Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone aired his negative comments about the turbo V6 power units currently used in F1. According to his interview with Motorsport.com, the engines were not delivering for the sport, because they were costly, not loud enough, and they have no relevance in the road car industry.

It should be noted that most teams have resisted attempts to get back to the old V8 power units of the sport as they are now recognizing the efficiency of the new engines. As for the engine sound, it hasn’t been resolved so far. But measures have been taken in the past to address it.

On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz reacted to the claim of Ecclestone that the hybrid power units are irrelevant in the the road car business. The three-pointed star brand’s Head of R&D Dr. Thomas Weber said the development of the hybrid V6 engines have been helpful in bringing in new technologies for their production vehicles.

Dr. Weber emphasized that the current F1 engines of Mercedes-AMG Petronas have been instrumental in the discovery of smaller power units that are more fuel-efficient and with lesser carbon-dioxide emissions. He added they are presently facilitating the technology transfer from their F1 car to their road cars. But he estimated that the successful integration of the advances in F1 today to road cars might take at least two years to complete, and he pointed out that future transfers might be quicker following that.