F1 2008 Regulation changes

[iamthestig]

Has anyone else seen these? (there was a link to them from another thread on here but I cannot find it again to post)

Did'nt realise before that the teams are going to have to use the same engine for 3 races, or can even use it for a 4th and they can have 15 KG taken off their weight limit for the 4th race. Also the minimum weight limit is being reduced to 550KG (down from 600KG in the race and 605KG in Qualifiying)

I always love a decent regulation change - it shakes things up a bit for the early part of the season at least!

[FourWheelDrift]

Fools In Authority said:

2008 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
REGULATIONS
21.12.2005

At the beginning of 2005 the FIA began a consultation on the regulations for the 2008 FIA Formula One World Championship. All the sport’s stakeholders were given the opportunity to participate in the process including more than 90,000 fans from 180 countries worldwide.

The FIA’s objective in drafting the 2008 regulations has been to reduce significantly the cost of competing in Formula One. The rules must discourage financial profligacy and ensure than an independent team with ordinary commercial sponsorship (ie a budget in the order of $100 million - still a vast sum of money in the real world) can compete with a car manufacturer prepared to spend in excess of US$300 million. The FIA believes current manufacturers’ budgets are unsustainable and are putting the whole of Formula One at risk.

Max Mosley, FIA President said,

"The real argument in Formula One is not about sports governance or even about how much money FOM gives the teams. It's all about costs.

“The World Championship must remain financially viable for independent teams. Against this, two (possibly three) manufacturers want to win by spending unlimited amounts of money. This approach has caused great damage to motor sport, most recently to IRL in America. We don't want it in F1.

“One manufacturer is spending a sum greater than half its total annual dividend. This is unsustainable and sooner or later the shareholders will notice."

Part of the attempt to reduce costs involves rules which allow independent suppliers to provide competitive engines at reasonable cost. The alternative approach - that car manufacturers should supply engines to independent teams - has failed. A written promise to do so was given by a manufacturer in 2003. It was not kept. Nor was a subsequent undertaking to make affordable engines available in return for concessions on traction control.

It must not be forgotten that the new engine rules (introduced by the FIA to cut power) were originally drawn up and proposed by the car manufacturers to reduce costs. Although some of these manufacturers now claim that costs have risen, it has become clear that for a properly managed engine supplier, costs have fallen substantially.

As previously explained the FIA is required to publish the 2008 Technical Regulations before December 31, 2005. These regulations are now available for download from www.fia.com. The following is a summary of the main changes:
- New technologies which give a team an advantage for one season but which are then adopted by all teams for subsequent seasons at significant expense will be banned after the end of the first season (Article 2.5).

Reason: To reduce costs. This allows a team which discovers a new technology to benefit from it, but prevents Formula One as a whole then spending money on the same technology only to leave all the teams in exactly the same (relative) positions as before.

- The rear wing is split in two.

Reason: Research indicates that this will produce a wake in which the car behind will perform much better, thus facilitating overtaking.

- Changes to the bodywork regulations to reduce downforce while maintaining drag levels so as to avoid an increase in cornering speeds over 2006 levels (Article 3).

Reason: Safety

- Changes to the bodywork regulations at the front of the car to make the car behave better in traffic (Article 3).

Reason: To facilitate overtaking.

- Limitations on possible “interesting” areas of aerodynamic research (Article 3).

Reason: To reduce costs.

- The minimum weight is reduced from 605 to 550kg (Article 4).

Reason: To eliminate the cost of purchasing 55kg of very expensive high density ballast for each car and transporting it all over the world. Cars will also be safer without this extra weight.

- Engine to be subject to a rev limit of 19,000 rpm, with a possible increase to 20,000 rpm in consultation with the competing teams (Article 5.1.3).

Reason: To reduce costs and to redirect engine research towards road-relevant technologies.

- A standard electronic control unit for engine and gearbox to be used at all times in Formula One (Article 8.2).

Reason: To reduce costs, eliminate driver aids such as traction control and allow the FIA to check engine use and testing mileage.

- Gear ratios to have a minimum thickness of 12mm (Article 9.3.3).

Reason: To reduce costs by making gearboxes more robust.

- Tyre pressures may be adjusted by the driver while the car is moving (Article 12.5).

Reason: Safety, particularly during safety car periods.

- Maximum wheel diameter increased to 640mm front and 710mm rear, with maximum widths of 365mm front and 460mm rear (Article 12.4) with slick tyres.

Reason: To increase “mechanical” grip to compensate for reduced aerodynamic downforce to facilitate overtaking.

- Only permitted materials may be used to construct the car (Article 15.1).

Reason: To reduce costs.

- At least 5.75% (m/m) of fuel must be from biological sources (Article 19.4.5).

Reason: To keep ahead of developments in fuel for road cars.

- 2009:
From 2009 each team may make only two changes of bodywork after the start of the season (Article 3.15).

Reason: To reduce costs.


It is intended to allow systems for energy storage and recovery (hybrid systems) from 2009, provided this can be done without causing budgetary difficulties for any of the competing teams.

In addition to the proposed 2008 Technical Regulations it is intended to make changes to the Formula One Sporting Regulations for 2008. These will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council on March 22, 2006 and will include:

- arrangements for a single tyre supplier in 2008;

- three - Event engines;

- four - Event transmissions;

- weight penalties for early replacement of engine or gearbox;

- testing restrictions;

- a limit of two cars per team at an Event;

- the date for the opening and closing of entries for 2008.

It is not intended to renew the Concorde Agreement provisions which prevent teams selling components or complete chassis to other competitors. It is proposed to allow an entirely free market in this area.

And full downloads - www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/2005/December/211205-02.html

[pwig]

Sounds good to me

[paolow]

i think so too - theres little there i have any argument with and i particularly like the return of the word 'slicks'! to F1!

this kind of nonsense tho - what gives?: It is intended to allow systems for energy storage and recovery (hybrid systems) from 2009, provided this can be done without causing budgetary difficulties for any of the competing teams.

dunno whats going on there. i suspect that with such an utterly vague and, lets face it, somewhat pointless ruling, theyre planning for the future. not sure how though!

the split wing will be an interesting look, but only two bodywork changes a season? what if you miscalculate and give yourself a real stinker? it might ruin your whole season. would that not mean the rich teams that have more money to bench test theories do better than other more low budget 'trial and error' mothodologies?

[SamHH]

Interesting that the front tyre widths are only increased by 10mm but the rears are increased by 80mm.

[ewenm]

All sounds quiet sensible although I'd prefer the engines only to have to survive one race weekend - it's not an endurance event.

[AlexS]

I wonder what constitutes a transmission change (rules require 4 race weekends) as the ratios will need changing from track to track.

[stumartin]

Fools In Authority said:

- Tyre pressures may be adjusted by the driver while the car is moving (Article 12.5).

Reason: Safety, particularly during safety car periods.

Hmm, sounds like a good idea. I'd quite like that on my own car. More as a gimmick of course, don't find myself behind too many safety cars in everyday driving.

[FourWheelDrift]

stumartin said:

Fools In Authority said:

- Tyre pressures may be adjusted by the driver while the car is moving (Article 12.5).

Reason: Safety, particularly during safety car periods.

Hmm, sounds like a good idea. I'd quite like that on my own car. More as a gimmick of course, don't find myself behind too many safety cars in everyday driving.

It'll be a long piece of piping to reach all 4 tyres. Will they have enough puff?

(Something else to go wrong)

[Jungles]

Decent regulation change indeed!

I don't agree with the part about aerodynamics (split rear wing, etc.), but the other stuff look alright.

[anonymous-user]

"- Engine to be subject to a rev limit of 19,000 rpm, with a possible increase to 20,000 rpm in consultation with the competing teams (Article 5.1.3).

Reason: To reduce costs and to redirect engine research towards road-relevant technologies."

Followed by:

"- A standard electronic control unit for engine and gearbox to be used at all times in Formula One (Article 8.2).

Reason: To reduce costs, eliminate driver aids such as traction control and allow the FIA to check engine use and testing mileage."

Hmm, I'd have thought that electronics were one of the most road-relevant technologies on an F1 car.

The split rear wings, when mooted earlier in the year, looked "interesting" IMHO.

Speaking of interesting: "Limitations on possible “interesting” areas of aerodynamic research (Article 3)." seems rather unfortunate - the poor aerodynamicists will only be allowed to research boring areas of the field from now on.

[stumartin]

FourWheelDrift said:

stumartin said:

Fools In Authority said:

- Tyre pressures may be adjusted by the driver while the car is moving (Article 12.5).

Reason: Safety, particularly during safety car periods.

Hmm, sounds like a good idea. I'd quite like that on my own car. More as a gimmick of course, don't find myself behind too many safety cars in everyday driving.

It'll be a long piece of piping to reach all 4 tyres. Will they have enough puff?

(Something else to go wrong)

An area where I should think Button will at last have an advantage...