Could Aston Martin be planning to enter Formula 1 as an engine supplier? That was the intriguing question being asked by insiders ahead of the FIA's second post-2020 engine regulation summit, held in Paris on Tuesday.

The first meeting, which took place at the end of March, called for prospective suppliers to submit proposals by May 31, and they will have been on the order of business at this week's meeting of what is now officially called the Power Unit Working Group.



The object of these discussions is to specify the 'Holy Grail' of F1 engines: fast, powerful loud, hybrid, economical and 'green', yet sufficiently high-tech to appeal to motor manufacturers while being, above all, uncomplicated and cheap enough to lure independents to produce power units capable of winning for sale to private teams.