F1 2023 - News/Regulation change/Developments

Tounge in cheek comment because some one mentioned the 2008 Singapore GP should be invalidated because a team broke the regulations, broken Financial regulation punishments are already set in stone and precedent has been set by the FIA, Every single team bar Redbull said the only punihsment should be a harsh one, the FIA gave out a very soft one, they screwed it them selfs on this matter, So hand out the 6x 10 % reduction in testing, i am sure its well worth the punihsment, Just ask Redbull.

 

Spa finished grandstand pics.

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F1 abandons LED wheel cover plan for 2024
Formula 1 has formally abandoned plans to introduce LED wheel covers for 2024 following the latest meeting between series chiefs and teams.

 

Becoming more like a circus by the day

 

F1 is supposed to be an "Open Wheel" race car series.
How can one continue to call it "open wheel" if there are wheel covers ?

 

More budget cap failure and negative impact on competition in F1. Application to all teams!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/wolff-mercedes-f1-car-revamp-under-cost-cap-a-painful-process/10464572/

Wolff: Mercedes F1 car revamp under cost cap a "painful process"
Toto Wolff has detailed why it is such a "painful process" for Mercedes to claw its way back to the front under the restrictions of Formula 1's cost cap.

The cost cap gives so many constraints," he said.

"In the past, we wouldn't even know what a front suspension costs and today we need to take the purchase price of the aluminium and then factor in how much the machining of it costs, how much do you need to write off from the aluminium that you don't need, price out every bolt that goes into the suspension, the carbon that you bought as the raw material then cut it and put it on...

"What is the energy cost of the composite room, the overhead that goes into it, and at the end comes out the product.

"This is super complex and it's gone so far that we have cost analysts, engineers, that need to decide whether buying that kilogram of aluminium is worth the performance gain on the other side.

"That process is so difficult and painful; people that should be creative only and have carte blanche, they can't do it because somebody is telling them whether it's feasible in the cost cap or not.

"And that's why it's so important that everybody adheres to the cost cap. If you're overshooting, every 10,000 matters."

Wolff admitted that Mercedes would have wanted to bring an entirely new chassis and "double the amount of upgrades" if it had been free to do so, although he remains a big supporter of the cost cap.

"We are more stuck than before because, if we were completely free, we would bring a different chassis," he said.

 

Advise to mr. Wolf: there is a huge cost reduction possible on head-sets for the Mercedes team

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/pirelli-proposes-new-tyre-construction-from-f1-british-gp/10468326/

Pirelli proposes new tyre construction from F1 British GP
Formula 1 supplier Pirelli has proposed the introduction of a new tougher tyre construction from the British Grand Prix to help cope with a rapid escalation in car performance.

Amid the backdrop of teams having started to unlock dramatic gains in downforce with the 2023 cars, Pirelli feels it makes sense to intervene and introduce stronger tyres in time for the Silverstone race in July.

The move is not being made because of safety concerns, but more as a bid to guarantee no problems further down the line. The compounds of the new tyres will be identical to what is currently being used.

Pirelli has been mindful for a few weeks about the gains teams have been making with their cars, with sources suggesting that downforce levels being produced are on a par with what was anticipated for the end of the current season.

Furthermore, the dramatic improvement in lap time at last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix has highlighted that, as teams prepare to bring even more upgrades over the next few races, cars are only going to get quicker.

Following discussions with the FIA, Pirelli has decided that as F1 prepares for some of its most challenging tracks over the summer – such as Silverstone, Spa and Zandvoort – it is logical to take action to avoid the risk of any tyre troubles.

 

Well, the wheels are still "open", only the hubs have caps. Although I think they should discuss to the possibility of putting fenders, something like in Formula E. A big part of the aero work is dedicated to deal with the turbulence caused by the anachronic open wheels.

And that was my unpopular opinion of the day.

 

Unpopular with who ? I am glad to find I am not the only one in favour of enclosed wheels in F1.
Open wheels are a vestige of the past, and truly anachronic in view of the vast amount of resources spent fighting their negative effect on aerodynamics. Also, from a safery aspect, they are an unnecessary hazard.

 

Boo hoo. I don’t believe him.

 

Stefano - you dont have a 'show' if they dont drive. Sorry but the drivers advising you on what they feel matter. Miami's intro was a joke and the sprint format is as well. Nothing is broken. Stop trying to fix it. Qualy works well and is dramatic. Now go shovel some mud like Yuki did and support Italy.

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/domenicali-tells-f1-drivers-to-stop-being-selfish-over-criticisms/10472062/

Domenicali tells F1 drivers to stop being "selfish" over criticisms
Formula 1 drivers have been told by its CEO Stefano Domenicali to stop being "selfish" in criticising the efforts of series bosses to improve the show.

Despite F1's dramatic boost in popularity under owner Liberty Media, there has been some kickback from drivers about certain aspects of grand prix weekends.

As well as some disapproval of the recent Miami pre-race entertainment show, F1's switch to a sprint race format at several weekends has not been universally popular.

Most recently, double world champion Max Verstappen suggested that if F1 continues down the path of more sprint races as part of a big expansion of the calendar, then he would have to consider his long-term future in F1.

But Domenicali, who helped lead the push to introduce sprint races, thinks it is wrong that drivers criticise aspects of F1 that have helped make grand prix racing more popular because it has helped to boost their own popularity.

 

The last thing they did that actually improved the show was the move to 3 qualifying sessions dropping drivers along the way.

Certainly Sprint races have not altered race winners, or even shuffled up the finish positions.

We got a better improvement under COVID when we got to see tracks that had not been used for a long time.

But if they really want to improve the show
a) resurface the track 3 weeks before the race,
b) light downpours during the race.
Remember Turkey 2020........best race of the last 10 years.

 

So standard gearbox in the future - slow crawl to spec car lol - https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-urged-to-rethink-horrendous-gearbox-costs/10473637/

F1 urged to rethink ‘horrendous’ gearbox costs
Formula 1 teams and the FIA are looking at substantially reducing expenditure on gearboxes when the new regulations come into force in 2026.

While the power unit rules have already been fixed, everything related to the chassis is still under discussion, and inevitably part of the focus is on cost reduction.

Gearboxes are an obvious target as they are not regarded as a performance differentiator, and efforts have been made in the past to address the issue of cutting expenditure, including a failed attempt to introduce a common gearbox before the current rules came into force.

The team with arguably the keenest interest in the future regulations is Aston Martin, which has used customer units from McLaren and latterly Mercedes for many years, and now has to establish its own transmission department.

The Silverstone outfit is keen to ensure that it is ahead of the game if there is any move to standard parts or an overall simplification of the technology required.

“If you look at the gearbox these days, and you compare it with other motorsport categories, the gearbox is not a performance differentiator anymore,” said Aston team principal Mike Krack.

“Everybody has more or less the same performance from the gearbox. But the cost for gearboxes is horrendous, especially if you compare it to other categories.

"So in a cost cap world, it's a question that you have to ask – if it makes sense that you go with such complicated technology if there is no difference in performance?

“Every team is just writing off $8-9 million a year for gearboxes where there is no performance difference at all.”

 

You kind of wonder why the gearbox cost is so high anyways...9 million a year? But they only get 4 (so 8). They don't change ratios or final drive even. It's the same bunch of cogs in their own unique casing. The casing isn't even all that complicated.

 

A move to standard makes sense for this unit. The cost is all the carbon/weight savings etc/ control units?? Limited production does not help, low volume?

 

but the casing itself isn't really that expensive or complicated to make. The whole rear suspension is dependent on it as well so once they have something they don't really change it, even for several seasons. And the internals stay the same...

If they want standardized internals, fine. But I don't see a huge cost saving to be honest. Standardized complete box = standardized entire rear end

 

Mercedes and Ferrari set for crucial 2024 no-blanket Pirelli F1 tyre test
The Mercedes and Ferrari Formula 1 teams will take part in a crucial Pirelli tests without the use of tyre blankets at Barcelona next week.

 

Pirelli set for F1 tyre tender challenge as Bridgestone talk ramps up
Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli looks set to face competition for the official FIA tender contract from 2025 amid suggestions that Bridgestone has made a bid.

 

2 Day Tire test for Mercedes and Ferrari

https://www.f1technical.net/news/24028?sid=eeeb38401951184777b2ea034b77cd1b

While the test was about a tire that doesn't require tire blankets, it mentions that a new spec of tire is set to come out for Silverstone. Will this be the same deal as 2018 when Pirelli came out with a new tire that helped Mercedes?

 

No conspiracy. The tires are sustaining loads Pirelli only forecast to endure by the end of the season. SO rather than blowing tires ruining races, they are sending out new construct to deal with the loads generated. It might help other teams possibly LOL

 

Call it a conspiracy if you'd like. In 2018 I don't recall other teams having issues, only Mercedes. Pirelli changed the tires, no more issues for them. Call it what you will, that's what I remember. Correct me if I am mistaken.

Who knows what will come from this tire change. I don't see anyone blowing tires due to loads, so I don't know why they're making the change. Hopefully it will help Ferrari since they can't figure out how to fix the car.

 

Pirelli examine tires from many teams. They feel change is warranted. Why would I doubt them or call the Kremlin to produce a conspiracy. I posted what Pirelli have publicly released weeks ago lol.

 

After 2013 Pirelli is deservedly always suspected of being in a conspiracy. Although they had ****ed it up so many times that it's also believable that they're doing it just for safety reasons.

 

Proactive given driver/team/ fan safety. Smart id say.