined to comment.
The issue of engines will be central to the FOTA alliance's meeting with Mosley on Wednesday in Monaco, with Friday's World Motor Sport Council looking to urgently ratify cost-cutting measures.
12/09/08 Rumor has it that the Force India, Renault, Red Bull, Williams and Toro Rosso F1 teams will agree to run the spec Cosworth F1 engine starting in 2010. This will dramatically reduce costs. Expect more teams to agree to this huge cost savings. No engine will be allowed to have more power than the Cosworth so it would be downright stupid to spend a lot of money on your own engine for nothing.
FIA president Max Mosley has given teams until Thursday afternoon to sign up to the option of having a standard-specification Cosworth engine from 2010.
In a letter to the teams last week, he said the deal would go ahead as long as a minimum of four outfits were interested in a three-year deal – which will cost them an upfront fee of £1.68 million and an annual charge of £5.49 million.