F1 qualifying engine maps clampdown

[hugh_]

I've just read an article on Autosport which says the FIA has said:

...with immediate effect teams will no longer be allowed to change engine maps between qualifying and the race.

And goes on to interpret that:

The new directive from the FIA means that any engine mapping setting used in qualifying has to now be used for the start of the race – with the first opportunity to change it now only possible at the first pitstop when a computer could in theory be plugged into the car.

I thought at present teams could change the engine maps with knobs on the steering wheel? Surely they could just have one setting on that which they only use for qualy? Perhaps this is an attempt by the FIA to reduce the amount that the driver now has to do in the cocktip, as apparently drivers have flagged it as now being overly complicated.

Any thoughts or this another ill-conceived and rushed in change as the amendment to the off-throttle blown diffuser rules were?

[Marf]

hugh_ said:

I thought at present teams could change the engine maps with knobs on the steering wheel?

I thought that too. Odd.

[Bug106]

Marf said:

I thought that too. Odd.

I think they can only change the air/fuel ratio from the car but I think the maps in question are more advanced than that.

[ChiChoAndy]

I wonder how this will affect Redbull?

[tristancliffe]

The SECU contains several maps that can be chosen via the switches on the steering wheel. New maps can be uploaded via an umbilical cord.

The current rules simply state that the engine map cannot be changed, in any way, for the first two laps of the race so as to reduce the chances launch control strategies etc being developed. After that the driver can adjust which map he uses - richer for power, leaner for fuel saving, and others for safety cars and so on.

The feeling is that the special qualifying maps in the SECU are being replaced with race maps overnight (which is legal).

The new rule effectively will move the 'starting map' from leaving the pitlane to the end of lap 2, and instead be from qualifying to the end of lap 2. An extension of parc ferme rules if you will.

Changing the air:fuel ratio is what changing maps do. You can't alter the air:fuel without changing the map (short of higher fuel pressure or bigger injectors etc, but they are mechanical changes).

More info in this post, correcting my lap 2 mistake.

AlexS said:

The driver can select from 5 maps, and can do so as often as they like other than the start map which must be run for 90 seconds (IIRC). This last requirement is to prevent a special soft torque map with highly non-linear throttle mapping to be used for launch and then being quickly switched out. All maps must also have the throttle plates in their closed position when the pedal is released and 100% throttle when the pedal is against its end stop, again mainly to stop funny throttle mapping for the launch.

Edited by tristancliffe on Tuesday 21st June 14:22

[PeXy]

No more magic Paddle!

[Derek Smith]

Alonso has had a couple of magic starts after an upgrade of the Ferrari software. One wonders if this has anything to do with objections from other teams.

[350Matt]

No its do with Red-bull 's special fuel burning quali maps, which they can't run in the race as it'll toast the exhaust valves, the intention is you must be able to race on the map you qualify with

[anonymous-user]

350Matt said:

No its do with Red-bull 's special fuel burning quali maps, which they can't run in the race as it'll toast the exhaust valves, the intention is you must be able to race on the map you qualify with

What are the oods that it makes little difference to red bulls qualifying performance :-)

Although, sayig that it could have something to do with their ability to suddenly turn on performance when its required, both in qually and in the race itself.

Will be interesting anyway

Can't see it making much difference, as 2 laps flat out at the start of the race is the norm anyway :-)

[davepoth]

doogz said:

Hmm, Red bulls qualifying on softs, running a few laps at the start of the race on the softs with their quali map to stick a good few car lengths between them and everyone else, pitting, changing map, and sticking on hard tyres, and seeing how close to the end they can get on them?

It's worked a few times.

[jains15]

Inertiatic said:

What are the oods that it makes little difference to red bulls qualifying performance :-)

Good I'd say

Well we'll have an hour of build up and conjencture at Valencia and maybe even Silverstone. "McLaren have closed the gap"... "Reb bull have lost their horns"... "Red bull is strong in qualifying and now that has been affected". Then we'll have RBR sandbag quali 1 & 2...

...Then Fingers on pole.

Happy to be proved wrong but somehow I doubt it.

[skinny]

i'm guessing they'll still have their aero advantage which means they can use DRS around more of the lap than anyone else and stick it on pole again, tho it might be closer as i'm guessing their car was designed largely around the blown diffuser and losing it might hurt them more than others.

[hugh_]

Regardless of which teams this and the diffuser changes hurt, it would be very interesting to see what affect on laptimes it has, perhaps at one of the tracks they've already run this season. It wont happen because of testing rules but it'd be interesting never the less.

If I recall correctly at one of the races earlier in the year DC was saying thay the engine start maps make it easier for the drivers to hold constant revs on the grid. The next couple of races are going to be great to see what these changes mean.

[N0ddie]

doogz said:

Hmm, Red bulls qualifying on softs, running a few laps at the start of the race on the softs with their quali map to stick a good few car lengths between them and everyone else, pitting, changing map, and sticking on hard tyres, and seeing how close to the end they can get on them?

The problem they have with that is that they have to start on which ever setting their fastest lap was on