Report: Fifth engine rejected

Formula 1 teams will not be allowed to use a fifth engine without receiving a penalty this season, according to reports.

Each driver is currently permitted four engines each but some, such as Red Bull pair Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat, are already close to exceeding that limit.

A fifth engine had been suggested to help ease the burden, but it appears that the idea has been rejected at a Formula 1 Strategy Group meeting yesterday.

The penalty for using an additional engine is a 10-place grid penalty, and it is almost certain that Red Bull will have to take that penalty sooner rather than later.

Christian Horner told reporters recently: “Whether it's five or eight engines, it doesn't make a difference to us. It's inevitable we are going to have to take eight, up to nine engines this season.”

Related topics