FIA open tender for standard F1 gearbox suppliers from 2021

Manufacturers such as Ferrari, Renault, Mercedes and Honda make their own gearboxes, while the teams they supply pay for them and bolt them on to their respective race cars.

However, there has been a lobby for one supplier to provide the gearbox internals, but allowing teams freedom to create their own outer casings.

The tender specified: “The aim of single source supply is to retain current levels of Formula 1 gear change performance for all cars at a much-reduced cost to the competitors while also removing the requirement for teams to design or source their own gearboxes,” said the tender.

“The unit can be carried over between seasons so removing the need for costly continual performance development. In order to retain competitor’s own freedoms for suspension and for the gearbox aero surfaces, the outer housing will remain team specific (designed and produced by the competitor) with the common, self-contained gearbox cassette mounted inside.”

The tender document adds: "The FIA reserves the right to request any additional information from and to organise meetings with tenderers who have submitted the most interesting bids. The FIA reserves the right not to select any supplier if no offer is finally deemed capable of being beneficial for the Championship and its competitors.

"Should a tenderer be selected, it will be invited to enter into a contract with the FIA that will establish the terms of the tenderer's appointment as exclusive supplier."

While a hint of more power was made evident in the following paragraph: "There should be some power increase for 2021 relative to today, not just because of natural development, but also because of a 30kW increase in the MGU-K output."

The FIA’s plan involves teams using four gearboxes per season, based on the calendar swelling to 24 races with five tests. The units can form a pool and be used at any time during the season.

Anyone interested in the tender is required to submit their proposals before 1 March, with a decision expected between 15-30 April.