Michael Schumacher and his rivals might lose a couple of cylinders and a pile of horsepower if Formula One teams get their way.
The sport's engine formula has remained unchanged at 3.0 litres and V10 since 1995, but the FIA now wants to contain speed by cutting it to 2.4 litres and V8.
Ross Brawn, technical director at Ferrari, said it 'would be nice' to moderate the power of the engines a bit.
'When we started in this formula we had 700bhp and we are approaching 900bhp now,' the Briton said. 'It could be 1000bhp by 2007.
'Looking at the engine is certainly one way to slow things down.'
The matter has been ping-ponged to the Technical Working Group who appear to have found agreement that two cylinders should be 'lopped off' the engine.
'There is a feeling that would be an appropriate reduction,' Brawn said.
'But some of the engine manufacturers have marketing programmes based around V10s, so it is difficult to get an agreement.'
Mercedes are thought to have initially vetoed the idea but McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh said the German marque has now withdrawn that objection.
'We had been very reluctant to accept it,' said the team managing director, 'but now we're prepared to discuss a reduction in capacity.'
Written: Sat, 19 Jul 2003 06:35:07
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