FIA opens tender for F1 engine sensors

The FIA has opened up an official invitation to tender for the production and delivery of pressure and temperature sensors for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 F1 seasons.

This comes against the backdrop of an agreement reached between F1's car manufacturers to bring in more standard parts over the next few years to help reduce expense.

The hope is that if engines are made cheaper then cost savings can be passed on to customer teams.

New rules

In a detailed document setting out the requirements for the supply of the components, it suggests changes to the F1 technical regulations that will force teams to run these standard parts.

A proposed new section 5.13.2 of Article 21 states: “Any pressure sensor used to measure pressure of any fluid necessary to ensure the power unit functions correctly at all times (including but not limited to coolant, oil, fuel and air) must be manufactured by an FIA designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA. Cylinder pressure sensors are excluded from this requirement."

A revised Article 5.13.3 said: “With the exception of exhaust temperature sensors and temperature sensors embedded in electronic boxes, any temperature sensor used to measure temperature of any fluid necessary to ensure the power unit functions correctly at all times (including but not limited to coolant, oil, fuel and air) must be manufactured by an FIA designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA.”

Interested parties have until August 31 to submit their tenders, with a decision due to made on who has won the contract on September 28.