The FIA has officially permitted engine supplier Honda to develop its new F1 engine during the 2015 Formula 1 season on equal terms with its rivals.
For the 2014 season, all engines were bound by a pre-season homologation deadline. However, shortly after the end of the 2014 Formula 1 season, Ferrari identified a loophole in the regulations that allowed for a degree of flexibility regarding in-season engine development during 2015. The new rule would permit Mercedes, Ferrari, and Renault to use 32 credits throughout the year to develop up to 48 percent of the power unit.
Honda was initially excluded from the loophole and must submit their engine design by February 28. Obviously, the Honda-McLaren racing team took issue with the decision. Over the past weeks, Honda crafted appeals to persuade the FIA to make an amendment based on the number of unused tokens rivals will have by the Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the 2015 Formula 1 calendar.
“If the three 2014 manufacturers have eight, seven and five unused tokens respectively at the start of the season, then the new manufacturer will be allowed to use six during the season (the average rounded down to the nearest whole number),” reads a letter sent by FIA race director Charlie Whiting, according to the BBC.
Obviously, this means that the number of tokens available to Honda will be dependent to how the rivals decide to spend their token allocation. That said, Honda will no doubt seize crucial development opportunities throughout the series.
The new Honda-McLaren racing car enjoyed a limited test session at Abu Dhabi back in November. Pre-season testing will commence on Feb. 1, 2015, where Fernando ALonso and Jenson Button will get to turn the wheel of the new machine in anger.
By Danny Choy
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