V-12 ban

angst · 5 Aug 2000, 11:56 (Ref:28484)

I know I'm probably way behind the times on this, but somehow I've missed all the business regarding the banning of all engine specs apart from V10 (maybe it all happened during the birth of my son and the trance-like state I was in for some time). I remember hearing that the idea was there, but it has obviously been followed through.
Can anybody tell me why? No doubt great heaps of vested interest have a part to play.

Red · 5 Aug 2000, 17:56 (Ref:28544)

Of course it's a conspiracy! FIA clearly is biased toward Mercedes and everybody knows that! When that decision was taken the only teams that had a V12 program were Ferrari and Toyota! If this is not a plot.....

On a serious note, it's about reducing costs (or not allowing them to grow too much). It's pretty stupid. Toyota already delayed their F1 entrance.

Sharky · 6 Aug 2000, 03:00 (Ref:28637)

From what I've read it seems that the development of the V10 engine is reaching a dead end. There's really very little that can be done to further improove the engine's power so it seems that there were many teams that were considering new formulas....I even heard rumors that if berylium hadn't been banned some manufacturers could have considered V8 engines (!!!). But a new engione development could proove too much for the smaller teams that would have a further performance disadvantage.

However that regulation did mess up Toyota's plans.

f1ciamp · 6 Aug 2000, 04:38 (Ref:28642)

rumorse have it that ferrari have a real good v12 waiting fore the day it will be permitted mutch better even then the current v10, but i guess life aint easy for ferrari,
and toyota got realy messt up ! they have to start all over again on the engine becouse unlike ford or so production cars in f1 engines u cant just cut or add two (or more) cilinders u got too make a whole new motor, and i dont think toyota will have a good enouf v10 as they mite have had a v12 , well will see what happens, im realy ancsies to see toyotas car!

AL Racing · 6 Aug 2000, 22:01 (Ref:28806)

FIA banning V12's really makes the "FIA favouring Ferrari" look pretty stupid doesn't it.

**Peter Mallett** · 7 Aug 2000, 10:20 (Ref:28909)

Sparky would be a good person to tell us about this, but as I recall, Honda were also considering a V12 because it allows more power and higher revs. Unfortunaly there are more moving parts which sap some of the extra power.

Hadn't heard of a ban, more of a technical decision to keep development costs in check.

Sharky · 7 Aug 2000, 14:14 (Ref:28945)

That's right peter. I remember that it was rumored last year that BAR could be getting a very powerful V12 engine while Jordan would get a regular V10 for this season.....But I guess it didn't happen. However I think that if there are enough engine manufacturers considering that issue we could see the return of V12's.

angst · 7 Aug 2000, 14:43 (Ref:28957)

From what I understand Toyota had to postpone their entry to F1 because they had a V12 and now have to develop a V10. That would point toward a ban, unless Bernie basically told Toyota that they couldn't have their entry without acceding to his wishes, which I can't see them accepting.