FIA, GPMA near agreement on engines

The manufacturers involved in Formula One were told earlier this month by the governing body that a freeze on engine development will be mandatory from 2008.

The FIA required that engine makers deposit their existing 2006 engine design, which would then be used for at least three years, starting with 2008. No change in the engine spec would be allowed during that period.

However, in order to avoid the costs of developing next year's engines only to be forced to do it again for the engine freeze in 2008, the FIA and the car makers have been negotiating a compromise for the past couple of months.

According to the FIA's announcement today, the engine development freeze will already begin at this year's Chinese Grand Prix. The freeze will last until at least 2009, at which time the engine rules could be changed again.

This means the engine makers have until October this year to hone their existing engine spec, before the design is homologated by the governing body for a period of at least two years.

The FIA statement read:

At a meeting today between Professor Dr Burkhard Goeschel and Dr Juergen Reul representing the GPMA and Max Mosley representing the FIA, the following was agreed:

i) Engines will be stabilised from the 2006 Chinese Grand Prix. These will be the only engines used from and including the 2007 season.

ii) This means that no further developments of the engines will be allowed other than retuning for the 19,000 rpm limit, to be agreed in each case with the FIA under the terms of the 2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations.

"ii) From 2009, the Formula One Technical Regulations will include means to promote fuel efficiency including energy recovery and re-use. All relevant regulations for 2009 will be published no later than December 31, 2006.

iv) GPMA has set up a working group to examine possible future rules for Formula One, which will allow a performance advantage to be obtained by means of more efficient use of available energy. These future regulations may include changes to current power units. The FIA and other engine suppliers will join this group.

v) As a result of the above, the FIA and GPMA are now in full agreement about the future of the FIA Formula One World Championship.

However, a GPMA spokesman has clarified to autosport.com that the GPMA members have not yet given their consent to the agreement.

"Talks are moving in the right direction, but it has not yet been agreed by everybody." the spokesman said.

"The five GPMA members are currently discussing the points from this morning's meeting and will make a decision shortly."