New engine rules are 'crazy' - Andy Cowell

Mercedes HPP Managing Director Andy Cowell has described the new three-engine limit regulation for the 2018 Formula One season as 'crazy' and believes it could hamper the Silver Arrows attempts to make it five constructor championships in a row in F1.

Liberty Media have been in charge of Formula One for around a year now and have polarised teams, drivers, and fans alike with their proposed changes to the sport.

The main alteration they will be implementing is the introduction of a three-engine limit per season which has almost been universally criticised from constructor teams.

Cowell, clearly, is also not a fan of the decision.

"It's crazy," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"Because the manufacturers will have to virtually redo many parts.

"We will build at least 80-100 engines and then test them on the bench and take the three or four that have the best reliability and power characteristics.

"That's a huge cost that the manufacturers will not be able to recover."

The main reason for this decision from Liberty Media is apparently cost-cutting, but many figures in the sport, including Alain Prost, thinks there is no need for such a drastic reduction in spending

"My (Prost GP) engine cost €23-million in 2001 and we would have paid 25.5 million the following year if we had survived," the four-time world champion told Auto Plus.

"Today we are at engine prices between €12 and €14-million. Each manufacturer has therefore brought down prices with significantly more complex engines."