Whitmarsh hails engine rules agreement

The Formula 1 Commission met yesterday and agreed to delay the introduction of the 'green' engines by a year, also scrapping plans to introduce four-cylinder units, to be replaced by V6 turbos engines.

Whitmarsh believes it was very positive for the sport that all parties came to an agreement after some teams and car makers had expressed their disagreement with the original plans.

"The important one is that I am happy we have agreement between manufacturers," Whitmarsh said during a Vodafone phone-in on Thursday. "They have all agreed and endorsed this, which is extremely positive.

"The teams have agreed it. It was agreed overwhelmingly within the Formula 1 Commission yesterday, so I think that's positive because clearly there has been a range of different opinions expressed and felt. So to achieve a consensus among all the parties was very positive."

Whitmarsh is also hopeful the set of regulations will help not only keep the current manufacturers in the sport, but also make Formula 1 more attractive for other car makers to want to join.

"I think in the long run we should make sure that we are attractive to a range of automotive manufacturers. They will, according to their marketing needs and priorities, come in and out of Formula 1 periodically, which is what has happened over the history of F1.

"The world has gone through an economic crisis and the automotive industry had the largest recession in its entire history. I think our timing was perhaps a little bit premature and perhaps it was a little too condensed.

"The right thing to do is to ensure that you keep what you have got, which I think have been able to do with this agreement. I hope in the future, for the sake of F1, that new manufacturers find the regulations relevant, interesting and stimulating and consequently at some time in the future come into F1."