Cosworth has to play catch up

[John S]

Unless they can seriously up the ante Cosworth could be proping up the back of the grid next year, perhaps they should have thought twice before trusting Max.

Cosworth is reportedly working hard to re-tune its 2010 Formula One engine in order to compete with F1's other manufacturers.

The British-based engine maker was recently at the centre of the political crisis, with the FIA wanting next year's Cosworths to be exempt from the mandatory 18,000 rev limit.

The FIA President's argument was that because the 2010 Cosworth will be based on the engine used by Williams in 2006, the new teams Campos, USF1 and Manor would otherwise be massively off the pace.

Patrick Head said that even when running 20,000rpm next year, the Cosworths would be disadvantaged in the area of weight and tyre wear because they use "clearly more fuel than the current engines."

Ultimately, however, FOTA won the argument and Cosworth must adhere to the same engine regulations next year.

Only one month ago, Mosley said the British firm had "neither the time nor the resources to retune for 2010."

Spain's Diario AS reports that Campos is finding the 18,000rpm-limited Cosworth a ‘disaster’. "The British firm is working on an evolution to fit the current regulations," the newspaper added.

© CAPSIS International

[Jericoke]

Decisive leadership.  Who needs it?   

I'd still like to know how the other engines got so far ahead during a 'development freeze'.

Could Cosworth legally subcontract out to the other suppliers for say, 2 races to give them a few extra months to catch up?

I know that the designers would hate to design a car that has to accept 2 different powerplants, but it sure beats running in another class.

[John S]

Decisive leadership.  Who needs it?   

I'd still like to know how the other engines got so far ahead during a 'development freeze'.

To be fair I think the other engines were quite a bit in front before the engine freeze, it's probably one of the reasons Cosworth left F1 in 2006.

[cosworth151]

Cosworth's #1 engine designer, Bernard Ferguson, left Cosworth shortly after they were squeezed out of F1. The last I heard, he had started Motorsport Consultancy Service, which I think was a one man outfit. If Cosworth can get him back.........