Toro Rosso Team Principal Franz Tost wants Formula One to retain its current engine formula until at least the end of 2025, Autosport has revealed.
The 1.6 litre V6 turbo hybrids were introduced in 2014 and have been widely unpopular with the fans, Bernie Ecclestone and drivers alike for their lack of noise and high costs.
They are, however, becoming increasingly relevant to road cars and it is for that reason that the engine manufacturers were keen to introduce the power units. Both McLaren and Ferrari have begun to use the technology in their supercars – whilst it will undoubtedly filter down to family cars in the future.
It is for that reason that Tost wants to retain the current engine formula beyond the planned 2020 renewal of the rules – with his aim to encourage more manufacturers to join the sport.
Currently, there are only four power unit suppliers – Ferrari, Mercedes, Renault and Honda – of which only the latter joined after the initial 2014 introduction.
“It’s not necessary to come up in 2020 with another completely new regulation because we have a fantastic power unit.
“We have a turbocharged engine, a very small one, and we have two energy recovery systems and a battery system which is the technology for the future.
“This package we can easily go with until 2025 and this will maybe also attract some other manufacturers to come into Formula One”.
Despite their size, in full qualifying mode the current power units are producing well over 1000 BHP – Mercedes have revealed that their current PU106C powertrain is the most powerful Formula One engine that they have ever produced.
With the token upgrade system being scrapped from next season, their is the potential for 1500 BHP to be achieved within the four remaining seasons of this formula.
