Sweeping Changes for F1

The following measures to reduce costs in Formula One have been agreed by the World Motor Sport Council.

These proposed changes have the unanimous agreement of the Formula One teams, who have played a major role in their development.

Key amongst the changes is the banning of in-season testing in 2009 with low-cost engines supply, the banning of tyre warmers and refuelling from 2010.

2009

Engine
# Engine life to be doubled. Each driver will use a maximum of eight engines for the season plus four for testing (thus 20 per team).

# Limit of 18,000 rpm.

# No internal re-tuning. Adjustment to trumpets and injectors only.

# The three-race rule voted on 5 November remains in force.

# Cost of engines to independent teams will be approximately 50% of 2008 prices.

# Unanimous agreement was reached on a list of proposed changes to the Renault engine for 2009; all other engines will remain unchanged. Comparative testing will not be necessary.

Testing
# No in-season testing except during race weekend during scheduled practice.

Aerodynamic research
# No wind tunnel exceeding 60% scale and 50 metres/sec to be used after 1 January 2009.

# A formula to balance wind tunnel-based research against CFD research, if agreed between the teams, will be proposed to the FIA.


Factory activity
# Factory closures for six weeks per year, to accord with local laws.

Race weekend
# Manpower to be reduced by means of a number of measures, including sharing information on tyres and fuel to eliminate the need for “spotters”.

Sporting spectacle
# Market research is being conducted to gauge the public reaction to a number of new ideas, including possible changes to qualifying and a proposal for the substitution of medals for points for the drivers. Proposals will be submitted to the FIA when the results of the market research are known.

Note: It is estimated that these changes for 2009 will save the manufacturer teams approximately 30% of their budgets compared to 2008, while the savings for independent teams will be even greater.

2010

Power train
# Engines will be available to the independent teams for less than €5 million per team per season. These will either come from an independent supplier or be supplied by the manufacturer teams backed by guarantees of continuity. If an independent supplier, the deal will be signed no later than 20 December 2008.




# This same engine will continue to be used in 2011 and 2012 (thus no new engine for 2011).

# Subject to confirmation of practicability, the same transmission will be used by all teams.

Chassis
# A list of all elements of the chassis will be prepared and a decision taken in respect of each element as to whether or not it will remain a performance differentiator (competitive element).

# Some elements which remain performance differentiators will be homologated for the season.

# Some elements will remain performance differentiators, but use inexpensive materials.

# Elements which are not performance differentiators will be prescriptive and be obtained or manufactured in the most economical possible way.

Race weekend
# Standardised radio and telemetry systems.

# Ban on tyre warmers.

# Ban on mechanical purging of tyres.

# Ban on refuelling.

# Possible reduction in race distance or duration (proposal to follow market research).

Factory activity
# Further restrictions on aerodynamic research.

# Ban on tyre force rigs (other than vertical force rigs).

# Full analysis of factory facilities with a view to proposing further restrictions on facilities.

Longer term

The FIA and FOTA will study the possibility of an entirely new power train for 2013 based on energy efficiency (obtaining more work from less energy consumed). Rules to be framed so as to ensure that research and development of such a power train would make a real contribution to energy-efficient road transport.

An enhanced Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) system is likely to be a very significant element of an energy-efficient power train in the future. In the short term, KERS is part of the 2009 regulations, but is not compulsory. For 2010 FOTA is considering proposals for a standard KERS system. The FIA awaits proposals.

A number of further amendments were adopted for the 2009 and 2010 Sporting and Technical Regulations.

 

Ok so possibly stupid question here, when exactly is refuelling banned for? The race?

 

a little senseless would be the understatement of the millenium.

 

So they have pushed the death of F1 til 2010... I guess this year I will have to find something to watch. I can't believe that want to shorten the length of the race, and not have refuelling.

Jim

 

Reminds me of the Renault Anchor series in the 1980's F1 is screwed. No refueling. A real joke, looks like I'm back to reruns of Green Acres !
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Proposed changes, not in stone yet!

Tyre warmer ban and slicks!!

 

Glad they've got rid of refuelling. I didn't like it when it was introduced. No tyre-warmers is a good idea and I like slicks. The engine rules will make no difference to me. If it saves money then it sounds ok. The only thing I disagree with is this stupid medals idea.

Sounds like F1 is going to get better!

 

This, the pinnacle of motorsport? LOL OH my!!! This is turning into a spec series with either you driving a Mini or Prius. I am sooooooooooooo happy I was around in the paddock for V10 F1 motorsport. Heck even last year and the year before were great. F1 doesnt use enough fossil fuels to demand a ban. I just refueled myself this morning. I tend to be able to drive further when refueling is an option.

This year might be ok, but after, well who honestly cares. There are a myriad of things to do rather than watch Hybrid Challenge F1. Pathetic!!!! This is about the least creative schedule I could imagine. Its not anything but band aids much less enhancing the sport. Id rather watch Karting than this as proposed. HELLO MOTOGP!

 

What does "The mechanical purging of tyres" mean?

Reading that list, I'm seeing a return of fiberglass and aluminum. The 6-week factory closing is interesting. I would think they'd still have to compensate these employees, so the savings will be minimal.

 

F1 has always been a "Spec" series hence the "Formula" in Formula One.
The world changed. F1 has to stay in touch or be left behind.
The last two seasons were great as a spectator. And I really dont care whether their top speed is 215 Mph or 195. Whether max rpms are 18,000 or 19k. V-6s, 8s, 10s, 12s, or 22s. Does it matter if the engine lasts one race or the season ?
As long as the competition is tight and fair for all.

 

This is stupid, F1 is "suppose" to be the most technical enhanced sport in the world, now it seems we're going back to the stone ages. I know this is all in the process of "saving Money" but really, no refueling, no tyre warmers FFS Bernie you "should of gone to spec savers" midgit sort it out dude. WOW F1 is going to be So boring in 2010. F1 is or was a 9 billion Dollar industry thats alot by anyones standards. F1 should be about technology and developing more technology for the future, after all we wouldn't have half the stuff in our cars now if it wasn't for F1. I can see why they took Traction control away, but why launch control? I can also see why they change a few aero things for this year, despite it making the cars now ugly when they used to be things of beauty. But really not this. It just seems like the FIA haven't left Formula 1 alone for one season since the 90's or early 00's.

 

Possible reduction in race distances or duration ??? Hell they barely last an hour and a half now. What do they want sprint races ala GP2?? Or about the fan that spends a couple grand to go see a race and gets to watch a 30 lap hour long race ??

And banning tire warmers?? Oh there's a huge cost savings there.. Drivers ought to love that one.

Glad one poster in the thread thinks F1 will be getting better... most of the rest of us will be saying adios to F1

 

Interesting set of proposals and nice to see near unanimous support from the teams. Whilst many on here sound unhappy about what is happening, let's not lose sight of the fact that F1 is all about money - and that means both the inflow and outflow of money. These proposals will have been considered not only against their ability to save cost, but in their ability to provide a sporting spectacle that punters, and sponsors will want to watch or spend money on. This will not be the death of F1 - it will be an evolution to new era. That is called progress and that is what F1 is all about. Let's give this change initiative a chance - we should judge this by what happens on the track. If the racing is good, we won't care one bit about the rest.

 

you people are morons. Does having tire warmers make for better racing? Or having 18 people work on a car in a pit stop? Refuelling was banned during one of F1's greatest periods (late 80's early 90's)
Before you jump on Max/Bernie - two people I despise - these ideas were suggested by the teams!
F1 teams grew in a size that was completely insane; 800-1000 employees?
A lot of you get hung up on the 'pinnacle of motorsport' term, but what good is a sport where only a few can afford to compete, and the on-action racing sucks?
Damn - you need to lighten up - this is good for the series as a whole; which is what we all want; a healthy F1.
Flame suit on
Kevin

 

Now this is what crossed my mind, while I'am all for making the driver work for his money, this IMO is dangerous, and what does the average fan and supposed cost saving dick head Mosely gain from it.......... Sweet F All.

 

Kevin you have a point, however as I understand it nothing has been finalised as yet anyway.

Maxiz will tweak the rules to suit himself have no doubt.

 

Tire warmers is not a huge savings - but it all adds up! I'm not sure about LeMans, but F1 is the only series that still uses them.
The drivers will adapt - they always do.
The big savings is the testing ban; this will lead to more Friday action during GP weekends....
Williams said a few years ago that it costs $1,000 USD per kilometer to test..
Kevin

 

There are seemingly a lot of folk, pi$$ed of with the way F1 is heading, Personally I'm not pulling the plug on it yet, however if Max continues on his dumbing down of the sport, he won't have any F1 to balls up.

I don't blame the credit crunch for this mess, Max has been banging on about the money spent for good while, he is right about that, only this time with money being tight, it has highlighted it, and it has brought teams together to do something about it.

However by continuing to standardised the cars into the future will finish off my interest in F1.

A budget cap IMO is the answer with teams left to do the best they can with whatever they want within reason.

Driver pay cuts, there are loads of ways to cut cost, I wouldn't like the fact that someone tells me how to spend my money.

At least I have experienced the screaming sound and sight of F1 in the past.

 

That would screw Ferrari, if they were not able to test at Fiorano during the year. Not sure how the FIA would even know if they were (care is more like it). Everything else doesn't sound that bad. Does anyone know why changes are allowed to the Renault engine and no one else?

 

How is no refueling a joke? It was this very rule in the 80s that lead to the real technological breakthrough that's actually made the jump from racing to road cars. With the elimination of refueling in F1 during that time and the massive restrictions brought about for endurance racing under the new Group C (C was for Consumption, fuel consumption to be exact) teams brought about what we currently know as the ECU. It also made for some great racing. I remember quite a few times a driver would suddenly slow on the final laps and drop from first to second or third because they had to back off and save fuel. Some would even run out. The prize went not only to the fastest but also to the smartest. They guy who could run the fastest pace and extract the most out of their engine and fuel. I even remember drivers running out of fuel just just after taking the checkered flag. Sorry, but that was good stuff.

I've been wanting F1 to get rid of refueling for a LONG time. I'm glad they've finally done it. Now we'll have some of the best engineering minds actually working hard at figuring out how best increase mileage without sacrificing performance. After all the less fuel you can run with the faster your cars going to be. The guys who can do it best will have an advantage.

Innovation comes from having obstacles to overcome. The greater the obstacle the greater the innovation. Also a little something to think about, the Chinese use two symbols in writing the word for Crisis. They're danger and opportunity, so danger + opportunity = crisis. I subscribe to that way of thinking and feel that there’s a tremendous opportunity here with this crisis for F1 to come out leaner, meaner and all the stronger for it.

 

Yes a good out look Luis... but you can blame Hambone for the mess if you like...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72421 it all helps

 

BRAVO for him! It's nice to see a driver who's in it for the racing.

 

Sorry I said Luis!!,.... it's Charles..... I got confused the LH comment was for Luis..

 

No worries. I figured that's what'd happened. That or you'd gotten in to the eggnog a bit too much.

 

Nope, I blame your senile countryman that's running F1...