'Three-engine limit not F1 any more'

McLaren racing director Eric Boullier believes that Formula One's three-engine limit ruling puts the sport at risk of losing its identity for the 2018 season, and has given his support to Christian Horner of Red Bull who has been campaigning for the rule to be scrapped.

Horner has been one of the main critics of the engine limit and has been attempting to get the ruling changed for months. One major roadblock to the reversal of the rule is Ferrari, with president Sergio Marchionne making clear at the recent F1 Strategy Group meeting that he has no intention of supporting any three-engine rule reversal.

The Red Bull boss has got support from Boullier, though, who does not want Formula One to lose one of the factors which makes it attractive to fans.

"For me, it is going too far," said Boullier to Motorsport.

"Too far also because it is not Formula 1 anymore. I am not saying we need 12 engines per race weekend, like 20 years ago. But with three engines per season, where is the technology appeal?"

One of the major reasons for the three-engine rule is financial, as fewer engines will mean less costs. However, Boullier thinks that in the long run it will cost more for constructor teams rather then less, as more funds will need to be allocated to making the three engines as reliable as possible.

"The other thing is the costs – it has gone the other way. To go less and less and less, it costs a massive amount of money for the engine manufacturers to make it more reliable.

"So, this money is going to be back in the system, and it doesn't help to make a cheaper deal."