F1 rule changes; We're gonna see RACING! Whohoo!
Discussion
Summary press release below:
==================
8, place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
Tél: +33 1 43.12.44.55, Téléfax: +33 1 43.12.44.66
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE L' AUTOMOBILE
PRESS RELEASE
MEASURES TO CUT COSTS IN FORMULA ONE
Despite the disappearance of two Formula One teams in the past twelve months,
nothing has been done to save money. Last October, the Formula One teams
rejected all the FIA’s cost-saving proposals. The teams themselves have had
several meetings, but produced nothing.
The FIA therefore invited the teams to a meeting at Heathrow Airport today and
informed them that in order to reduce costs and improve the racing it will
rigorously apply existing rules from the start of the coming season, in order to
• eliminate pit to car telemetry;
• eliminate car to pit telemetry;
• eliminate all radio communication between team and driver;
• allow only two cars per team (ie no spare car);
• place cars in parc fermé between final qualifying and the race (teams will
be unable to work on them, except under strict supervision);
• eliminate traction control, launch control and fully automatic gearboxes
(possible derogation for all or part of 2003 to be followed by absolute
enforcement in 2004, if necessary by means of standard electronic control
units);
and that the FIA will also
• allow teams to use common components;
and that it intends to introduce sporting rules for 2004 which will
• require the use of a standard braking system;
• require the use of a standard rear wing;
• require the use of long-life components;
• ensure that car manufacturers involved in Formula One supply engines to
all competing teams;
8, place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
Tél: +33 1 43.12.44.55, Téléfax: +33 1 43.12.44.66
and that for 2005 it intends to bring in further sporting rules to require
• engine life to be extended from one to two races;
• a further extension to the life of major components;
• new penalties for engine or component changes outside permitted times;
and that for 2006 it intends to bring in a further sporting rule to require
• engine life to be extended to six races;
and that it will seek the agreement of the teams to introduce a new technical
regulation to
• eliminate the use of expensive exotic materials in any part of the car,
including the engine.
The FIA note detailing and explaining the above was handed to the teams today.
The full text of the note can be found on the official FIA website at www.fia.com.
Paris, January 15th, 2003
==================
8, place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
Tél: +33 1 43.12.44.55, Téléfax: +33 1 43.12.44.66
FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE L' AUTOMOBILE
PRESS RELEASE
MEASURES TO CUT COSTS IN FORMULA ONE
Despite the disappearance of two Formula One teams in the past twelve months,
nothing has been done to save money. Last October, the Formula One teams
rejected all the FIA’s cost-saving proposals. The teams themselves have had
several meetings, but produced nothing.
The FIA therefore invited the teams to a meeting at Heathrow Airport today and
informed them that in order to reduce costs and improve the racing it will
rigorously apply existing rules from the start of the coming season, in order to
• eliminate pit to car telemetry;
• eliminate car to pit telemetry;
• eliminate all radio communication between team and driver;
• allow only two cars per team (ie no spare car);
• place cars in parc fermé between final qualifying and the race (teams will
be unable to work on them, except under strict supervision);
• eliminate traction control, launch control and fully automatic gearboxes
(possible derogation for all or part of 2003 to be followed by absolute
enforcement in 2004, if necessary by means of standard electronic control
units);
and that the FIA will also
• allow teams to use common components;
and that it intends to introduce sporting rules for 2004 which will
• require the use of a standard braking system;
• require the use of a standard rear wing;
• require the use of long-life components;
• ensure that car manufacturers involved in Formula One supply engines to
all competing teams;
8, place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
Tél: +33 1 43.12.44.55, Téléfax: +33 1 43.12.44.66
and that for 2005 it intends to bring in further sporting rules to require
• engine life to be extended from one to two races;
• a further extension to the life of major components;
• new penalties for engine or component changes outside permitted times;
and that for 2006 it intends to bring in a further sporting rule to require
• engine life to be extended to six races;
and that it will seek the agreement of the teams to introduce a new technical
regulation to
• eliminate the use of expensive exotic materials in any part of the car,
including the engine.
The FIA note detailing and explaining the above was handed to the teams today.
The full text of the note can be found on the official FIA website at www.fia.com.
Paris, January 15th, 2003
Good on'em. Sorry whoozit, thought that you were on a bit of a windup when I first saw this, but just checked the ITV site.
I know that there is nowhere else really to go, but are the electronics really that expensive. When we put engineering systems together, we tend to load as much as possible (within safety regulations) into software as it is a doddle to change.
Long life components and standard rear wings though - that will be fantastic. It will still allow teams to differentiate themselves, and spend a lot of money on the test beds getting the component to fail at just the right time. However, as the life increases, so does the spread of failure point, so maybe they will get to a point where further gains are not worth the effort.
F1 should be technology led, otherwise it will just become another one make series. But I think that what will happen (when the teams have watered down the proposals) will make it better for everyone involved.
I know that there is nowhere else really to go, but are the electronics really that expensive. When we put engineering systems together, we tend to load as much as possible (within safety regulations) into software as it is a doddle to change.
Long life components and standard rear wings though - that will be fantastic. It will still allow teams to differentiate themselves, and spend a lot of money on the test beds getting the component to fail at just the right time. However, as the life increases, so does the spread of failure point, so maybe they will get to a point where further gains are not worth the effort.
F1 should be technology led, otherwise it will just become another one make series. But I think that what will happen (when the teams have watered down the proposals) will make it better for everyone involved.
'kinell - this sounds good! 
Sorry, I didn't even think people might view it as a windup, I was so happy to see that Bernie and Mozzers have finally put their foot down as I've been bored witless for two years. Note the wording in the first couple of paragraphs: this is NOT subject to a team vote. It applies from NOW, no arguments.
Blimey this might even temp me to go to a race for the first time in 
years, assuming the prices come down as well 
.
Surely the list for this year is quiet extensive andf the teams will be pushing for a one year delay at least, even if Mclaren haven't finished their car yet, most teams will be well on the way to though.
On the other hand it could be the straw that finally makes the top teams go it alone, i.e. break away from the FIA. Their responses over the next couple of days will be the telling thing.
Harry
years, assuming the prices come down as well . Surely the list for this year is quiet extensive andf the teams will be pushing for a one year delay at least, even if Mclaren haven't finished their car yet, most teams will be well on the way to though.
On the other hand it could be the straw that finally makes the top teams go it alone, i.e. break away from the FIA
. Their responses over the next couple of days will be the telling thing. Harry
Wow! Brilliant news about the driver aids. Be interesting to see how quickly they can get rid of them in reality. Sooner the better...
Not so sure about the manufacturers engines being available for all - I suppose they can still choose which team(s) they work closely with though so hopefully it won't discourage Merc or BMW.
Not so sure about the manufacturers engines being available for all - I suppose they can still choose which team(s) they work closely with though so hopefully it won't discourage Merc or BMW.
This has been brewing over Christmas, but the scale is even more serious than anyone could have expected.
The teams were given the opportunity to do something, and failed. It was reported at the time that Ron Dennis vetoed elimination of pit-car telemetry on the basis that "it allowed David to win the Monaco GP" - he couldn't understand that the cost to achieve this was wildly out of balance with the value gained.
Max Mosley warned them (and made it clear that with the "no driver aids" rule still on the statutes, the mechanic for unilateral action was available to him), and it appears that they were still unable to agree ANY action.
On a larger scale, you must appreciate that:
- It is practically impossible for a new team to be formed, except by the manufacturers. That means VAG, BMW, Mitsubishi and GM. Two have rejected it totally, one has never considered it, and one is making a decision at the moment (and the proposal is to stay with Williams)
- Just three organisations (Lola, Prodrive, Dallara) currently exist with the core infrastructure to move to F1. They would still need manufacturer support and commitments of a minimum of $200m before even instigating initial feasibility.
- There are no budding fruit on the tree of lower formulae. Eddie Jordan (IIRC) has said that David Sears should be in F1 now, but how can he?
- The proposed manufacturers breakaway has dragged on and on, and talks to buy a share of SLEC (which would tie them to F1) have broken down again. By making these changes, Max and Bernie are challenging the manufacturers to fit in or F-off, and forcing the manufacturers to work to an FIA agenda . If they had waited another year, the timing would have fitted the manufacturers' proposed timing perfectly.
It's a world-class poker gamble that would impress Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, but in truth, they have little to lose:
- The manufacturers may toe the line
- If the manufacturers don't toe the line, the door has been opened for new teams to fill the breach
- Losing the manufacturers may not be a cataclysmic event. Can they establish a serious alternative? Who would the fans (and therefore the money) follow? Where would the top drivers go? Plus, the FIA and SLEC still hold trump cards in circuit and series licensing, and an existing, proven set of TV contracts.
However, don't be fooled that these changes will genuinely improve the spectacle as they stand. I note no aero changes (e.g. taking a hacksaw to the diffuser). F1 has broken the golden rule of ALL forms of motorsport - more power than grip. These rules do not change this imbalance. I can understand a certain trepidation (when the TWG discussed this, they were rightly concerned that any aero changes must be proven to improve the racing, and not impact on safety), but hope that this idea has not dropped off the agenda.
Finally, the full impact of these changes has yet to be seen. The FIA still regard it as imperative that F1 remains the fastest form of racing under their control.
Starting with F3000 and sportscars (but eventually percolating all the way through F3, FRenault, GT's, even Touring Cars), similar cost and speed reduction packages will start appearing.
That is what I think, anyway.
The teams were given the opportunity to do something, and failed. It was reported at the time that Ron Dennis vetoed elimination of pit-car telemetry on the basis that "it allowed David to win the Monaco GP" - he couldn't understand that the cost to achieve this was wildly out of balance with the value gained.
Max Mosley warned them (and made it clear that with the "no driver aids" rule still on the statutes, the mechanic for unilateral action was available to him), and it appears that they were still unable to agree ANY action.
On a larger scale, you must appreciate that:
- It is practically impossible for a new team to be formed, except by the manufacturers. That means VAG, BMW, Mitsubishi and GM. Two have rejected it totally, one has never considered it, and one is making a decision at the moment (and the proposal is to stay with Williams)
- Just three organisations (Lola, Prodrive, Dallara) currently exist with the core infrastructure to move to F1. They would still need manufacturer support and commitments of a minimum of $200m before even instigating initial feasibility.
- There are no budding fruit on the tree of lower formulae. Eddie Jordan (IIRC) has said that David Sears should be in F1 now, but how can he?
- The proposed manufacturers breakaway has dragged on and on, and talks to buy a share of SLEC (which would tie them to F1) have broken down again. By making these changes, Max and Bernie are challenging the manufacturers to fit in or F-off, and forcing the manufacturers to work to an FIA agenda . If they had waited another year, the timing would have fitted the manufacturers' proposed timing perfectly.
It's a world-class poker gamble that would impress Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, but in truth, they have little to lose:
- The manufacturers may toe the line
- If the manufacturers don't toe the line, the door has been opened for new teams to fill the breach
- Losing the manufacturers may not be a cataclysmic event. Can they establish a serious alternative? Who would the fans (and therefore the money) follow? Where would the top drivers go? Plus, the FIA and SLEC still hold trump cards in circuit and series licensing, and an existing, proven set of TV contracts.
However, don't be fooled that these changes will genuinely improve the spectacle as they stand. I note no aero changes (e.g. taking a hacksaw to the diffuser). F1 has broken the golden rule of ALL forms of motorsport - more power than grip. These rules do not change this imbalance. I can understand a certain trepidation (when the TWG discussed this, they were rightly concerned that any aero changes must be proven to improve the racing, and not impact on safety), but hope that this idea has not dropped off the agenda.
Finally, the full impact of these changes has yet to be seen. The FIA still regard it as imperative that F1 remains the fastest form of racing under their control.
Starting with F3000 and sportscars (but eventually percolating all the way through F3, FRenault, GT's, even Touring Cars), similar cost and speed reduction packages will start appearing.
That is what I think, anyway.
Eric Mc said: My first post on Piston Heads.
With all that technology being binned, think of all the spare space at the back of the pit garages that will now be available for additional corporate hospitality.
...and with two cars instead of three the teams will release some more parking spaces for said corporate hospitality
. Harry
HarryW said:
Eric Mc said: My first post on Piston Heads.
With all that technology being binned, think of all the spare space at the back of the pit garages that will now be available for additional corporate hospitality.
...and with two cars instead of three the teams will release some more parking spaces for said corporate hospitality
Harry
They might even have room for Eddie Irvine's head!
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