MOSCOW, October 9 (R-Sport) – The Marussia Formula One team has made its “main aim” to design its own engines in the future, owner Nikolai Fomenko told the Russian edition of the Autosport website on Wednesday.
The majority-Russian-owned Marussia team has used Cosworth engines since it joined F1 as Virgin in 2010, and has agreed a deal to switch to Ferrari power plants from next year.
Despite the Ferrari deal being valid for a minimum of three years, Marussia could break it off and make its own engines in 2016, Fomenko said.
“If we survive to the 2016 season, then I hope Marussia will have its own engines,” he said. “We’re moving towards that. It’s our main aim.”
F1 switches to V6 turbo engines next year, instead of the current normally aspirated 2.4 liter V8s. Three engine manufacturers – Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault – have been confirmed.
It is rare for modern F1 teams to design their own engines, largely because of the costs involved. Of 12 teams this season, only Ferrari and Mercedes do so, and both sell their engines to other teams.
