Teams agree engine switch delay

PARIS, June 29, 2011 (AFP) - Formula One teams agreed on Wednesday to delay the introduction of new environmentally friendly engines by a year until 2014 a measure that has been greeted with alarm by the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the organisers of many of the grands prix.

However, in a move to quell Ecclestone's and the race organisers fears that such a measure will see a drop in attendance figures the maximum rev limit of the engines will be increased to 15,000 from 12,000.

The decision to switch from four-cylinder 1.6-litre engines introduced in 2013 to V6s of the same size a year later was made by F1 bosses last week and following a fax vote the switch was ratified by the World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday.

"The new power plant will be a V6 1.6 turbo unit with energy recovery systems," read the World Motor Sport Council statement.

"This new formula will come into effect as from the start of the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship season."

Ecclestone was against the switch to the new engines from the current 2.4-litre normally aspirated V8s, as he said there would be a lot less noise and as a result be less exciting to watch.

The organisers worries were that the change could result in a drop in attendance figures, which is their only source of income.