Formula One will switch to more environmentally friendly 1.6 litre engines from 2013, the sport's governing body announced on Friday as part of a major revamp of the technical and sporting rules.
The current cars are powered by 2.4 litre V8 engines, themselves down from the fuel-guzzling V10s and V12s of previous generations. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement after a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Monaco that the new specification engine would underline a "commitment to improving sustainability and addressing the needs of the automotive industry.
"Following dialogue with the engine manufacturers and experts in this field, the power units will be four cylinders, 1.6 litre with high pressure gasoline injection up to 500 bar with a maximum of 12,000 rpm."
The FIA said the new engines would deliver a 35 percent reduction in fuel consumption as well as featuring extensive energy management and energy recovery systems. Current engines are rev-limited to 18,000 rpm.
At the same time, they would maintain current levels of performance.
Each driver will be allowed five engines in 2013, but that allocation will be reduced to four from 2014. This year, with 19 races, they were allowed a maximum of eight with a penalty of 10 places on the starting grid for any additional units.
