F1 Commission update on engine equalisation talks

The F1 Commission has agreed to send discussions over engine equalisation in the sport to the Power Unit Advisory Committee.

Concerns have arisen over the disparity of power unit performance between the RBPT-Honda, Ferrari and Mercedes compared to Alpine-Renault, with permitted changes for reliability reasons believed to have seen the gap between PUs grow since the start of 2022 - when homologation was set.

Alpine had tabled the motion of a potential equalisation, gaining the backing of Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner in the process.

Whilst no decision was made at a meeting of the F1 Commission at the Belgian Grand Prix, talks will continue with the PUAC over a future solution.

Statement

A statement following the meeting read: "In relation to power units, at the start of this regulations cycle, it was agreed with the power unit manufacturers that there would be a possibility for adjustment of PU performance from 2023 onwards in order to avoid a significant performance difference being locked in for an extended period.

"The FIA has been analysing the PU performance of the cars during the first half of 2023 and concluded that there is one such notable performance gap between competitors.

"On the basis of the commitment of the PU manufacturers and of the performance differences reported above, the F1 Commission discussed ways to remedy this discrepancy.

"The power unit manufacturers represented at the Commission agreed to give a mandate to the Power Unit Advisory Committee to consider this topic and bring proposals back to the Commission."