Bernie Ecclestone pushes for further engine changes in F1

The sports' supremo is to propose a potential return to V8s, or even V10s

Bernie Ecclestone, Formula One chief executive (Getty )

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One chief executive, will make a further attempt to cut the sport’s costs on Thursday.

Much of the blame for the financial crisis that engulfed F1 last season, forcing Marussia out of business and Caterham into administration, was laid at the door of the new V6 engines.

The three manufacturers, Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault, spent millions in development and, in a bid to recoup some of their costs, charged customers accordingly.

Now Ecclestone is to head into the Strategy Group meeting of the so-called “big five”– Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Williams, plus the sixth-placed team in Force India – proposing a potential return to V8s, or even V10s.

“I believe if you got everybody in the room, secret ballot, there would only be one company interested in retaining this engine, and that is Mercedes,” he said.

“Is that good for Formula One? I think not, because we can all put our money together and have a wager they will win the championship next year, and probably the year after, which is not really the sort of thing we are looking for.

PA