2021 F1 engine rules deadline must be respected – Ferrari

Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene says it is essential Formula 1 nails down its future engine plans for 2021 by its current deadline of May this year.

The F1 team boss has refused to be drawn on commenting on the Italian manufacturer’s reaction or plans to the future vision present by Liberty Media last week during the Bahrain Grand Prix  byopting to defer an official response to Ferrari’s Chairman Sergio Marchionne.

Last November Marchionne issued an F1 quit threat by Ferrari if the post-2020 plans did not suit the Italian manufacturer regarding key elements of the engine rules, revenue redistribution and a potential cost cap.

While resisting any response on revenue and costs caps, Arrivabene did urge F1 to stick to its May deadline to confirm the future engine regulations with the current rules set to expire at the end of the 2020 season.

“They gave us a deadline for the end of May and I hope that this deadline is going to be respected,” Arrivabene said. “It’s a bit early but it’s far enough if you’re looking at the situation from a technical point of view.

“Concerning the engines, we, Mercedes, Renault and Honda sent a letter a month ago explaining in detail our position. It’s quite clear.”

An initial guide on the future engine regulations released last year outlined the standardising of a number of elements to bring down development costs while scrapping the MGU-H unit, placing more emphasis on the MGU-K and increasing rev limits to improve engine sound for fans.

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost, whose team began a new engine partnership with Honda this season, has echoed Arrivabene’s comments about a strict deadline and fears a delay will dissuade any new engine manufacturers entering the sport.

“I think the power unit regulation has to be finalised soon, May or June, otherwise I don’t think it’s possible for new manufacturers to come into Formula 1,” Tost said “This is because time is running away, 2021 is tomorrow and I think that Liberty Media is aware of this. The rest we will see.”

Aston Martin boss Andy Palmer gave a positive response to the initial outline of the 2021 engine rules, fuelling speculation the British brand will enter F1 as an independent engine supplier, with links to its current technical partner Red Bull. The Milton Keynes-based squad has also been connected to a potential engine deal with Honda if splits with Renault at the end of this season which depends on the Japanese manufacturer's success with Toro Rosso this year.