Yet another engine rule change

[Steven Roy]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64747

Drivers will now be allowed to change one engine per season without penalty.  This seems to me like a sensible rule.  I don't like the two engine rule but it makes sense to allow a driver one failure per season.  Quite why we need a two race rule now that engines are homologated I don't understand unless there is development room somewhere that would radically affect reliability. 

If there is and a driver has not had a penalty towards the end of the season we could see a one off hand grenade qualifying engine.  Sorry.  I got carried away there thinking this was proper motor racing.

[Alianora La Canta]

This is an additional layer of complication that misses the essential truth - that making engines last multiple races is a pretty silly thing to do in the first place. If the powers that be are that bothered about longevity, why not make the races longer? Or better still, understand that F1 is about ridiculous amounts of speed in a middle-distance circuit run.

[cosworth151]

The idea of not having special engines just for quali is a sound one. The teams should race what they qualify with. But this is where the situation got out of hand. The notion of multiple-race engines at this level of the sport is foolishness of the highest degree.

[John S]

The thought of special engines for qualifying is long gone, I hope, but allowing only one free engine change in the whole season is a bit pointless if a manufacturer's engine has an inherent weakness.

Their engine can't be improved during the season as development has been stopped so potentially the team are sitting ducks. If they are allowed to change the power plant regularly with less or no penalty they may be able to run with different settings in the race and complete the course. If too many teams are hampered by reliability, can't work on a solution and lose points, we may see one or two throw in the towel.

Aagrh!...... I'm forgetting of coures a limitless supply of engines may cause a problem with the budget cap that is due to come in.