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The FIA has begun the process to introduce an independent and cost-effective Formula 1 engine from 2017 by calling for expressions of interest.

An engine supply costs teams around £15-20million per season with the latest generation 1.6-litre turbocharged V6s compared to £7m during the V8 era.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt are keen to offer independent teams a cheaper unit and put forward a suggestion of an alternative engine supply from a single source.

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"The FIA has decided to launch a consultation among the engine manufacturers in order to potentially identify for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons of the aforementioned championship an exclusive alternative engine manufacturer which will be solely entitled to supply this alternative engine to the competitors entered for said seasons of the championship," said the governing body in documents published on its website.

"The FIA is now calling for expressions of interest to identify candidates interested in becoming the exclusive supplier of the alternative engine to the competitors."

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Parties, who can request technical specifications for the engine fro the FIA, must register a formal expression of interest by Monday November 23.

As part of the registration, they must supply details of their financial and economic status, their technical abilities and their proposed schedule should they ultimately win the tender.

If the expressions of interest meet the FIA's requirements, they will be allowed to enter the tender process.