- 20 Jul 10, 20:06#207848Cosworth didn't leave F1 of their own accord, they were muscled out by a large influx of factory teams. Considering that their engine was designed for 20K rpms and has never before been campaigned at just 18K, I'm impressed they've done as well as they have.
If/when VW come to F1, I suspect they'll use their own branding. Firstly, they're trying to boost their image as building performance cars on par with Mercy and BMW. Secondly, Audi already have LeMans and I fancy Porsche wouldn't risk sullying their image if the VeeDub engines don't quickly rise to the top.
I think F1 is forever married to petrol. If diesel were made mandatory, several of the factory teams -- chiefly Ferrari -- would flee for the hills and start their own competing petrol-only series. If diesel were permitted as an option, there'd be no end of squabbling over the configuration of the diesel engine. Without forced induction, diesels need huge displacement to produce either substantial HP or Q so they'd either need turbos or the petrol cars would need an 800 kg minimum weight to account for the mass of the diesel car's enormous engine. If you think the teams bicker over the rules now, imagine the non-stop dustups over how much displacement, boost and fuel capacity the diesel cars should be allowed.
And who wants to sit in the bleachers and be swathed in an aroma like a gaggle of articulated lorries barreling down the M25?
"I'll bet ya a hundred and five thousand dollars you go to sleep before I do."
--Dobbsie