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McLaren wants engine unfreeze

ESPN Staff
December 28, 2014 « McLaren changed its engineering mindset in 2014 | Schumacher still faces 'hard fight' one year on »
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McLaren has joined Red Bull and Ferrari in calling for an engine unfreeze and says Mercedes could dominate the sport for years without a change.

Red Bull [Renault] and Ferrari are pushing for a change to the current regulations which prevents engine updates being introduced during the season, which effectively meant Mercedes' advantage was locked in from the start of 2014. Mercedes has been staunchly opposed to any change on the grounds of spiralling costs and voted against an unfreeze for 2015.

McLaren enters 2015 with Honda power, having switched from Mercedes, and racing director Eric Boullier thinks a chance to work on the engines mid-season is crucial to ensure a fair competition.

"Doing something that will stupidly increase the costs is not what we want to achieve," said Boullier. "But it's a competition and we can change the cars as much as we want. Within the regulations I think engines should be frozen once every manufacturer has been able to develop their engines. If you disallow the competition, then this goes a against the spirit of the sport."

Boullier says Mercedes deserves praise for the way it has dominated the new V6 turbo era but thinks it will be a long time before any team catches up under the current regulations.

"They benefited from the fact that they did a very good job and they benefited from the fact that the regulations are locked with the engines being frozen. Most of the gains they have had come from the engine and they will for a couple of years until everybody can match them in terms of development. This is what they are benefiting from and if you could unfreeze the engine regs, you will see some catch up."

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