After the 2008 Malaysian GP starts, power units will remain unchanged for 10 years. (LAT Photo) ยป More Photos
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The WMSC has confirmed that the engines to be used for the next 10 seasons will have to be homologated by March 31 next season, which in effect means after the Australian and Malaysian GP.
Any manufacturer that fails to get a engine to two checkered flags by then will be allowed extra time.
Although engines were homologated this time last year, teams were allowed to modify certain elements, and external ancillaries were free. However, from next season no changes will be allowed at all, which means teams are now rushing to hone items such as inlets and oil pumps for Melbourne in the knowledge that they will be used until 2017.
Speaking to SPEEDtv.com, Max Mosley said: "Now we're going to say that the engine that's done its first two races in 2008, all the pumps and injectors, all the bits and bobs, that's it for 10 years."
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The FIA confirmed the homologation process as follows:
"As part of the total 10-year freeze on engine development, only engines which have been homologated by the FIA and delivered no later than 31 March 2008* may be used at an Event during the 2008-2017 Championships. Any such engine must include all the parts described in the 2008 F1 Technical Regulations and be identical to one which has completed two race Events during the 2007 Championship season."
(*Or at the first opportunity in the event that a competitor has no engine available which has completed two race Events in the 2008 Championship season.)
Adam Cooper explores how Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari pulled off their World Championship comeback in our January issue, on sale now.
