12-Dec-08: WMSC Reveal Drastic Cost-Cutting Measures
Welcome to F1 Minute for the 12th December.
The World Motorsport Council decisions made in Monaco today have been released. They stretch far and wide, so I’ll just highlight the important stuff.
For next year, there’s a limit of 20 engines per team – 8 for each driver and four for testing. Each engine must last three races, and is limited to 18,000 rpm. Renault have also been given special permission to tweak their engine. There will be no in season testing and factories will have to close for six weeks per year. Personnel at race weekends is to be reduced. The medals idea and qualifying format may be changed subject to market research.
For 2010, the standard engine comes into effect, with standard transmission and possibly a standard chassis, depending on future approval. During weekends, there’ll be no tyre warmers or refuelling, and possibly there’ll be a reduction in race distance.
There’s more to come, apparently, with the usual standard and technical regulation changes to be released shortly.
That’s it for this week, I’ll be back on Monday with another F1 Minute.
World Motor Sport Council - Decisions
December 12, 2008 by Christine
Filed under Press Releases
The World Motor Sport Council met in Monaco on 12 December 2008. The following decisions were taken:
FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
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. The FIA is grateful to the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) and its Chairman Luca di Montezemolo for their incisive contribution.
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 refueling.
- 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. Full details will be available shortly on www.fia.com.
03-Dec-08: Alonso Ponders Retirement if Standard Engines Arrive
This is F1 Minute and it’s the 3rd December 2008.
Most drivers have been pretty quiet on the potential introduction of standard engines in 2010 but now Alonso has spoken out and he is not in favour. He said: “If they approved that, it would be the last straw. It would be time to think about retirement. In 2005 we had a V10 engine with 1,000 horsepower. That was what was exciting for the driver, motor racing at the limit. We have gone from the futuristic to cars without grip or electronic aids which look like something from the past.”
Meanwhile another driver who isn’t happy is Kovalainen who is reported as saying McLaren never favoured him in their qualifying strategy. He said only once in 2008 was he given a lighter fuel load than Lewis and on that one time, he got pole position. He admits: “The team knew exactly what was taking place. If I had been at the front more often, then I would have won more frequently. So that’s something we have to look at for the coming year.” Good luck with that, Heikki.
That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.
27-Oct-08: The FIA Push on with Standard Engine Plans
This is F1 Minute and it’s the 27th October 2008.
The FIA announced today that they’ve had a couple of interested parties in the standard engine tender, and therefore they’ll be going ahead with the plan to introduce them from 2010 to 2012. We also learned that regardless of whether a team chooses to build the engine or buy it, the entire grid’s engine power should only vary by 1%. Interestingly, Autosport.com is reporting that a source within the FOTA has said that none of their member teams will be applying for the engine tender. Someone outside the sport, then?
Elsewhere, Honda have said they will be testing like mad over the winter in an attempt to move further up the grid. Team Principal Ross Brawn said: “”We’ve kept our testing mileage and our tyres for the winter testing, which is another thing that is reflected this season. I believe we have more tyres left for winter testing than any other team, which is something we consciously did because of our approach.”
That’s all for today, I’ll be back with another F1 Minute tomorrow.
21-Oct-08: FOTA Issue Statement Following Mosley Meeting
This is F1 Minute for the 21st October 2008.
Max Mosley and the FOTA have met today in Geneva, with Luca di Montezemolo and John Howett representing the organisation. After the meeting, a joint statement was issued saying that significant cost savings had been agreed upon for the next two seasons, with 2010 and beyond still to be decided. No real details were released, but we do know that engine life will go up from two races to three from next year, manufacturers now have to supply customer engines at an agreed price, and there will probably soon be an agreement that bringing a standard KERS unit into the sport is a good idea.
There is plenty still up for discussion, including customer cars, and testing limits, but the current standard engines proposal is notably missing from the FOTA statement. Before the meeting, Mosley said he would be pushing the standard engine as he would prefer F1 to concentrate on technology that will benefit all areas of the motorsport industry.
That wraps up the news for today, please join me again tomorrow for another F1 Minute.