Red Bull Racing
Radical Cost Cutting Measures Agreed
By Ian Lockwood
December 12 2008
The withdrawal of Honda from Formula One appears to have provided the catalyst needed to bring about agreement to change and cut costs. Following proposals from FOTA, the World Motor Sport Council met in Monaco on 12 December 2008. The following decisions were taken:
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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StumbleuponWhat? so your fuel has to last for 70 laps?
Sadly it will almost certainly result in a vast number of job losses within F1 as most teams have separate test teams (not just engineers and mechanics, but truckies, catering, hospitality people etc) + fewer people needed at the factory to strip down and rebuild.
Test drivers will also even lees of chance to get a drive.
www.racingbulls.net
Quote:Ban on refueling.
What? so your fuel has to last for 70 laps?
Yep - just like the old days - big old fuel tanks (although hopefully a lot safer than the old days when fires following a crash were commonplace.
There is a possible proposal to shorten the race distance/time to coincide with this though.
www.racingbulls.net
Lets face it: Ferrari's pit crew/set-up (i.e.: the automated lights) may well have been the deciding factor in this year's championship!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:12:12:14:13:56 by IndyAndy.
Comparative testing will not be necessary. Why?
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad our lunch box is getting a few more sanga's but what is to stop the prancing ponies and the woking mob from playing silly @#$%& with their units again?
Also, I'm just not a fan of no re-fueling. The 'good' old days of drivers coasting to a stop just short of the line or getting out and trying to push were farcical. Plus the shortening of the race lengths which will ultimately occur, will mean that we could see pit stops disappear for some circuits where the slicks perform really well.
Oh well, they don't call it the silly season for nothing.
...on Earth, as it is in Queensland
Quote:Jock 2009
Comparative testing will not be necessary. Why?
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad our lunch box is getting a few more sanga's but what is to stop the prancing ponies and the woking mob from playing silly @#$%& with their units again?
Unanimous agreement was reached on a list of proposed changes to the Renault engine for 2009; all other engines will remain unchanged.
Quote:Jock 2009
Also, I'm just not a fan of no re-fueling. The 'good' old days of drivers coasting to a stop just short of the line or getting out and trying to push were farcical.
They simply should have put more fuel in for the race then.
Quote:Jock 2009
Plus the shortening of the race lengths which will ultimately occur, will mean that we could see pit stops disappear for some circuits where the slicks perform really well.
Not necessarily.
There is the potential to open up interesting strategies that play to individual car characteristics eg. McLaren running a 3 tyre change strategy vs Ferrari running a 1 tyre change strategy.
Looking at some of testing pics and from the anecdotal reports on the 2009 rear slicks and how quickly they go away I doubt very much there will races with no tyre changes (providing the same tyres get used in a 2010 refuel ban era)
Ban on tyre warmers for 2010 will probably negate differing stratergies because of the time penalty in warming them up.
Even worse with less downforce generated with this new spec car from next year.
Ahh-woo!
http://www.patronisef1.com - My solution to F1's 'bore' problem.
that was a pretty scary statement on many levels. Raises 4 questions for every half answer.
I think there are still many elements of the agreement that will need to be sharpened up over time.
It all seems quite sensible and practical if it can be implimented.
Chris
should one therefore assume the status quo?
