Unexpected support for Red Bull? Aston Martin speaks out
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- GPblog.com
After Guenther Steiner openly declared to be in favour of an engine freeze in Formula 1, now colleague Otmar Szafnauer has done the same. The Aston Martin F1 Team boss believes that the plans of Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri should be accepted if these teams are to disappear from the grid because there is no other solution.
Steiner's motives for voting in favour are mainly based on the hope that Haas F1 will once again be able to compete in the midfield in the coming seasons. Szafnauer believes it would be a shame if only eight teams remained in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Szafnauer supports Red Bull
"If the freeze is necessary to ensure that all teams have a engine, then that is the right thing to do," said Szafnauer, who does believe that an engine freeze is only an emergency solution. In the long run, manufacturers should be able to continue developing their engines, he told RTL. "Formula 1 is about competition, in the car, in the engine, in the chassis, in the drivers."
Helmut Marko hinted last week that he expected Red Bull Racing, AlphaTauri, Ferrari, Haas F1, Alfa Romeo Racing and Renault to vote for the plan. Aston Martin may now join the party as the seventh team.
Will Mercedes have an influence?
At Aston Martin they also have to deal with Mercedes as engine supplier. The British formation buys its power sources from the world champion and therefore there is also a bit of politics involved. Mercedes may be able to enforce something and when they decide to vote against it, they may impose it on Aston Martin as well.
An engine freeze would mean that from 2022 onwards at least the same power units will continue to be used for the coming seasons. In 2025 or 2026 a new engine regulation will be introduced in Formula 1. The engines must become cheaper and less polluting. However, it is still unclear in which season the new rules will actually come into force.