F1 2008 Rule Changes

[Mike]

In a letter to the heads of various Formula One teams FIA President Max Mosley outlined the schedule of a meeting to take place on the 4th May 2004 which will look at rule changes commencing 2008.

Below is a list of proposed changes.

Engine:

* 2.4 litre V8;
* maximum of four valves per cylinder;
* two-race engine (fool-proof method for ensuring this rule is observed, plus
carefully calculated penalty system for unscheduled changes);
* list of components which must be made from a specific material and/or using a specified manufacturing process;
* ban on variable geometry inlet and exhaust systems;
* standard ECU (under FIA control)
* ban on ultra high pressure (direct injection) fuel systems enforced by means of FIA ECU;
* maximum modulus of elasticity (stiffness) of materials reduced from 40 Gpa to 32 Gpa (throughout car).

Transmission, braking and steering:

* manual gearbox with electronic over-rev safeguard;
* manually operated clutch;
* ban on electronically controlled differentials;
* ban on power steering systems;
* standard brake discs, pads and calipers.

Chassis:

* weight limit reduced by at least 50 kilos (to eliminate ballast and thus reduce kinetic energy in an accident);
* a combined tyre and aerodynamic package to be published no later than 31 December 2004 to achieve specific targets for cornering speeds, straight-line speeds, grip and braking performance, taking weight reduction into acount;
* tyre (wheel) width reduced at front, increased at rear to allow weight distribution consistent with no ballast and to give greater drag (total of front +rear widths to stay same).

Sporting:

* no spare car allowed during entire Event;
* cars to be held under parc fermé conditions during entire Event;
* one tyre supplier only, all sporting aspects of supply contract under control of FIA;
* drastic restriction on private testing, limited by mileage rather than number of days, enforced by means of FIA ECU;
* two (identical) sets of tyres for qualifying and race;
* Friday practice: package to ensure cars run, possibly to include a qualifying session;
* new qualifying system to be discussed with commercial rights holder (broadcasters), teams and race promoters;
* if qualifying continues to be with race fuel, consider whether amount of fuel in refuelling rig before race should be fixed annually in sporting regulations with amount of fuel in car for qualifying and race free (to encourage fuel efficiency);
* no tyre change during race (except genuine puncture), refuelling to stay;
* consider if constructorsÂ’ points should be scored by a maximum of four specified cars (two teams) per constructor (to encourage major teams to make cars and information available to teams coming into Formula One, see below);

General:

* no restriction on the sale, loan or exchange of chassis and components between
teams or to new entrants in the Championship

I dont agree with a lot of these proposals, does anyone else agree :?:

Mike ...

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[madcat]

I don't think that all the changes are a good idea.. one set of tyres for the whole race has just GOT to be dangerous. Surely someone will spin off and have a major accident, and then the FIA will say "Oooh never thought of that!"

I think they should bring back the old qualifying - 1 lap qualifying is rubbish... they have missed around with the format so much lately they should just leave it alone so the fans know where we stand and so do the teams.