Aston Martin believes Formula 1 "can use its intention to become an engine supplier" in '21 as a "bargaining chip against Ferrari's threats to quit the championship," according to Ben Anderson of MOTORSPORT. F1's owners recently revealed their blueprint for the future of grand prix racing, "including plans for simpler, cheaper, louder and more powerful engines than the current V6 hybrid turbos." Aston Martin said that it would consider adding "building an engine to the new rules should the technology be simplified and costs reduced sufficiently," while Ferrari "has threatened to quit F1 should this simplification process go too far." Aston Martin President & CEO Andy Palmer suggested Aston's status as a competitor to Ferrari in the supercar automotive market "could strengthen F1's hand in negotiations with the famous Italian marque and mitigate the damage should Ferrari walk away." Palmer: "Liberty obviously want a new engine [for 2021]. They want to move the sport on. The incumbent teams don't want to change the engine very much. In the old world, they would have won, wouldn't they? ... But now they've got someone sitting behind them saying, 'If you write the rules like this, we might be interested in providing an engine.' Now there's an alternative" (MOTORSPORT, 4/26).
