FIA Formula 1 rule changes for 2006
 

The meeting in London has concluded and we have some new rules for the 2006 F1 season

1) Tire changes are back the single tire rule has been sacked

2) Qualifying will be in the format of a "knockout" with 3 sessions, 2 15 minute sessions and one 20 minute session. In the the first 15min session the slowest 5 cars will be knocked out, then in the second 15min session another 5 of the slowest cars will be knocked out, and in the final 20 minute session the rest of the field will battle for the top spots on the grid. The final ten cars in the qualifying session will have to carry race fuel.

3) Third drivers will still be allowed in Friday practice sessions

4) Teams will still be allowed to have a spare car in the garage


Passed For 2007 as a "provisional introduction" but need to be approved by the team technical directors:

1) A return to slick tires
2) One tire manufacturer
3) A new rear wing to increase overtaking

Full article here:
http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...24171903.shtml

Article on the new wing:
http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...24105939.shtml

Wow, that wing design is pretty crazy..

http://f1.racing-live.com/photos/img...-02_241005.jpg

That's going to really limit rear downforce.. they're losing wingspan and the only remaining wing area is right in turbulent air behind a tire.

Dang, does that fit a 03 WRX?

That new wing looks like a horrible idea.

Increase overtaking, though? Is it to allow drivers to follow more closely?

First, the scrapping of the single tire rule reaks of Ferrari whining to FIA. So much for all that great work Michelen did to get a leg up on Bridgestone. :roll: However, I prefer tire changes, not only for safety purposes, but just because it seems retarded to force running on one set of tires... this isn't Star Mazda, it's F1!

Second, while the new qualifying rules seem very convoluted, I think the FIA actually came up with something that will really help the fans. The problem with the single lap qualifying is that it's boring as hell to fans in the stands. In fact I think the only people that enjoy the single lap format is the US TV audience that's used to the format from NASCAR (which I am certainly a member of... I like the single hot-lap format!) Anyway, this new format brings the cars out together, which is much more exciting for those in the stands (and TV for that matter, unless you're like me and enjoy seeing each driver's lap in detail). Plus, the knock-out rules prevent each team from just waiting till the very end of the session to run a lap the way they used to before the single lap format. And by requiring the top 10 cars to qualify on race fuel, it leaves the stratigic element of whether or not to go for pole w/ a light car which may hurt you in the race later... something that I liked, but I think the average F1 fan did not.

What I wonder, is if the new format will end up with teams making race-style pit stops for fuel and tires during qualifying... you know, top off and grab fresh rubber at the last second to make sure you're all set for the race if you're in the top 10 near the end of the final qualifying session. :devil: That might be kinda cool... turns qualifying into a pre-race of sorts.

With regards to the 2008 proposals... the single tire idea will probably be good for competition, but I rather like the tire rivalry... I'd rather see 1 or 2 additional manufacturers instead... where's Goodyear and Hoosier when you need 'em?!

That new wing looks nuts. Seems like the cars will end up having to run quite a bit of angle on 'em to get the necessary rear downforce to match the d/f generated by the front wing... I'm thinking there's going to be quite a large loss of efficiency over the current wing design... it might slow the cars down a bit, which isn't a big deal if they go back to slick tires I guess.

What I really like about the new wing is that it's designed to promote smooth airflow right behind the car. In fact, the idea is that a car in the slipstream should actually have *more* downforce than a car in the clear! We may end up with cars that can easily pass at the end of every long straight! Now, while that may sound good, the problem you run into is with blocking... anyone else remember the BS surrounding the IRL cars, where you're allowed to make one blocking move, then it's "illegal" to move back the other way? Pretty lame, but necessary because the draft made getting a run on someone way too easy. So, if this new F1 wing works too well, I think it's actually going to hurt the sport. IMO, passing is a result of setting someone up, finding their weakness, making them nervous, and exploiting/capitalizing on their mistakes... not just getting an aero pull and sling-shotting off each straight.

There should be; that's a huge loss in aspect ratio on the wings. Even if they maintained the same total span there would be an overall downforce loss because of the smaller aspect ratios.

Calendar for 2006

March 12 Bahrain
March 19 Malaysia
April 2 Australia
April 23 San Marino
May 7 European GP
May 14 Spain
May 28 Monaco
June 11 Great Britain
June 25 Canada
July 2 United States
July 16 France
July 30 Germany
August 6 Hungary
August 27 Turkey
September 10 Italy
September 17 Belgium
October 1 Japan
October 8 China
October 22 Brazil (Subject to contract approval)

Anybody want to make a trip to one of the north american races??

Canada, June 25th, I'd love to be there.

I am planning to go to Canada in June. We should work on a trip.

I'm down, let's get it planned!!

Another team has been announced.

Super Aguri Formula One, run by Japanese racing boss Aguri Suzuki. Most likely running Honda chasis with Bridgestone tires, but nothing is finalized yet. It sounds like he's very anxious to *not* call this team the Honda B-team. It also sounds like a very nationalistic Japanese team, as Takuma Sato is also likely to sign. Says Suzuki, "Our goal is to have the 'rising sun' raised above the podium."

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view...d=121536&apn=2

I was waiting for this mystery team to file, they had been talking about it through the last two weeks of the season

In other news Christian Albers has signed with Midland F1

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...01110640.shtml

I like that Christian Albers, he's a good dude.

Nice new wiggly bits.

toyota with the first 2006 car to be released looks good

Red Bull has confirmed they have signed Robert Doornbos for their 3rd driver/testing role

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...29105014.shtml

So that bumps american scott speed down to the Scuderia Torro Rosso squad

That Toyota looks great...The rear diffuser sure does trail the car by a long way...I bet Juan Pablo Knocks that thing off on the first corner in the season opener.

I'm not sure what those two curved boards are doing exactly, but they're not a diffuser.

What would you call it? Rudder? A diffuser sits horizontally I suppose, but I don't know what they are after with those big vertical slats.

I imagine they are going for the same affect that airliner manufacturers (Like Boeing on this 737) are going for by using vertical winglets to reduce drag by improving the air vortex? resulting behind the plane...just a thought.

I have a feeling this thread is about to become a tech thread about vortex diffusion or something.

Hopefully some of that toyota trickles down to the Corolla I've been eyeing.

I'm guessing they're just flutes that help to speed up the airflow under the car... get it away from the downdraft off the rear wing... reduce lift.

Or maybe they plan on running out in front of Sato a lot next season and they want a rear bumper. :lol:

I'm going to go with this answer :lol:

Diffusers are air pressure & velocity modification devices, and they have to have a specific shape to work correctly, like this.

http://articles.motortoday.com/featu...s-diffuser.jpg

It's like a turbine inlet or exhaust nozzle,

http://142.26.194.131/aerodynamics1/...onvergent1.GIF

so when used on a car the bodywork is the top side of the diffuser and the ground is the other.

I found this thread on NASIOC that has some great pics of the 06 cars, as well as a running list of driver confirmations....F1 2006

Uh oh, you found where I stole my Toyota pics from :lol:

That interm Williams machine looks pretty good. Wonder if it'll go fast.

I can't believe Sato has a ride for 06 :eek:

Well, there are rumors that Aguri F1 won't make it to the grid in 06.

What is the reason? Will the car not be ready?

Yeah, they don't have a chasis. Or enough time to develop one. Though, another rumor is stating that they are buying up the old Arrows cars, and trying to re-use those with 06 regs.

That's gonna be a tall order, since the motor specs are so drastically different. Unless they also run the old V10 spec motor w/ the restrictor next season.

Yeah, they'd risk running a motor that Sato wouldn't blow up ;)

It's official Super Aguri F1 will not be running in 2006

http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...01184947.shtml

FIA just released the 2006 Championship Entry List:

1. Fernando Alonso (E) - Renault F1 Team
2. Giancarlo Fisichella (I) - Renault F1 Team
3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) - McLaren Mercedes
4. Juan Pablo Montoya (CO) - McLaren Mercedes
5. Michael Schumacher (D) - Scuderia Ferrari
6. Felipe Massa (BR) - Scuderia Ferrari
7. Ralf Schumacher (D) - Panasonic Toyota Racing
8. Jarno Trulli (I) - Panasonic Toyota Racing
9. Mark Webber (AUS) - WilliamsF1 Team
10. Nico Rosberg (D) - WilliamsF1 Team
11. Rubens Barrichello (BR) - Honda Racing F1 Team
12. Jenson Button (GB) - Honda Racing F1 Team
14. David Coulthard (GB) - Red Bull Racing
15. TBA - Red Bull Racing
16. Nick Heidfeld (D) - BMW Sauber F1 Team
17. Jacques Villeneuve (CDN) - BMW Sauber F1 Team
18. Tiago Monteiro (P) - MF1 Racing
19. Christijan Albers (NL) - MF1 Racing
20. TBA - Scuderia Toro Rosso
21. TBA - Scuderia Toro Rosso

Um, where's #13 on that list?

Look at all the crap around the intake:

http://www.pbase.com/image/52931122/large.jpg

So, this video is great, check out JPm get all crazy on the cameraman...Damn, his woman is hot too...Great stuff.

http://www.break.com/articles/f1-crash.html

Shoulda watched where the hell he was walking. It's not like the 250lb cameraman in the bright white shirt with the ginormous camera is very hard to miss.

I guess nobody is running a car #13 this year

Has the FIA always left out "unlucky 13"?

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view...d=1&nid=122884

CDG wing will not be used in 2007. The wing got a big thumbs down from technical cheifs from the teams. They claimed to earnestly weight the positives and negatives of the rear CDG wing, and submitted their disapproval to the FIA recently. The wing will not go forward as planed in 2007, though they said they were not opposed to the idea in general, but didn't like the regulations as proposed. The wing still may appear, but not as it is now, and not in 2007.

looks like it

I went back the last three seasons and didnt see a car 13 on the official entry list

Scott Speed officially named to Toro Rosso
Antionio Liuzzi was named to the second seat.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/5144136

I understand creating restrictions creates a more level playing field and decreases cost considerably. As a matter of fact, I don't have a problem with restrictions in any motorsport - except F1. So much is learned through F1 that I feel making restrictions, i.e. on downforce, truly limits the potential of where we can take the automotive world. It's F1, people, if you can't afford it, too f*ing bad! You want a cookie?

Dodgy Hadji may end up with a ride after all...
http://msn.foxsports.com/motor/story/5164334

Without restrictions, F1 would be a bunch for computer controlled robot slot cars going 300 mph with eight-wheel-drive, traction control, ABS, and vacuum suction downforce.

You forget that the point of F1 is not just to be the world's fastest road-course cars. The point of F1 is the driver's championship. An "open" series that doesn't limit technology results in a series that doesn't allow drivers to drive.

Exactly. The current level of race car development knowledge and technology would probably result in cars that are completely beyond the limits of human physical capabilites if F1 was completely unrestricted. It's just like with current military aircraft development - designers are completely capable of building an aircraft that can sustain 10+G's in a high-speed turn without falling apart, but a human pilot is incapable of withstanding those kinds of forces.

Two huge announcements today:

1) Michelin will depart Formula One after 2006
http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...14152659.shtml

2) Vodafone will become Mclaren Mercedes Title sponsor in 2007
http://f1.racing-live.com/f1/en/head...14110512.shtml

One make tire manufacturer, here we come!

I hope they all use GoodYear. :roll:

http://www.crash.net/uk/en/news_view...d=1&nid=123394

Woah, Alonso to McLaren in 2007.

That is some shock news. I wonder how it will affect his relationship with the Renault team next season, knowing that he is leaving at the end of the year