• Engine regulations

Whitmarsh pleased with engine agreement

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McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh says he is pleased that a resolution has been reached over the new engine regulations.

Following a meeting of the F1 Commission yesterday it was announced that the 1.6 litre four-cylinder turbo engines planned for 2013 would be delayed by a year and be a V6 unit instead. Whitmarsh said that with so many manufacturers having differing views on the regulations and implementation date it was a success for them to all come to an agreement.

"I'm happy that we have agreement between the manufacturers," Whitmarsh told a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in. "They have all agreed and endorsed this, which is extremely positive, the teams have agreed it and it was agreed overwhelmingly within the F1 Commission yesterday, so I think that's positive because, clearly, there's been a range of different opinions expressed and felt so to achieve a consensus amongst all the parties, I think, was very positive."

Whitmarsh also said that he believed the new regulations would still encourage new manufacturers in to the sport, but that the immediate concern had been to address the worries of those currently involved.

"In the long run we should make sure we are attractive to a range of automotive manufacturers. They will, according to their marketing needs and priorities, come in and out of Formula One periodically, which is what has happened over the history of Formula One.

"The world's gone through an economic crisis, the automotive industry had the largest recession in its entire history. And I think our timing was perhaps a little bit premature and perhaps it was a little bit too condensed. So I think the right thing to do is to ensure that you keep what you've got which I think we have been able to do with this agreement. I hope, in the future, for the sake of Formula One, that new manufacturers find the regulations relevant, interesting and stimulating, and consequently at some time in the future come in to Formula One."

Whitmarsh also ruled out McLaren building its own F1 engine in the future, despite having a McLaren-branded engine in the MP4-12C road car, saying it didn't make financial sense.

"There isn't any temptation to do so. Formula 1 is an incredibly powerful marketing opportunity and it's an area that automotive companies have seen has been beneficial for brand exposure and brand differentiation. But the cost of Formula 1 is such that you need to amortise that over millions or cars per annum, not thousands. McLaren's maximum planned output - certainly for the foreseeable future - is no greater than 4,500 units per year. So it really doesn't make sense to use a marketing tool like Formula 1 for the engine."

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