Currently there are four teams on the grid using the Cosworth engine. One by choice and three who were "encouraged" to sign a contract with the engine maker so that their application for the 2010 Entry list would be viewed in a more favourable light. Anyway, since the collapse of the "Budget Cap" plan and the departure from office of Max Mosley I would guess that this bit of ahem....erm.... shall we say, advice, will no longer be required for a new team wishing to take the last franchise slot.
This then begs the question will the four current users of the Cossy seek to end their deals early or will they remain with the company for next season at least. According to what I've read, Cosworth have a three year deal with Williams, Lotus, Virgin and Manor however their are suggestions on at least one website that Williams are looking to change engine supplier for 11 and at least one rumour that Lotus are looking to do a deal with Renault. This hasn't been reported yet by any of the bigger and more reputable motorsport sites however.
The advantages of leaving Cosworth would be three fold, firstly you are going to get a more powerful engine which has seen a lot more money thrown at it and had a lot better development and secondly if KERs really does return next year then you are going to join a manufacturer that already has some experience installing devices on to their F1 engines. Finally, if a new team does join the grid, imagine if they walk in and sign a deal with Merc which could put them ahead of the Cosworth users from the word go.
The disadvantages of leaving Cosworth are that its going to cost any team that moves a fortune to buy there way out of the contract. I can't see it being an easy thing to break away from especially given how keen Mosley was to tie them to it in the first place. Secondly, teams can already start design work on their 2011 car now knowing the dimensions of the engine and gearbox combination which should allow optimal work on the back end of the car.
So, is it worth teams breaking their Cosworth contracts and moving to another supplier?
This then begs the question will the four current users of the Cossy seek to end their deals early or will they remain with the company for next season at least. According to what I've read, Cosworth have a three year deal with Williams, Lotus, Virgin and Manor however their are suggestions on at least one website that Williams are looking to change engine supplier for 11 and at least one rumour that Lotus are looking to do a deal with Renault. This hasn't been reported yet by any of the bigger and more reputable motorsport sites however.
The advantages of leaving Cosworth would be three fold, firstly you are going to get a more powerful engine which has seen a lot more money thrown at it and had a lot better development and secondly if KERs really does return next year then you are going to join a manufacturer that already has some experience installing devices on to their F1 engines. Finally, if a new team does join the grid, imagine if they walk in and sign a deal with Merc which could put them ahead of the Cosworth users from the word go.
The disadvantages of leaving Cosworth are that its going to cost any team that moves a fortune to buy there way out of the contract. I can't see it being an easy thing to break away from especially given how keen Mosley was to tie them to it in the first place. Secondly, teams can already start design work on their 2011 car now knowing the dimensions of the engine and gearbox combination which should allow optimal work on the back end of the car.
So, is it worth teams breaking their Cosworth contracts and moving to another supplier?