MF1 worried about V10 advantage

Several teams are unhappy about the current equivalency formula between V8 engines and the V10 units, with members of the teams claiming the new eight-cylinder engines will be at a disadvantage when the season starts in March.

The FIA has said that it is not going to take any action until the start of the season is closer.

MF1 Racing, however, are currently conducting a comparison test between V8 and V10 engines at Jerez, so that they can provide the FIA with sufficient data to prove restricted V10s are at an advantage over V8s.

The team's sporting director Johnny Herbert told autosport.com at Jerez that having two sets of rules is unfair, and the Briton is hoping the data gathered will make the FIA think of changing the rules.

Herbert said the team were hoping to avoid an embarrassing situation when the season starts.

"Personally I think there should be one set of rules for everyone, it is not fair to have two different rules," Herbert said. "I know the manufacturers have some independent experiments and submitted in the data, but at the moment nothing has happened.

"We can see from the track that the V10 is definitely better, but can our data can convince the governing body? We don't know but it would be better to sort this out before the season kicks off, before we embarrass ourselves in the opening race.

"I have not driven the current V10 so from what I understand the V8 is great coming out of corners. However the V10, with the current restrictions, still has good torque, it's only the top end which is missing.

"So something ought to be done before the first race. If we can contribute it from our data, why not?"

Currently, only Toro Rosso are planning to use V10 engines next season.