Teams would welcome standard parts
Formula One teams are ready to accept the use of standard parts as a way to make immediate cost reductions in the sport, but some think that a move to a single specification of engine is going too far.
And although he and F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone have floated the concept of a standard engine, sources have indicated that several manufacturers would pull out of F1 if such a rule was introduced.
However, despite the reluctance for a single-specification power unit, teams do appear willing to support the concept of introducing more standard parts - such as brakes or gearbox.
BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen explained: "A standard engine is something we don't really like. I think there are other measures to make sure that costs go down.
Honda Racing CEO Nick Fry told autosport.com: "If you are talking about a standard engine, as in an engine that is identical and made by another manufacturer and they are all exactly the same, we are very much opposed to that.
"The engine is very dear to the heart of Honda and other car manufacturers. We are the biggest manufacturer of internal combustion engines in the world and we would not be at all happy with an engine that was made by someone else. We want to design, develop and manufacture our engine.
Theissen was optimistic that teams were in agreement about the need to make cost reductions in the short term, ahead of plans to introduce a totally new engine concept from 2013.