So lets keep the cost down with four wheel drive!

[Andy B]

Are they mad? 
They keep talking about reducing costs and placing a budget cap then start talking about electric motors on the front wheels to generate energy which will give them a 4 x 4.
Mercedes have already said its doable at a cost!

[Scott]

Completely agree.  It's idiotic.  Let Formula E have fun with electric motors. 

Not only cost but safety...knock a wheel off with an electric motor built in and it will have probably twice the weight.  Keep your heads down marshals!   

[John S]

This is classic misdirection by one or more of the F1 teams, they are trying to push big regs changes to try to stop Merc superior engine dominance by removing the turbo heat recovery system (Mgu-H) and making up the lost electrical power with a regenerative extra drive on the front wheels.

The only way to get it put on the agenda, without admitting they've got no hope of matching Merc anytime soon, is to sell it to everyone as a cost saving measure which the FIA is bound to jump for joy about.

I think this may be worth exploring in its own right as a way of closing the gap on performance but a cost saver - Nah can't see it.

[cosworth151]

Most factory LMP1 cars have used this set up for some time now. Still, I don't see how it could be packaged into an F1 car. There's not enough room to put the motor-generators inside the body work without giving the cars a gigantic, very unaerodynamic nose. As Scott points out, packaging in the wheel would make the unsprung weight skyrocket to a level no F1 designer would stand for.