FIA Unveils F1 Cost Cutting Reforms

 FIA Unveils F1 Cost Cutting Reforms
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As expected in Monaco on Friday, the FIA's World Motor Sport Council rubber-stamped a raft of cost-saving measures for formula one.

For next year, the engine rev limit will drop to 18,000 rpm, and engine life will double by the imposition of a cap of the use of 20 engines per team per season.

However, contrary to reports, the new one engine per three races rule will remain in place, despite suggestions it might be expanded to four races.

The cost of customer engines to independent teams, however, will be slashed in half, and all in-season testing, as well as the use of full-scale wind tunnels, has been banned.

Moreover, factories must close for six weeks per year. "It is expected that these changes for 2009 will save the manufacturer teams approximately 30 per cent of their budgets compared to 2008, while the savings for independent teams will be even greater," the FIA said.

In 2010, customer engines will cost independent teams less than 5m euros per season, in a measure that spells an end to Max Mosley's proposal for standard engines, as well as the F1 team alliance FOTA's earlier proposal for a new low-cost engine formula for 2011.

Meanwhile, all teams will use the same transmission in 2011 "subject to confirmation of practicability", and the development of some chassis components will be homologated for an entire season.

The FIA said FOTA is "considering proposals for a standard KERS system" for 2010.

Radio and telemetry systems will be standardised, tyre warmers banned, and - significantly - in-race refuelling not allowed.

Market research will be carried out for the possible reduction of race distances, and the same is true for Bernie Ecclestone's 'medals' proposal, as well as possible changes to the qualifying format.

"These proposed changes have the unanimous agreement of the formula one teams, who have played a major role in their development," the FIA acknowledged.

Also at the meeting, Renault was given the green light to make several improvements to its engine for 2009.

 

Source: GMM

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.

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Comments (8)

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 tootall tootall
Wow.... So if everyone are going to be using the same transmissions, then I guess that would sort of hinder the testing and reserch process of the different manufactures.
December 12, 2008 2:01 pm
 rich85tegr rich85tegr
From what i have read Xtrac and Ricardo pretty much supply the whole f1 grid anyway and won mosley's transmission tender and i believe most if not all UK based f1 teams run a transmission made by one of them. So haveing a standard transmission will make very little difference
December 12, 2008 2:58 pm
 great_supercars255 great_supercars255
man, FIA r making F1 sooo boring, slow cars, no pit stops for fuel! what next, all cars to have a satnav?
December 12, 2008 2:36 pm
 alessandro alessandro
Nooo! Just same cars and individual coloring should be banned too. Only color allowed is a culture-revolution green, to make that exremely important sports event more open, more equal.
December 12, 2008 3:22 pm
 smeagol smeagol
ladies and gentleman, after reading this i can only say, come 2010 F1 IS DEAD!!!!!!! i mean come on don't they remember how boring races were without re-fueling, and this engine "freeze", isn't this suppose to be the top level for engine R&D?? ?? truly a sad day
December 12, 2008 8:06 pm
 AmazingJerry AmazingJerry
no refueling! that is such as bad move. I'll still watch F1 but not sure how long it will keep me interested...
December 12, 2008 8:17 pm
 Hiromichi Hiromichi
Takong places such serious cost cutting discussions suggests the start of questioning whether F1 should be kept as a measure of R&D and a show business at the same time. The time may be the end of life of F1 as the top contest of internal combastion engines, as Honda's recent decision of evacuation suggests. Races for less emission, less fuel consumption, noise reduction ,cost efficiency etc. are much more significant than lap time today and on.
December 13, 2008 9:39 am
 _M7_ _M7_
Max Mosley and the other guy are a cuple of assh*les ...an F1 must me the powerful and faster on the earth...not a gay car
December 14, 2008 10:05 pm