The FIA today confirmed that Cosworth has won the single engine supply deal, with the governing body now in exclusive discussions with the independent manufacturer along with Xtrac and Ricardo Transmissions (XR) to supply a complete powertrain to teams from 2010. FIA President Max Mosley confirmed the news to the Formula One Teams' Association in a letter today, just hours after Honda confirmed its immediate withdrawal from the sport.
With a pricetag of just £5.49m (€6.42m) per season, along with an initial payment of £1.68m (€1.97m), the standard engine would be significantly cheaper to independent teams than F1 manufacturers currently charge.
However, under these latest proposals, the FIA is offering the standard engine as an alternative to independent teams, while giving manufacturers the opportunity to continue building their own specification engine, albeit with performance parameters brought in line with the standard unit. Regardless of the teams' options to use a Cosworth-built of self-built unit, all teams will use the standard transmission, as designed and built by XR.
"We have completed the tendering process and are now in exclusive negotiations with Cosworth together with Xtrac and Ricardo Transmissions (XR) to supply a complete Formula One power train starting in 2010," said Mosley in his letter to FOTA and the Team Principals. "The engine will be a current Formula One engine while the transmission will be state-of-the-art Formula One and a joint effort by two companies which already supply transmissions to most of the grid."
The above prices are based on at least four teams taking up the option of the standard engine, meaning the current engine manufacturers will end up supplying only their works teams.
The FIA is also looking to push ahead with its cost-cutting plans, including the standardisation of chassis components, changing the race weekend format to reduce costs and restrictions on R&D. The target for the FIA is to reduce costs to enable teams fund their running on the money received from the commercial rights holder, the FOM, bar the cost of powertrain, drivers and marketing.
Teams intending to use the standard engine F1 engine from 2010 have until close of business on Thursday 11 December to notify the FIA of their plans. Should four teams not sign up to the Cosworth offer, the FIA may still proceed with their plans.
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