A number of articles this weekend have rekindled an earlier disturbing rumour, namely that this week the FIA will propose a radical change to the engine rules for 2013. Horrendously, they appear to want 1.6 litre turbo-charged units with just four cylinders. Yes, you read that right: four cylinders, the same as you'll find in any one of a myriad of tedious family hatchbacks. Almost as bad, this rule may have been prompted by - or is aimed at enticing - the social climbers' favourite car company VW into the paddock. Then it'll be Grand Prix flooded with obnoxious hair-gelled Audi A3 drivers calling for TDi engines to be compulsory.
Personally, it doesn't matter that the ingenious Formula 1 boffins will ensure power output is the same as the current 2.4 lite V8s; what bothers me is that they will sound awful. And the aural assault of Formula 1 car is just as important for me as their jaw dropping speed. If - as it appears - that there won't even be the option for manufacturers to choose V6, straight-6, five-pot or flat-4 designs. Instead the FIA will insist on a straight-4s with prescribed dimensions, weight and ECUs. We have already lost in the last few years the V12s and V10s, now we will be loosing the V8s and any chance for multi-cylinder innovation. In there place will be buzzy four-pots muffled by their own turbos. It'll sound like a McDonald's car park after 11pm; what a terrible prospect.
Still, it's unsubstantiated rumour at the moment, we will have to wait and see. And pray...
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