Ferrari is continuing to argue for a relaxation of the so-called engine ‘freeze’.<\/p>\n
With Mercedes utterly dominating in the new turbo V6 era, F1’s engine makers will get a chance to upgrade up to 48 per cent of their ‘power units’ ahead of 2015.<\/p>\n
But Ferrari in particular has argued that the freeze should be further relaxed, for example by allowing at least one mid-season performance step.<\/p>\n
When the topic arose two weeks ago in Singapore, Mercedes understandably argued that it should be voted down on the basis that it will only drive up costs.<\/p>\n
But Ferrari boss Marco Mattiacci on Thursday hit back at the counter-arguments.<\/p>\n
“It would not cost more money,” he is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, “because the scale of the development remains the same.”<\/p>\n
Customer teams have also argued that even if the extra development is allowed, any cost increases should not be passed onto the already high price of their ‘power units’.<\/p>\n
Mattiacci said: “If you are a customer and you have to stay with the same engine from the end of February, then you have little chance to improve yourself.<\/p>\n
“At the end that can cost you even more money.”<\/p>\n
The Italian insists Ferrari made the proposal not for the benefit of Maranello or fellow engine straggler Renault, but for F1 as a whole.<\/p>\n
“We stand by it because it is good for the sport,” said Mattiacci.<\/p>\n
“For Ferrari it is an opportunity but also a risk.\u00a0 Maybe Mercedes will develop their engine even better.\u00a0 It is not a unilateral advantage for us,” he insisted.<\/p>\n
“At the moment the work of the engineers and suppliers is focused on the winter months.\u00a0 But F1 should be about constant innovation.”<\/p>\n
Mattiacci said the freeze is also bad for the fans, with a static balance of power affecting the “entertainment on the track”.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere in the Suzuka paddock on Thursday, the 2015 driver ‘silly season’ continued to bubble away.<\/p>\n
The big player is Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, and ‘academy’ driver Jules Bianchi – currently placed at Marussia – put his hand up to potentially replace the wavering Spaniard.<\/p>\n
“It (moving to Ferrari) looks like the logical step for me if something like this (Alonso’s departure) happens,” said the Frenchman.<\/p>\n
Also linked with replacing the frustrated Alonso at Ferrari is Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, but he opted to divert attention to another big name on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“I think (it’s a question) probably more for Jenson (Button); he already has 17 teammates for next year,” the German smiled.<\/p>\n
McLaren’s Button, however, is also waiting on Alonso, who according to speculation is considering a sensational switch to lead the British team’s new Honda era.<\/p>\n
That could leave 2009 world champion Button, or his rookie teammate Kevin Magnussen, out in the cold.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know,” Button said when asked about the situation ahead of the Japanese grand prix.\u00a0 “As you know I can’t discuss anything to do with the contract.”<\/p>\n
He admitted only that staying at McLaren remained his “best option” for the future.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 RIF | GMM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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