F1 "Slow down" rules.

[yetidave]

The FIA has today provided the Formula One teams with details of a package of measures to reduce the performance of Formula One cars. These measures are likely to be imposed if satisfactory proposals have not been agreed by at least eight teams and presented to the FIA before 6 September 2004.

1. Aerodynamics (2005)
Diffuser height limited, front wing raised, rear wing element moved forward and changes to the bodywork immediately in front of the rear wheels. Together, these changes are estimated to reduce downforce on a current car by at least 25%, but reduce drag by less than 4%.

Explanation: lower downforce will reduce speeds, particularly in fast corners, and slightly increase braking distances, while the small reduction in drag will have a minimal effect on straight-line speeds.

2. Tyres (2005)
A driver may choose from two types of tyre, as in 2004. He will then have two sets of his chosen tyre, one for Friday and Saturday practice, the other for qualifying and the race. A damaged tyre can be replaced during the race (taken from the first set), but the car cannot be refuelled at the same time as the damaged tyre is changed.



Explanation: a tyre which must last 350 km rather than 80 km will have less grip, reducing cornering speeds, increasing braking distances and possibly producing less tyre debris or “marbles”.

3. Engine (2005)
One engine to last for two race weekends.

Explanation: both peak and average power will be less than for an engine with a shorter life.

4. Engine (2006)
2.4 litre V8 (90º) with maximum bore diameter, fixed cylinder spacing, minimum crankshaft centre line height, minimum weight and minimum height of centre of gravity. Direct fuel injection, variable geometry inlet systems, variable geometry exhaust systems, variable valve timing and variable valve lift systems all prohibited. Only one spark plug, one coil and one injector per cylinder. Exotic materials banned.

Explanation: a 20% reduction in capacity will produce a corresponding drop in power. Constraints on design and the use of materials will significantly slow the rate of power increase and reduce the scope for using engine design to improve chassis characteristics. Keeping existing cylinder sizes retains many current engine components while keeping engine revs close to current levels.

5. Other engines
During 2006 and 2007, teams which cannot obtain a 2.4 litre engine will be able to use a 3 litre V10 with power restricted by means of a rev limit fixed by the FIA.

Explanation: this will ensure that all teams (including new entrants) have access to a competitive engine, even if supplies of the new 2.4 are initially restricted.

Press Release
FIA



I hate this crap. Leave it alone, they are not too fast.
If these hold up, I guess BMW will be leaving F1.
I know there are some F1 guys here, what do you guys think?

[white87911]

I think it is complete garbage. They should eliminate traction control and have the car manually shifted. Leave everything else alone.

[yetidave]

Originally posted by white87911
I think it is complete garbage. They should eliminate traction control and have the car manually shifted. Leave everything else alone.

Dont forget slicks. Ya gotta bring back slicks, manuall gearbox then leave everything else alone.

[jyl]

What is the reason for thinking current F1 cars are too fast? The accident rate doesn't seem any higher this year than in recent years. I haven't heard an increase in driver complaints about car speed either.

I suspect this is actually the FIA's attempt to negate some of Ferrari's lead. The restriction on changing tires penalizes teams who tend to run a strategy of more pit stops, which Ferrari does. The new engine requirements might aim at some aspects of Ferrari's motor (I don't know enough about it to say) but in any event will tend to put everyone back to square one, designing a new engine.

The current F1 seems rather artificial, with the rules essentially forcing all the teams to run similar cars with the focus on endless refinement of the details. I think F1 would be more interesting if there was more variety in the cars. For one thing, there might be more passing if the cars all had very different strengths and weaknesses.

[yetidave]

Yeah, F1 has been a bit of a mess for the last 4-5 years. I'm still a junkie who watches every minute of tv coverage and goes to Indy every year for the USGP.
I agree that alot of the recent changes have clearly been aimed at slowing the Ferraris, and I hate it. I also agree that the teams should be given more freedom to experiment, but that wont happen as long as Mosley is in charge and screaming about the $$ being spent. Mosley had announced that he would be stepping down after this year and I was looking foward to some fresh ideas, but I read this morning that he will stay on after this year. So who knows where this will all lead. I hope they dont regulate F1 into a NASCRAP type series, but I fear thats where its headed.

[Zeke]

If you want to see the series choke to death, leave it alone. It will go the way of CamAm.

There is no reason to use slicks. Grooved tires limit traction while allowing a large enough tire to be the suspension (there are no springs or t-bars in a current F1).

I used to be against V8's, but there's no reason for that either.

Manual shifting would solve a lot of problems. And traction control doesn't work with the clutch in. If they are going to shift without the clutch, they will lift at each shift or the tranny won't make a race. Better yet, make the trannys last 2 race weekends like the motors.

I have gone on record before about the aerodynamics. Cut them down to the knees! Now, you've got a race car.

[motion]

First: This is all just proposed crap to get the team principals off their asses and come to the bargaining table. We've seen this before - sometimes several times a year. These proposals will likely change several times and be delayed before anything is implemented.

Next: Mosley and Bernie are doing a great job. F1 is extremely popular worldwide. I believe they deserve due credit.

Next: I hate this garbage, too. This isn't NASCRAP after all. F1 is all about technology. I wish the rules were even more wide open. I would love to see slicks come back and a reduction in engine displacement/increase in cylinders which would increase the technology even more. My mouth would be agape as I watch The Divine M decimate the field in a car that the pinnacle of all teams has put together. My favorite quote from an F1 news site: "Fear spreads throughout F1 paddock as Ferrari unveils new challenger".

F1 according to my lame-a$$ view.

But wait, there's more: JPM should be shiet-canned. NOW. Somebody needs to get JV in the game. Yes, he's a whiner, just like JPM, but at least he's honest. What about Mika? It's gonna get good! Lastly, Rubino is the perfect teammate for M, but let's face it, he's a dork. I say, sign Rossi up. MotoGP pulls better race day crowds than F1. The chemistry would be amazing.

[}{arlequin]

On one hand, I'd like to see unlimited power, technology, and develpment, while keeping all electronics (except for engine management) out of the cars. No driver aids, 3 pedals, and manual shifting would be fine. Let's SEE some of that "driver skill" at work.

On the other hand, Formula 1, just like any other formula car racing, means just that-- using cars built up to a specific "formula." The original idea being that somewhat equal cars will be created, leaving the racing and other exciting acts, in the hands of the drivers. This new set of rules would seem to do just that, leaving the drivers to do the tough part, actual racing, not the engineers, bankers, and sponsors.

Other than stunting automotive development, I don't see a big problem. In fact, it may lead to even more creative solutions since the engineering will have to be applied w/in even stricter parameters.

Would it not be exciting if everyone drove a Ferrari (or whatever the fast flavor of the season is)? Paint them all different colors and I bet the racing would be some of the tightest ever. Shouldn't this be about *racing* as opposed to about the depth of one's bank account?

[serge944]

Originally posted by }{arlequin


Would it not be exciting if everyone drove a Ferrari (or whatever the fast flavor of the season is)? Paint them all different colors and I bet the racing would be some of the tightest ever. Shouldn't this be about *racing* as opposed to about the depth of one's bank account?

I doubt that'll fly for Ferrari.

[MFAFF]

The real issue is money......

if the sponsors are to be attracted they have to have large bill boards, hence the large rear wings....

These generate more money than down force so until now they have been preserved.

Reduce then dramatically, as they could do technically and the straight line sppeds would be unaffected or increase.

Bring back slicks to try to get the cornering ability back into the mecanincal grip world not aero.

At least with that there is a chance of over taking happening regularly, not just on the odd occassion.

After that why not have an engine restriction and electronic ban, they are driver aids and are not 'supposed' to be needed in such a contest, becasue it is about the driver after all.

But know the politics of it all some compromise will be reached which benefits the constructors and their sponsors yet leaves the fans unhappy...

[JNadal]

F1 should be completely unlimited. I find it stupid that the FIA keeps imposing new regs. As someone stated earlier, it will turn into NASCRAP if the regulations continue. Yes, driving a 1500 hp car that weighs 700lbs would be dangerous, but thats why there is only a handful of people in the world who can drive these cars.

[jyl]

I don't think F1 can be completely unlimited.

I read a very good book on F1 technology, by a former Lotus F1 designer, and it convinced me that a completely unlimited F1 would, by now, have resulted in:
- >2,000HP <750LB four-wheel-drive cars;
- dynamic software-controlled wings and ground effects, including vertical steering surfaces, all adjusting every 1/100 second via to-the-millimeter track maps, internal accelerometers and differential GPS
- dynamic software -controlled suspension, also adjusting via track maps, accelerometers and GPS;
- software-controlled drivetrain and braking;
- electronic traction/antilock/stability control.

The driver wouldn't have to hit precise braking points, as software would choose the exact point to start braking and independently modulate at each wheel. Similarly the driver wouldn't need to pick the exact time to apply throttle, as software would do that as well.

The driver's main job would be to survive, as the car would be pulling 5-7 peak lateral g's, rapidly slamming the driver right and left, backward and forward, like a punching bag. He would be in a fighter pilot-style g-suit with his head and limbs strapped to supports, struggling to stay conscious enough to steer the car (assuming humans were still allowed to handle the steering).

The cars would be outrageously fast - a 1:15 lap today would be something like a 0:30. It would look like a 1/24 scale slot car race, or maybe like a HO scale slot car race with traction magnets. But when something unexpected did happen, it would occur faster than human reaction time. Cars would collide, disintegrate, and spray shrapnel and body parts into the crowd, in the blink of an eye.

Kinda cool, in a Rollerball sort of way, but not auto racing as we know it. It would be sort of Battle of The Software Programmers, with a human along to raise the stakes.

[yetidave]

What's the name of the book? I'd love to read it.

[JNadal]

Originally posted by jyl
I don't think F1 can be completely unlimited.

I read a very good book on F1 technology, by a former Lotus F1 designer, and it convinced me that a completely unlimited F1 would, by now, have resulted in:
- >2,000HP <750LB four-wheel-drive cars;
- dynamic software-controlled wings and ground effects, including vertical steering surfaces, all adjusting every 1/100 second via to-the-millimeter track maps, internal accelerometers and differential GPS
- dynamic software -controlled suspension, also adjusting via track maps, accelerometers and GPS;
- software-controlled drivetrain and braking;
- electronic traction/antilock/stability control.

The driver wouldn't have to hit precise braking points, as software would choose the exact point to start braking and independently modulate at each wheel. Similarly the driver wouldn't need to pick the exact time to apply throttle, as software would do that as well.

The driver's main job would be to survive, as the car would be pulling 5-7 peak lateral g's, rapidly slamming the driver right and left, backward and forward, like a punching bag. He would be in a fighter pilot-style g-suit with his head and limbs strapped to supports, struggling to stay conscious enough to steer the car (assuming humans were still allowed to handle the steering).

The cars would be outrageously fast - a 1:15 lap today would be something like a 0:30. It would look like a 1/24 scale slot car race, or maybe like a HO scale slot car race with traction magnets. But when something unexpected did happen, it would occur faster than human reaction time. Cars would collide, disintegrate, and spray shrapnel and body parts into the crowd, in the blink of an eye.

Kinda cool, in a Rollerball sort of way, but not auto racing as we know it. It would be sort of Battle of The Software Programmers, with a human along to raise the stakes.

WOW! where do I sign up for that !
I do think four wheel drive, four wheel steer, unlimited aero, and unlimited hp with no minimum weight would be good.
What about those old can am porsche's with the 100lb magnesium chassis and 1000 hp? People were able to race those without everyone crying about it and they were probably quicker than today's F1 cars.

ok maybe unlimited but with the driver controlling all input

The idea of a completely unlimited race series with cars just controlled by computer would be cool to watch even if people werent in the cars.

[JNadal]

Originally posted by }{arlequin
Shouldn't this be about *racing* as opposed to about the depth of one's bank account?

Throw enough money at any situation and something is bound to happen

[B D]

Just one comment I don't like the regulations but for driver safety they are a must. Just look at the 917 doing 250 MPH 35 years ago, if there were no restrictions in racing the accident rates would be to high.

[jyl]

Book's at http://www.sae.org/servlets/techtrack?PROD_TYP=BOOK, "Formula 1 Technology".

There's also a great-looking book about the current Ferrari F1 team too, that I mean to buy someday.

[yetidave]

Originally posted by jyl
Book's at http://www.sae.org/servlets/techtrack?PROD_TYP=BOOK, "Formula 1 Technology".

There's also a great-looking book about the current Ferrari F1 team too, that I mean to buy someday.

Thanks.

[}{arlequin]

that sounds like great reading. thanks again.