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Ask Gary: How can engine parity be achieved?

Answering your latest batch of questions, Autosport technical consultant GARY ANDERSON proposes an alternative token system and ponders why the 'halo' head protection design is being pursued

With the engine token system being dropped, how on earth can this achieve parity of engines?
@eggry, via Twitter

I don't think we have ever had parity of engines, or power units as they are now called. Something has always made one engine stand above another.

Red Bull changed from Ferrari to Renault in the V8 era because the Renault was easier to cool. This meant the team could use more of the airflow around the car to produce downforce. The Renault was also more fuel efficient, so the car could be lighter off the startline.

In my time of designing cars, we had vast differences in fuel consumption and cooling requirements between different engine suppliers. This can make a huge difference to overall car performance.

I am disappointed that the token is being dropped. Yes, there is a lot wrong with it and some of the penalties are a bit stupid, but if it was kept and a points system created so that the teams that were struggling had the opportunity to catch up I think it would still be a good system.

For example, looking at 2015:

- Mercedes-powered cars (eight in total) scored a total of 1274 points, that averages 159 per car using Mercedes Power Units.

Previous article Why there's more to come from Mercedes' engines
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