Engine makers and FIA agree on rules

The FIA has been pushing for a full engine freeze in the sport from the start of 2007, and it was planned for teams to use engines that are lodged with the governing body after either the forthcoming Japanese or Brazilian Grands Prix.

Many manufacturers had objected to that state of affairs, however, and believed there should be some development allowed - especially because of the planned imposition of a 19,000rpm limit.

The freeze will now go ahead, though, after it was agreed the manufacturers could make some modifications to their power units until the eve of the 2007 campaign.

After lodging their engines with the FIA at either of the next two races, manufacturers will have up until December 15 to submit a 'retuning list' - featuring parts that they would like to modify on the engine.

Once this list has been approved, and only specific areas of the engine can be worked on, the manufacturers will then have until March 1st 2007 to submit the modified engine with the FIA for homologation.

That power unit will then become the engine that is raced through the 2007 and 2008 seasons, and the only development that can be carried out during these seasons will be for pure reliability reasons.

The engine rules beyond 2009 will be considered closer to that date because the FIA is planning to introduce energy renewal and recovery systems, which could require different types of engine. The aim at the moment is to keep the engine block identical, however.

After months of arguments between the manufacturers and the FIA, the rules have been welcomed by manufacturers.

BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen told autosport.com: "In my view everything is settled now.

"I think it is OK, because the homologation is restricted to the sealed parts of the engine, so we can do some quite significant work on the intake and exhaust side, plus ancillaries."

Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug added: "It is positive that we could steer things in this direction."