F1 News
Do F1 teams need more than four engines? Vowles and Vasseur debate changes
In Formula 1, the regulations state that each car is allowed to use four engines before a penalty follows. Interestingly, over the course of the past 13 races, a full grid of 20 cars without engine penalties has started only four times. This, according to Williams Team Principal James Vowles, has another reason.
While there have been many races where one or more drivers start from the pit lane, this, according to Vowles, is not entirely because of engine penalties. "The last one, I think, was Lewis with an engine penalty. But before that, I think one of the Alpines was a different problem. I actually think there's an interesting side to it, which is when you're in a battle that's that tight at the back and you're at the back end of it, you're effectively throwing the dice to try a completely different set-up, which is why they're doing it."
Vowles actually sees some value for viewers in the occasional start from the pit lane. "They're not doing it because they want to add technical components. I know Lewis did, but that's an outlier, and it creates a very different dynamic in the race and more learning. So from that perspective it sort of shuffles the race up a little bit more than it would do if they just lined up on the grid. I don't think that's necessarily a bad item."
Do Vowles and Vasseur want more engines at their disposal?
The Williams team boss does not belive teams need more engines over the season. "I think on PU penalties we're not in a bad place now. Lewis obviously had some issues before, which is why it's there. But with the four PUs on the grid you're seeing cars near enough always wanting to hold on to position. I think all you're seeing is a natural element of such a tight midfield now that if you're the back of it you've got to try something different."
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari's team boss, was also asked for his opinion. "I think each case is different, but if you have a look now, we are at race 17 and I'm not sure that a lot of drivers took penalty just for the comfort or for performance interest for the future. We are all on our path to do the season with four engines."
The Frenchman agrees with Vowles and thinks four is a good number. "Perhaps we won't achieve it, but it's the right limit."
Speaking about possible issues of teams choosing when to take their pit lane starts, Vasseur said the following: "You have some decision to start from the pit lane for comfort or performance and so. But I think it's marginal. Over the season, we don't have so much. Perhaps it was more the coincidence of the track, crashes. And so in each case, it's very different. I think that some incidents were due to crashes, some were for engines. But we are at the limit. And no, it's not a drama for me."
This article has been created in collaboration with Sandy van Wijngaarden.
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