Engine bosses face British GP deadline

The FIA has made no secret of the fact that it wants complete engine homologation in the sport from 2008, and that it plans to impose a three-year freeze on developments.

The governing body is so set on the concept that it recently rejected a vote by the Sporting Working Group to try and scrap the engine freeze idea, and last week it wrote to the teams asking them to submit their 2008 homologated engines as soon as possible.

A number of leading carmakers are unhappy with the plans for homologation and have been trying to reach an agreement on an alternative set of proposals.

The manufacturers know that homologation forms an integral part of the 2008 rules, but believe they can reach a compromise set of rules that includes part-homologation of engines - with perhaps 30 percent of the engine being frozen each year.

Attempts to find a common ground have so far failed, however, and time is running out on getting agreement in time. Although in theory the teams have until the end of this month to come up with an alternative proposal, sources suggest the FIA is only willing to wait until this weekend for agreed amendments to the total engine freeze.

Part of the reasoning for needing a decision now is because agreement among the teams is only likely to be reached over a Grand Prix meeting, when leading personnel are all in the same place. After Silverstone, the teams will head off for Canada in two weeks and will then not return to Europe before the end of June deadline.

The imposition of the unofficial deadline comes on the back of the FIA already deciding to swing into action and enact on the engine freeze regulations.

Sources have revealed that the FIA wrote to the teams last week reminding them that under the current 2008 Sporting Regulations they were supposed to have lodged the engine-type they intend to use for 2008 with the governing body before the end of May.

The FIA has asked for them to be delivered after this weekend's British Grand Prix at the latest.

Appendix 6 of the 2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations states: "A homologated engine is an engine identical in every respect to: (i) an engine delivered to the FIA prior to 1 June 2006 or,  (ii) an engine delivered to the FIA after 1 June 2006, or modified and re-delivered to the FIA after 1 June 2006, which the FIA is satisfied, in its absolute discretion and after full consultation with all other suppliers of engines for the Championship, could fairly and equitably be allowed to compete with other homologated engines."

It is understood that four manufacturers have lodged their engines with the FIA already, with the other carmakers expected to follow suit after Silverstone when more power-units become available to them once they have completed their two-race cycle.

The FIA's decision to act upon the June 1 deadline could be viewed by some as a means of putting extra pressure on the manufacturers to come up with a unified set of rules that they are happy with, and the FIA will accept.

It also makes it increasingly likely that some form of homologation could be introduced for next year, because otherwise teams could in theory spend a year developing a power-unit at vast expense only to have to revert to an older homologated version for 2008 that will likely have been lodged before the start of next season.