JULY 3, 2013

Ferrari worried about fuel-saving formula in 2014

Ferrari has admitted it is worried grands prix could be half-baked in 2014, as the radical new turbo V6 era dawns in formula one.

One potential problem with the sport's revolutionary shakeup, according to Ferrari's engine boss Luca Marmorini, is that reliability early next year could be poor.

He said designers and engineers will be grappling with the 1000 degree temperatures caused by the turbos, which is not "an easy matter to deal with".

On top of that, the new rules limit each driver to just 5 engines for the whole season, down from 8 at present.

"It will be difficult to run the season without issues," said Marmorini, "considering we are talking about four to five thousand kilometres per unit which is almost double what we are doing right now."

Even more of a worry, he added, is the new rule limiting cars to just 100kg of fuel per race, which could force drivers to save fuel whilst battling for position.

"Ferrari feels this could be a danger," said Marmorini.

"We like formula one to consider efficiency, but we don't like formula one to be a sport where you are cruising for 50 per cent of the laps."

(GMM)