F-C

FiveShifts

Too bad Honda has pulled out of 2009 F1. Ruinous economy all over the world forces them out.
As for KERS and static charge, (and some of you probably already have seen this) but Sauber was testing KERS earlier than most other teams, and one of their mechs suffered quite a jolt.
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/22/b...of-kers-shock/

Chief F1 Fan

The single engine/drivetrain concept as proposed by Max supposedly has the support of 5 teams-STR, RB, FI, Renault, and Williams. I am going to HATE this if it goes through.

davo-cls

At least we now know which teams to blame for the death of F1. How can Renault still (respectfully) call themselves Renault with a Cosworth engine and standard powertrain???? I hope that there are massive engine failures in 2010 so this can be seen as poorest, best intentioned idea ever. Wake me up in 2014 when this bad dream is over.

davo-cls

http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,189...619420,00.html

Edit....Renault is now saying that they were misquoted and are not 1 of the 5 teams. I just couldn't see where a factory team would be in favor of using a standard engine.

Edward'TLS

That's much better. I can't think of any reason why a factory team would use someone else's engine rather than it's own. It's like them telling the whole world not to buy Renault cars because their engines are no good.

Chief F1 Fan

I haven't seen all the comparative figures but doesn't it seem aero costs more than engines? Supercomputers, CFD, engineers, wind tunnels, etc., has to add up to more than engines whose development are frozen now.

Billiam

Here's a thought, could the engine expenses be indirectly reined in by setting a cap on the costs? In other words, a rule that states an engine manufacturer may not charge more than X amount for their lease program? Sort of like saying "You can develop your own motors and you can spend as much as you want, but you're only allowed to recoup $x's of your expenses from the teams."

Of course, if the manufacturers only recoup a small percentage of their expenditures with the lease programs, then this wouldn't work.

West6MT

davo-cls

Even Mika Hakkinen gets it....
http://www.planet-f1.com/story/0,189...629652,00.html

Chief F1 Fan

What I wanna know is how can a Ferrari (of all cars on the grid) be called a Ferrari w/ a f$%kin' Cosworth engine in it? And secondly, aren't the two guys who started Cosworth dead?

Chief F1 Fan

Friday, December 12th 2008, 13:10 GMT

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.

AS3.0CL

i think i am pretty much done with formula one racing...this maybe the last seson i watch races and are excited about watching them.....the sport that we have known is going to the way side. to many changes to too many things is ruining this sport. i wish this was just a bad dream.