It’s time for the FIA and Formula 1 to make the right engine call

As Formula 1 limbers up for Canada following another painfully long hiatus, and perhaps more importantly, the first round of the ADUO power train upgrade handouts thereafter, the pinnacle of racing however faces probably among the biggest calls in its history. What to do about the shocking mess Formula 1 has gotten itself into with this ridiculous current rules set?

What is for sure, is that most want to change it. And sooner, rather than later its seems. What’s not yet so certain, is how that new rules package may look. There’s no reason to change the chassis or the aero much. That’s working. But the engines? Golly, that’s a mess!

The popular theory right now is that Formula 1 should revert to V8s. That’s it. Nothing more on capacity. Or if there’d be any electric component. But adding a battery of any significance seems unlikely right now. And damn rightly so! So we’d be delighted by the current proposal. But is just a V8 formula the right way to go?

Ask any stalwart who experienced them, what the most exciting engines were in Formula 1 and you’ll have an argument. Some will say it was the V10s. Witnessing one of those in action was energy enough. Never mind an entire grid of them.

Then there are the V12 fans. Those of us who have tinnitus today because our unprotected ears were wat too often too close to Ferrari or Matra V12s at full scream. It’s worth it. To have witnessed that epic beauty straight up.

Of course some will say how can you argue against a V, or W16? Technical brilliance. Auto Union’s supercharged Typ Cs and Ds from the 30s and BRM’s wailing more contemporary machines made the noise of the gods. Ultimate unbridled ecstasy.

So no, I don’t think V8s are enough. Enforce normally aspirated reciprocating four-stroke engines, limit exotic materials, give them a capacity limit and allow only so much fuel. And let’s watch what they make. If it’s a V16, a V or flat-twelve, a V10 or a V8, bring it on. Even a V6, a four pot or God forbid, a triple, a twin, or single cylinder.

I say allow the engine makers the freedom to engineer what works best for them. Be that from an engineering, an historic or a marketing standpoint. I mean what’s a V12 to Ferrari, a V8 to Ford or a V16 (or even a five-cylinder) to Audi, after all?

There is however a caveat to all of this. Whatever they bring should remain relevant. To engineering, to history and also to the man in the street and the car he will drive at that time. So if it’s a multiple choice to engine layout, be sure it’s relevant. And well controlled too.

The reason I say that, is pure experience. Here in South Africa, we once had our own Formula 1 championship. But it became too expensive to race McLaren M23s and Tyrrell 007 DFVs, so we adopted Formula Atlantic from 1976. That too soon outgrew its economic relevance as the cc-up BDDs also became too costly to maintain.

So they invented a brilliant little formula. On paper that is. The plan allowed modified standard 2-litre engines, 3-litre V6s also limited to two twin-choke carburettors and 1.2-litre Wankel rotary engines. It worked very well. For six months, that id. Until Ian Scheckter got hold of some dynamite Wanke rotary engine.

And that was it. Formula South Africa became the domain of the Mazda rotary. Nothing wrong with that from a fast diminishing rand per horsepower point of view. But it was hardly relevant. And as soon as the cigarette money dried up, it became even less so. The series collapsed in ’86.

It’s lessons like that, that also need to be considered on the flipside. Formula 1 simply cannot afford another cock-up like today’s power unit catastrophe.. It must stop chasing the whim of the carmakers and the woke to deliver another idiotic rules set.

In fact it now has the perfect chance to rather do something everyone wants to see. So no, a V8 formula is not quite good enough. Sure, use that as the basis. But control it right and allow the engine builders to decide what they want to race.

Formula 1 was always best that way, after all…