Formula 1 will stick with V6s for 2017 1000bhp rules revamp

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says plans for a revolutionary overhaul of Formula 1 cars will be based around the current V6 hybrid power units rather than reverting back to V8s

There have been talks in recent months about creating more spectacular and quicker cars, with 1000bhp engines, for 2017.

Earlier this week Bernie Ecclestone called for F1 to ditch its current V6s and upgrade the previous generation V8s instead.

Ecclestone joined teams and FIA race director Charlie Whiting to continue discussions in the Bahrain Grand Prix paddock on Friday, but Wolff said manufacturers remained steadfast over keeping the V6s.

"There are various groups coming together in terms of how the 2017 rules can look like in terms of the power unit and the chassis side," he said.

"On Friday, there was a very valuable meeting. Charlie was there, Bernie was there, and concepts are being put in place to make it a spectacular formula in 2017.

"I think all engine manufacturers are pretty clear that the current engine architecture with the hybrid component needs to stay in place.

"This is the direction we have had and this is, at least at the moment, the current status between Ferrari, Renault, Honda and Mercedes."

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Wolff said increasing horsepower and noise would be relatively straightforward, but the associated costs would need to be controlled.

"I think in terms of the 2017 rules, those engines between all manufacturers will have north of 900bhp," he said.

"Then it's a question what do you want to market? Does it make a big difference between having 950bhp and 1000bhp?

"I think there are pretty easy ways to increase the horsepower, this is increasing fuel flow.

"If you want to increase the fuel flow by 10kg or 20kg etc an hour, then you are going to have more than 1000bhp.

"But then you need to redesign crucial components of the engine, you need to make them more reliable and that again involves a lot of development costs.

"I think we all understand we want a spectacular formula, not only on the chassis side but also the power unit side, and what is being discussed at the moment is about how to achieve that."