Avoiding ‘eternal misery’
The new rules keep the turbo hybrid engine design first introduced in 2014, but with more emphasis on electrical power. Many in F1 expect Mercedes, whose engines have powered teams to nine constructors’ title since 2014, will be the manufacturer to beat.
Struggling manufacturers can get exemptions allowing them to spend above the cost cap to develop upgrades for engines which are deemed too uncompetitive or unreliable. The FIA will check every six races to see who is eligible for the boost.
The cost cap “is essential for the financial sustainability of the sport, so I would obviously defend that to death,” Tombazis said.
“But on the other hand, it creates a problem that if you are behind in performance in a significant manner and you cannot outspend to recover the performance, you may be condemned to eternal misery by being eternally behind.”
It won’t be an instant fix. Tombazis emphasized. It just gives the manufacturer a chance to research a solution.
“We’re not adding any artificial performance to any car or artificial ballast on any car or anything like that,” he said. “This is absolutely not something that will ever happen in Formula 1.”
