Tag: fia

Pirelli focused on safety after proposed tyre rule change

Official Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli says that it remains focused on safety following the FIA Strategy Groups’s announcement about proposed 2016 ‘free choice’ tyre rules.

The FIA revealed on Friday that the Strategy Group – which is made up of six F1 teams, FIA President Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone – were proposing a series of changes aimed at spicing up the F1 show. The changes include the return of refuelling in 2017, higher noise levels and aerodynamic rule changes, amongst others.

Also included is a proposed change that will allow F1 teams free choice to select any two of the four dry weather compound Pirelli tyres – the Hard, Medium, Soft and Super Soft – ahead of each race on the F1 calendar.

Under the current regulations, Pirelli is responsible for selecting two tyre compounds per race, based on relevant data and analysis by the tyre supplier.

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery was very critical of the proposal saying that it came as a surprise and was concerned about teams being reckless in their decision-making.

“If you start opening up choices this is what will happen: firstly, the top teams will centralise around the same choices because they use the same ideas and data we would be using,” Hembery said following the announcement.

“Then there would be some people that would want to risk a little more, and then there would be some people who would want to be a little reckless.

“That means they would be taking a product into a situation that would create a safety problem, and if there is a safety problem then we cannot accept that risk, so it is impossible.

“That is even before we get into the logistical problems and extreme cost it would involve to do such a thing.

“It’s more important to look at ‘why would you want to do something like that’ and ‘what are you trying to solve’ rather than suggesting a change without analysing what you are trying to achieve.”

Hembery did however state that Pirelli will remain focused on safety and developing a safe solution. “As ever, Pirelli will work with the teams and the FIA to find solutions to problems that are safe, and deliver the required results,” he said.

May 18, 2015
Refueling set to return to F1 in 2017

The Formula 1 strategy group met yesterday in Biggin Hill to discuss the state of the sport and exchange views on the current challenges F1 faces.

Not only were the teams invited to the meeting, but engine manufacturers were also invited.

The current V6 engines will remain but will be higher reving to increase the noise levels. The suggestion for a 5th engine has been rejected.

“The allowance for a 5^th engine to be used during the 2015 season has been rejected,” read the statement from the FIA.

Some of the changes discussed were:

For 2016 the teams will have a choice of two dry compounds(out of 4) per race. This means that the teams can choose any tyre compound they feel is right for a race.

In 2017 there will be new rules regarding aerodynamics, wider tyres and weight reduction to the cars which will make them 5-6 seconds a lap quicker.

Refueling will be introduced with a maximum race fuel allowance. The introduction of refueling is one that fans have been calling on for years. It will mean drivers can drive closer to the limit. If tyre rules are tweaked, it could mean more durable tyres that will make racing much more exciting.

These suggestions need to be ratified by the F1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council who will meet in July.

May 15, 2015
No Penalty for Sainz and Kvyat For Turn 1 Incident

The stewards have decided not to penalize Toro Roso driver Carlos Sainz and Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat for their incident on the final lap of the race.

The two were fighting for 9th place and on the final lap of the Spanish Grand Prix the pair made contact into Turn 1. Kvyat, on the inside line after making three moves, locked up under braking and went straight on as Sainz attempted a pass around the outside. The contact between the two forced Sainz off the track into the run off area. Sainz then continued over the sleeping policemen and rejoined the track ahead of Kvyat before Turn2.

A statement by the FIA read: “Stewards accept the statement of the driver of Car 26(Kvyat), the concurrence of the driver of Car 55(Sainz) and confirmation from the video evidence, that the first two moves were not defensive and that only the third move was defensive,” read the statement from the stewards.

“The stewards agree with the assertions of the drivers and team representatives that this was a racing incident.

“The Stewards consider that Car 55(Sainz) was in front at the time it entered the corner and accept the evidence of the driver that he slowed in re-joining the track at Turn 2 and gave room at Turn 3 for Car 26(Kvyat), in order to avoid gaining a lasting advantage. The driver of Car 26(Kvyat) also admitted that he slowed at Turn 2 and gave room for Car 55(Sainz) to re-join the track.

Photo Credit: Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1

May 10, 2015
F1 Video: Stefano Domenicali on the future of formula racing

In this video, released by Formula One’s governing body the FIA called ‘Mapping the Future of Formula Racing’, Single-Seater Commission President Stefano Domenicali talks about the future of formula racing and the path of growth for single-seater drivers to finally reach the pinnacle of formula racing, Formula One. The former Ferrari team principal reveals plans for projects that will change the future of formula racing in order to gear drivers for a path to Formula One.

April 1, 2015
Engine Allocations Set to Increase

Formula 1 teams have agreed to increase the engine allocations for the 2015 season to five engines per driver.

The teams met on Thursday to discuss the change and have agreed to increase the engine limit. The proposal will now go to the FIA to be approved.

This change comes after teams experienced problems with their 2015 engines which resulted in some drivers taking their second engines only two races into the season. The regulation change will also prevent penalties down the line when some drivers will inevitably have to use their fifth engine. The new rules will also allow more flexibility when using upgrade tokens.

Another concern was that due to the limited number of engines, the teams would run their cars less which would mean the fans would get short changed in the process.

The decision needs to be ratified by the FIA who will meet within the next few days to discuss the change. The proposed regulation could take effect as soon as the Chinese Grand Prix if the FIA approves.

March 27, 2015
FIA still investigating Alonso incident

The FIA’s Charlie Whiting has confirmed that F1’s governing body is still investigating the circumstances surrounding Fernando Alonso’s mysterious Barcelona test crash last month.

Alonso will be sitting out the Australian Grand Prix after hitting the wall on 22 Feb, amid plenty of speculation about what actually happened and about his medical condition.

McLaren initially claimed that the MP4-30 was hit by a gust of wind but speculation is rife and many believe that there is more to the accident than they are willing to divulge. Some drivers have sinced raised concerns about the safety of McLaren-Honda’s MP4-30 package but Whiting has confirmed that the FIA is investigating the Alonso accident.

“We are working with McLaren and our medical department is still looking at all the information we can find,” Whiting told the media on Thursday.

“We are still talking to McLaren about anything mechanical. Our medical department is talking to people who treated him in hospital and that is really all I can say on that.

“We can’t put a timeframe on it,” he added.

When asked about the rumours surrounding the incident – which include Alonso being shocked by the McLaren-Honda’s electronic system, or a technical failure, or whether Alonso had a pre-existing medical condition caused him to lose consciousness – Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel said that he had no concerns about any of the cars not being safe enough.

“I think nobody wants to send us on the track when they believe that something is not right,” he said during Thursday’s press conference.

“I think we have far too much of a team spirit, in all of the teams I would say, to let that happen. So when the team decides that it’s safe to run, it’s safe to run.”

Fernando Alonso Photo Credit: McLaren-Honda

March 12, 2015
FIA Backtracks on Further Pit Radio Restrictions

After announcing a clamp down on pit-to-car radio messages last year, the FIA has back tracked on their decision to further restrict these radio messages.

The clamp down last year came after drivers were receiving instructions on how to drive the car, when the driver faster/slower, which corners they were quicker in etc. This was seen as driver coaching and the FIA moved quickly to change the rules to ban these types of radio messages. They in fact went one step further to say that there will be a total ban on radio communications from 2015.

The FIA has announced today that they will not proceed with the total radio ban but will keep to the rules implemented from last year.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting has confirmed that the plans for 2015 have been scrapped.

“We are going to treat it (the radio communications rules) exactly as we did at the end of last year,” said Whiting.

“Anything that could be considered driver coaching will not be allowed.

Whiting also said that the F1 commission did not see any reason as to why they should proceed to further restrict radio messages.

March 12, 2015
FIA Clarifies Helmet Design Rule

The Formula One’s Governing Body the FIA clarified the rule that permits only one helmet design for each driver for the season.

The whole aim of the rule was to make drivers easily recognizable by the fans. The vote to implement the new regulations was voted through last month, the change has now been adopted by the FIA and appears in the 2015 Formula One Sporting Regulations.

The amended article 21.1 of the Sporting Regulations reads as follows: “In order for drivers to be easily distinguished from one another whilst they are on the track, the crash helmet of each driver must be presented in substantially the same livery at every Event during a Championship season.”

The rule makes for provision should a driver acquire a new sponsor during the season and wishes to place the sponsors logo on his helmet.

Sebastian Vettel has already said that if there is a fine for infringing the rule, he would gladly pay the fine. Vettel is known for having a different helmet for every race weekend.

The FIA have also cleared up what will happen to a driver number should the driver leave the sport. The rule states that “A driver’s career in Formula 1 will be deemed to have ended if he does not participate in an event for two entire consecutive championship seasons.”

March 2, 2015
F1 helmet design changes to be banned

Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, plans to ban any changes to F1 driver helmet designs during the course of the season this year. Drivers will be forced to stick to a single design for the entire season in a bid to make it easier for their fans to identify them on track.

Unlike the Senna days when a drivers’ helmet design was considered to be part of his appeal, todays’ F1 drivers regularly change helmet designs – some at every race.

But, according to a report by Autosport, they will now be forced to choose one design and stick to it for the entire F1 season – a decision which was made at a meeting of the F1 Commission on Tuesday. The decision does still need to be ratified by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council before the start of the season but looks set to go through.

Sebastian Vettel is well known for switching between designs – often using more than one per grand prix weekend. He however, already made it clear that he intends sticking to his new white helmet design since joining the Ferrari F1 team.

The race at Monaco has also become well known for drivers bringing one-off novelty designs including diamond encrusted helmets and tributes to former legends. A good few drivers often celebrate milestones in their careers with new helmet designs too, but it seems that none of this will be allowed any longer.

The prospect of this new rule has created loads of debate on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks with former F1 driver Alex Wurz even saying that the sport is starting to take control over drivers’ individuality.

Many fans are baffled at the thought of this move, and how it would possibly make the sport more appealing but unfortunately the decision lays entirely with the FIA.

We will report and updates as and when we receive them.

February 18, 2015
FIA Turn Around on Honda Engine Development

The FIA have reversed their decision to allow in-season engine development for McLaren’s new engine partner, Honda.

The 2015 rules for engine homologation were left open after Ferrari’s James Allison pointed out that nowhere in the 2015 rules does it state that teams have to submit their homologated engines for the 2015 season. The deadline for the teams last year was 28 February 2014. The FIA conceded that the rules were open to interpretation and allowed engine manufacturers, namely Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari, to develop their engines up to 32 development tokens.

Honda were left out the equation as the FIA felt that since all teams had to homologate their engines last year, its only fair for Honda to do the same this year despite it not stating this anywhere in the rules.

As to be expected, Honda were not pleased with the decision and met with the FIA this past week. The result of the meeting was that Honda are now allowed to develop their engine during the season but with a few caveats.

Honda will be able to develop their engine calculated by the average number of unused tokens by the other manufacturers before the first race of the season on 16 March 2015.

It is unclear how many tokens Honda will have but it is believed that they will have a considerable amount to develop their engine throughout the season.

January 17, 2015