Independent customer F1 teams usually always leasing their engines/PUs rather than direct purchase from PU manufacturers

[theriusDR3]

Cost reasons? Or other else?

Pay-lease system is usually done by independent customer F1 teams since the past till present rather than direct purchase.

[noname]

Cost reasons? Or other else?

Pay-lease system is usually done by independent customer F1 teams since the past till present rather than direct purchase.

This way PU suppliers can protect their IP.

PU user is not receiving the engine, but entire package - maintenance, technical support, etc.

[Hoffman900]

Cost reasons? Or other else?

Pay-lease system is usually done by independent customer F1 teams since the past till present rather than direct purchase.

It’s been this way in F1 for 35+ years, started with Alfa Romeo trying to steal Cosworth’s IP, but it also holds true in NASCAR, IMSA (across all the manufacturers), NHRA (Pro Stock), and A LOT of pro series.

It’s mostly about controlling IP, but as noname pointed out, support comes with as part of the lease. Basically the PU / engine supplier has engineers that baby sit the engines, and the teams pay for all that as part of the lease.

Engine R&D is expensive as is the maintenance… as time has gone up and costs up, there has been PU / engine builder consolidation to have bigger builders with deeper pockets, and teams can just pay to lease and focus on the rest of the operation instead of everyone needing an expensive PU / engine program.