Renault’s Cyril Abiteboul is of the view that F1 shouldn’t be going in the reverse direction with MGU-H as they push towards 2021 regulations.
Already last year, the FIA had noted of the removal of MGU-H from 2021 F1 onward with a more powerful MGU-K to be used to compensate the other component’s loss, which will help in decreased costs. But already there was a chat about making a u-turn.
The likes of Mercedes, Honda and Ferrari felt the MGU-H removal was to be done to lure more manufacturers in the sport but since not many raised their hands up and eventually sign up for a F1 programme, they rallied to keep MGU-H as it is in the engine regulations.
The final decision is yet to be revealed as a big talk continues on behind the scenes between F1 teams, the FIA and other key personnel. Amid the 2021 talk, the teams were asked about their opinion on probably the 2025 engine regulations.
While they did not go in-depth with their wishes but Abiteboul took the opportunity to speak on MGU-H, which he also reckons that F1 should keep it because the component was brought in place to have road relevance and the part plays a key role in development.
“The romantic in me would say the same thing, but obviously in 2025 the world will be different, that’s for sure,” started Abiteboul. “Electrification will be a profound trend, so it’s not going to go away.
“In my opinion we need to look at the next couple of years to form an opinion regarding MGU-H road relevance, because it’s clearly a component that was introduced for that purpose. Right now, we don’t’ see any application on road cars but it may come.
“It may actually be in the pipeline of some manufacturers, so we need to be careful not to be basically in reverse in that respect. And then diversity of technology would be great but we need to be careful not to open up the field and create some discrepancy.
“One thing that might be interesting that starts to be discussed is not necessarily not the next generation of engine but the next generation of fuel, because we still believe that F1 is about hybrid technology, not full electric, for a number of reasons.
“Clearly we need more power and sustainable power and long races, but there will be new forms of fuel coming up in the next few years, whether you are talking about more bio-fuel, so a different composition, or even synthesis fuel, coming from non-fossil sources.
“It could be attractive and that would require new development. So, probably the way forward. Less exciting than a very high-revving, normally-aspirated engine, but still probably the way forward if we want to be relevant, not just to car makers, but to society.”
When speaking on the 2021 rules decision, Abiteboul said that they are 80-90 percent set with the regulations and the Frenchman thinks they will be able to present an advanced copy in the next meeting of World Motor Sport Council.
But he also admitted that they won’t have a signed contract with all 10 teams by June end deadline. This was agreed by Red Bull Racing’s Christian Horner, Williams’ Claire Williams, McLaren’s Zak Brown and Racing Point’s Andrew Green.
Green, in fact, said that they already were presented with some fresh work in the technical group meeting last month and they have meetings set for the remainder of the season. Adding on the call for 2025, Green praised the current engine formula too.
“I think what we have now is an incredible piece of engineering in the back of the car,” he said. “But it could just be too incredible. I think what we have is potentially something where the technology bar of the power unit is just way too high.
“And I think I would like to see something that is just slightly simpler. That’s my view. I think I’d never say no to more horsepower. I think the sport can’t have enough horsepower. We need to make the cars harder to drive.
“I think more power; a simpler power unit. That’s where I would be going [for 2025].” This was concurred by Brown, Horner and Williams as the Red Bull chief stressed on taking a call which should be beneficial to all and has relevance to the current times.