FIA: "No new manufacturers in 2021"

FIA president Jean Todt is not expecting any new engine manufacturers in 2021 when the new regulations kick in, despite it being one of the goals of the new regulations that take effect then.

The engines, which will be louder, less complicated and therefore cheaper, should make it easier for new manufacturers to make their debuts in the sport, but as of right now, no teams have stepped forward. Aston Martin were interested at first among others, but have explained that it was still to expensive for the team to have a proper go at it.

“My priority is to make sure that we keep them four,” Todt told Motorsport about the current engine manufacturers.

“I always said it would be very unfair to the four engaged to say, ‘okay, we want to attract a new one so let’s change everything’.

“That is one of the reasons why it was not a revolution on the engine regulations.

"Now if we can secure those four for me that would be a great achievement.”

With Porsche also backing out of an F1 project, it looks like only Honda, Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault will remain as the four providers of power units in F1. Todt expected this, as he was sceptical from the start.

“I feel personally it is really a great achievement to have four different powertrains for 10 teams – because it means 2.5 each.

That is why I also asked to consider to have some common regulations in other championships because it would encourage other manufacturers, if you were able to have seven to 10 customers, to be able to buy the powertrain.

"But that has not happened.”