Guilt does not exist in F1. Ask Bernie.
So innovation is bad. Is that the new FIA line? I am beyond bored with Formula 1. They have taken all the interesting features out of it. I don't want a politically correct line up of cars, all toodling around the track in their sameness. I want smart engineers to build vehicles that dominate, because what they discover is what goes on the next round of street legal vehicles. Right now, my 360 sounds WAY better than F1 cars.
Agree. Its supposed to be the "pinnacle". This is why I find WEC so much more entertaining lately. Those cars are the pinnacle of technology and they're always fighting each other for position. I think it was Silverstone watching Porsche and Audi go back and forth for almost an hour. Next year, if things don't change, it'll be another Merc 1-2 for 80% of the races with a few people scoring a win here and there. It's the same when they changed the tire compound and red bull ran away with it. Nobody cared and ratings dropped.
The other aspect of the rule change is they have closed the loophole for in-season PU development. What you see in Melbourne is what it is the entire season. I fast-forwarded through most races this year, next year be the one I stop watching.
Seems to me like it's another case of trying to reel in Mercs advantage, and leveling the field somewhat, similar to what they tried to do with Newey and his way of circumventing the flexi wing test.
Just bring back testing/engine updates. Screw "tokens" and "equal" engines. Just bring back testing...
This is the part of the rule that I dislike the most. So essentially, if Mercedes still have a big power advantage in Melbourne, there's no way for any of the other engine manufacturers to close the gap. Very bad for competition and an interesting season.
I do know quite a bit about engines and I disagree with this comment. In fact, the "tuner" crowd these days looks at forced induction as the cheap way to big horsepower. Each form of energy recovery adds complexity, though...and F1 is recovering at the wheels (braking) and at the turbo (excess heat). Utilizing the recovered energy is complex, too...F1 is utilizing it at the wheels and to "pre-charge" the turbo. IOW, the ICU technology isn't that complicated or expensive to build, tune, and maintain. The ERS systems surrounding the ICU are complex and expensive...just ask Honda.
I only started turbocharging in the early '90s and was in the "tuner" crowd since '85 but what do I know.
I'm not trying to start an argument... I'm simply suggesting that at the F1 level where EVERYTHING they do is done the expensive way...the difference between a normally aspirated engine and a turbocharged engine is minimal from an expense, tuning, and maintenance perspective. There is nothing inherently difficult or exotic about that technology. Forced induction certainly is not "exponentially" more expensive than NA. IOW, the change from NA V8s to Turbo V6s was the easy part.
Yes, same engines only applies to same brand ones so only ones impacted will be teams prospecting to run year old engines. Not a big deal and pretty fair I suppose. Next step could be to make sure any manufacrurer is forced to supply at least a minimum number of customers at a max price if they want the engine.
There is nothing preventing Fiat to enter as an engine supplier by homologating a 2015 Ferrari engine...or even Alfa Romeo for that matter...
+1 It's that pesky energy recovery/deployment system that's an issue IMO. As noted many times, F1 is hard. Long may it continue to be so. The others simply need to do a better job & catch up. Cheers, Ian
So the likes of Williams/Sauber/Force India etc., get the exact same power units as the manufacturers without having to spend anything like the amount that the manufacturers had to spend to design and develop the power units, and the manufacturers have no choice but to "give away" the power units if they want to compete in F1? So what happens if Mercedes/Renault and Honda all decide they're no longer interested in F1 under those circumstances? - Ferrari are forced to supply everyone in the sport? How's that going to work?
I agree with you 100% Tom. I wish they let you do whatever you wanted to in the sport. I only made my post because they already have 1000 rules and regs in place. I, like you and millions of others would LOVE to see the teams go all out! It's a shame it's so limited these days.
They cannot!! They are prevented by silly rules banning development and testing; the core of engineering!!!
Having read the news article, four things jump out to me; 1) No team, not Red Bull or Toro Rosso or Manor can strike a deal to use 2015 engines in 2016. It would be a violation of the rules, unless all teams using that particular make of engine also use the 2015 version. 2) This ruling could effectively stop in-season development, as it would require that ALL cars, factory or customer, would have to use the upgraded unit as soon as it was available. 3) This could severely strain engine makers capability to keep up with demand, if all engines in use must be the latest-greatest version. 4) The added strain on production could cause engine makers to not agree to supply engines to some of the current teams because it would be impractical, if not impossible, to meet their needs.
According to Autosport,com, the supply of 2015 engines may possibly still be allowed (From: Door not closed on year-old F1 engines, despite new FIA regulations - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com ) : The FIA has released new regulations that stipulate manufacturers cannot offer old-spec engines to customers, but Autosport understands this stance is likely to change. Under the new rules, article 23.5 of the 2016 sporting regulations reads: "Only power units which are identical to the power unit that has been homologated by the FIA in accordance with Appendix 4 of these regulations may be used at an Event during the 2016- 2020 Championship seasons." This would appear to rule out manufacturers offering different specifications to customers. However, at meeting of the technical directors in August, all were in favour of a proposal to allow the use of older-spec engines, subject to approval by the FIA on a case-by-case basis. Article 1.2 reads: "These sporting regulations were published on 30 September 2015 and may only be changed after this date with the unanimous agreement of all competitors entered in the 2016 Championship, save for changes made by the FIA for safety reasons which may come into effect without notice or delay." Year-old engine supplies will be discussed at the next F1 Commission meeting, which is anticipated to be within the coming weeks. Should the proposal gain Commission backing, it will be put on the agenda at December's World Motor Sport Council meeting for ratification. This would allow for Toro Rosso to use 2015-spec Ferrari engines next season, with the two parties closing on a deal. Manor was allowed to use year-old Ferrari engines this season after it exploited a loophole in the regulations that required only concessionary permission to do so. Appendix 4 of the technical regulations was tightened to ensure engine parity.
This is so typical FIA. "These are the rules, unless we decide they are not which we are allowed to do if and when we feel like, or not. So you can count on it!"
Good point.. the engines may be equal but the fuel isn't. If I were a mfg like Mercedes or Ferrari I'd only sell to hack teams. Williams better know whose hand they feed from.
I hear you, and somewhat agree. However, *nothing* can change unless those on the SWG agree unanimously. Todt, Charlie and the rest of the FIA just do what the SWG tells them to (via the WMSC). Even the Pygmy (with his guaranteed majority) can't change that. Cheers, Ian
