So will it be V8's or V10's in F1 2006

[FourWheelDrift]

The official FIA rules are a V8 2.4 formula for 2006, but some teams (well only Minardi/Scuderia Toro Rosso) are being allowed to run rev limited V10's on an equivilency scale. Setup to be less powerfull but not a lot less powerful than the new V8's. After testing and development however I have read that some teams are concerned that the V8's aren't producing the power expected and the power bands are narrower, meaning a rev restricted V10 might well be a better overall package. With the 2 race engine life rule a tried and tested rev-limted engine seems the better choice over the stressed and less reliable V8.

The last time a decision to stick to old engine rules when a new rule was introduced was in 1988 when the 3.5 litre normally aspirated engine was introduced. An allowance was given for teams to run the old 1.5 litre turbo's with less boost pressure. McLaren with their Honda turbo engines decided to do this but maximsed what they had and won 15 out of 16 races.

Minardi/Scuderia Toro Rosso for the Championship in 2006 ;)

Or maybe other teams will run V10's next year.

[kevin ritson]

Hmmm, bear in mind Honda spent a fortune on that last Turbo and were acknowledged as the best at the time. Compare to Cosworth who have hinted they can't wait for the new formula as they know V8 technology better than anything. I reckon Cossie will spend more on their Williams project so you've effectively got a 'run-out' engine much as the Supertec/Meccachrome-Renaults or Mugen-Hondas were.

I reckon it'll be V8s - Cossie's could be up there but remember that Honda and Toyota have experience of V8s (albeit turbo/lower revving) via US racing

[rubystone]

The major teams have an agreement (I'm not sure how solid that is though) to only use V8s for next year and beyond. I'd say that Ferrari has good recent experience with flat plane cranked V8s too...

I guess the V10 in detuned form will still produce more torque than a V8.

[D-Angle]

When Toro Rosso were still Minardi, I would have understood letting them use a V10, as they probably would have struggled to afford anything else. But now they have been bought by Red Bull, it's a bit rich to still be claiming to be short of cash, isn't it?

Even the rumoured new team for next year have been able to get hold of V8s from Honda.

[anonymous-user]

speaking to a friend who is employed by Renault F1, the V8s were four or five seconds off the pace at barcelona in the middle of this year and that is expected to be down to about a second come the start of 2006. The V8s are also getting close to V10 power.....

[Tank slapper]

McClaren were running a car with the new V8 at Silverstone at the last test session I went to in september. It was running about 5 seconds off the pace of the current car.

[kevin ritson]

What did the V8 sound like? Did it compare well to the V10? (DFV's sound wonderful but not sure how the cut in capacity/increase in revs will affect the note)

[tank slapper]

kevin ritson said:

What did the V8 sound like? Did it compare well to the V10? (DFV's sound wonderful but not sure how the cut in capacity/increase in revs will affect the note)

It sounds more like the V10s than a DFV, though hearing the two go past it was obvious which was which.

It didn't sound quite as meaty as the V10, but the extra revs meant it didn't sound any less impressive.