Motorsport governing body FIA announced on the 19th of January that deals were in place to slash engine costs across the grid, with FIA president Jean Todt and supremo Bernie Ecclestone holding talks
The 2016 grid will see three works teams – Mercedes, Ferrari and the newly-returned Renault, who will see Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer in the primary seats. Newest entrant Haas F1, touted as a Ferrari b-team, will use those engines.
All teams on the grid are supplied by those three manufacturers barring McLaren, who are supplied by Honda.
Mercedes:
Force India F1
Manor
Williams
Mercedes AMG Petronas (works)
Ferrari:
Sauber
Toro Rosso
Haas F1
Scuderia Ferrari (works)
Renault:
Red Bull
Renault (works)
Honda:
McLaren
Following a contentious year, Red Bull will remain with Renault, although the engines will be rebranded under the Tag Heuer name to de-emphasize the relationship. Their junior team, Toro Rosso will, however, be powered by Ferrari in 2016.
Engines will now be sold to other teams at lower prices; and this will also mean that the threat of external engine manufacturers introducing cheaper engines to the F1 fray is kept at bay.
They have also looked at rules to make F1 ‘noisier again’, although they will remain with the quieter V6 engines in exchange for the deal, at least for the next 5 seasons.
Another major rule change sees drivers only allowed 3 gearbox changes before they are penalised – down from the limit so far, which was five.
