The seemingly haphazard and biased decision has drawn flak from the Red Bull team and supporters, however FIA race director Charlie Whiting dismissed that the decision reeked of any bias. Countering claims he said that its not for the FIA to see if 1 team would be more affected than others in a rule change.

    “What we are doing is stopping people breaking the existing rules,” Charlie Whiting said.     

    “It’s not for us to say whether a certain team would be more penalized than others. It just depends how extreme they are going. But I have certainly seen evidence of maps on a number of teams which are extremely extreme.     

    “It’s not confined to one team, I can assure you,”      

    “It’s a bit like the mass damper where its use when it was first introduced by one team was fairly benign when it came to aerodynamics. But the more it got developed, the more extreme the designs were.”     

    “These things escalate to the point where something has to be done.”     

Christian Horner of Redbull was however adamant in his criticism :

“It is slightly confusing with the technical directive that it was not addressed at the end of the year going into next year,” He said.

“Why has it been done midseason?”

Mike Gascoyne of the Lotus team was worried about the costs associated with such a decision :

“We have all spent a lot of money developing something,” Gascoyne said.

“We are always pushing to get an advantage and will obviously implement it if it is within the rules. It is just frustrating it is done in the middle of the season without consultation.”

Ross Brawn of Mercedes however was all for the decision and justified that it was for the good of the sport :

“The protagonists behind raising this issue were threatening to protest the cars and that was the difficulty they had,” Ross Brawn explained.

“If they hadn’t have taken action, then it sounds like some teams were going to protest the situation to get clarity through the stewards and that wouldn’t be very good for Formula One. We want to avoid that at all costs because … it would probably end up in the appeal courts again and that’s no good.”

FIA has been known to pass judgments on various technical issues mid-season. So why are the teams making such a big deal about it this time ? Is it because some teams are seeing their monopoly ending ? Only time will tell if this would rein in the rampaging Red Bulls !

With Bridgestone announcing its decision to not be the sole tyre supplier in the 2011 formula one season, an off track war seems to be brewing for the position of tyre supplier to the FIA with big companies expressing interest. Foremost among these are the Cooper tyre company, Michelin and Pirelli. All 3 companies are said to be in close consultations with the FIA. The actual nature of the negotiations are still unknown and are happening behind close doors.

Cooper Avon is one of the 1st to officially confirm that they are in talks with the FIA.

“As a major motorsport tyre manufacturer Cooper Tire, through its Avon Tyres Motorsport operation, has been approached to supply Formula One,” Cooper Tyres spokesperson was quoted

“The company is in discussion with the relevant parties and cannot comment further at this stage.”

Bernie Ecclestone is reported to prefer the cheaper option presented by Cooper Avon company.

Michelin too has expressed interest to return to formula one and have apparently submitted a technical bid to the FIA on the matter. The French company is rumoured to be lobbying the FIA to accept tyre specs that would suit those being manufactured by Michelin for other sports cars. Michelin are the most recent tyre manufacturer who have participated in formula one apart from Bridgestone.

The Italian company Pirelli too is seriously eyeing a comeback to formula one. They are known more for their stationary items , but apparently their tyres are top class too. In an interview to a F1 magazine the company’s motorsport director Paul Hembury was quoted as saying :

“Nothing is concrete yet, but we understand that with the possibility of 18-inch tyres, and the fact that the commercial reality has changed compared to the previous environment, then F1 is something that we are now looking into.

“We are always in contact, and remain in contact, with the FIA and the F1 promoter – and that is something that continues year on year. We’ve been aware of the ongoing situation in F1 and that is really what has led to our latest situation.”

There are also rumours that the latest tyre situation may force the FIA to give benefits to the tyre companies in order to attract them to formula one, in which case even Bridgestone might want to return to the sport.

Havent had time to go over all the details, so posting the official media release from FOTA here.

All FOTA Teams have today submitted conditional entries for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.

FOTA confirms all its Members’ long-term commitment to be involved in the FIA Formula One World Championship and has unanimously agreed further and significant actions to substantially reduce the costs of competing in the Championship in the next three years, creating a mechanism that will preserve the technological competition and the sporting challenge and, at the same time, facilitate the entry in the F1 Championship for new Teams. These measures are in line with what has been already decided in 2009 within FOTA, achieving important saving on engines and gearboxes.

All FOTA teams have entered the 2010 championship on the basis that:

1) The Concorde Agreement is signed by all parties before 12th June 2009, after which all FOTA teams will commit to competing in Formula One until 2012. The renewal of the Concorde Agreement will provide security for the future of the sport by binding all parties in a formal relationship that will ensure stability via sound governance.

2) The basis of the 2010 regulations will be the current 2009 regulations, amended in accordance with proposals that FOTA has submitted to the FIA.

All FOTA teams’ entries for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship have been submitted today on the understanding that (a) all FOTA teams will be permitted to compete during the 2010 Formula One Season on an identical regulatory basis and (b) that they may only be accepted as a whole.

All FOTA teams now look forward with optimism to collaborating proactively and productively with the FIA, with a view to establishing a solid foundation on which the future of a healthy and successful Formula One can be built, providing lasting stability and sound governance.

In an official media statement, the Williams formula one team had said :

Oxford, UK. 27 May, 2009. Following Monday’s confirmation that the team has submitted its formal entry for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Formula One Teams Association has today decided temporarily to suspend Williams F1 from membership of FOTA.  

Frank Williams, Team Principal: “FOTA’s decision, although regrettable, is understandable. However, as a racing team and a company whose only business is Formula One, with obligations to our partners and our employees, submitting our entry to next year’s Championship was unquestionable. In addition, we are legally obliged under our contract with FOM and the FIA to participate in the World Championship until the end of 2012.”

Ferrari in an official statement of its website as well as media area threatened to quit formula one and not enter its cars for the 2010 formula one season if the arbitrary rules regarding F1 budget caps were implemented despite its and certain other manufacturer’s protests. In doing so Ferrari has become the third team after Red Bull and Toyota to threaten pullout. An official statement on their website really cements those intentions.

On a personal note, Ferrari have been the team that i fell in love with the first time I saw formula one and are my favorite team

To see Ferrari going out of formula one would be heartbreak. Ferrari has given a lot to the sport of formula one, money, merchandise sales, champions and most importantly millions of fans all around the globe. Hopefully the matter would be sorted out between the 2 parties and scarlet wouldn’t let the world of F1 pale for many more years. Another industry that shall be very adversely affected would be the sports betting industry. I guess most will move over from formula one betting and move onto NASCAR betting for more excitement. Speaking of NASCAR and (losers ?) , a post on Juan Pablo Montoya is due.

On the other hand, it might just be a bluff from Ferrari, but a well played one at that, lets see if the FIA can choose to ignore alleged most powerful team in F1.

The official statement from their media area follows :

FERRARI’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES

THE FIRST QUARTER RESULTS:

TURNOVER 441 MILLION EURO

TRADING PROFIT 54 MILLION EURO

FERRARI CONFIRMS ITS OPPOSITION TO THE NEW

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE FIA AND DOES NOT INTEND ENTERING ITS CARS IN THE 2010 F1 CHAMPIONSHIP

Maranello 12 May 2009 – Ferrari’s Board of Directors, chaired by Luca di Montezemolo, today analysed the first quarter results for 2009. Despite the current international economic climate, which has hit the automotive sector in particular, Ferrari’s figures were in line with the record levels reached in 2008.

Turnover for the first three months was 441 million euro compared to 455.7 million euro over the same period in 2008. The first quarter closed with a trading profit of 54 million euro compared to last year’s 59 million euro.

These results reflect the introduction of new models, in particular the success of the Ferrari California and the Scuderia Spider 16M, the constant growth in activities linked to the brand (e-commerce, licensing, merchandising and retail) and the company’s continuing efforts to maximise efficiency.

The Board of Directors also examined developments related to recent decisions taken by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile during an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 29 April 2009. Although this meeting was originally called only to examine a disciplinary matter, the decisions taken mean that, for the first time ever in Formula 1, the 2010 season will see the introduction of two different sets of regulations based on arbitrary technical rules and economic parameters.

The Board considers that if this is the regulatory framework for Formula 1 in the future, then the reasons underlying Ferrari’s uninterrupted participation in the World Championship over the last 60 years – the only constructor to have taken part ever since its inception in 1950 – would come to a close.

The Board also expressed its disappointment about the methods adopted by the FIA in taking decisions of such a serious nature and its refusal to effectively reach an understanding with constructors and teams. The rules of governance that have contributed to the development of Formula 1 over the last 25 years have been disregarded, as have the binding contractual obligations between Ferrari and the FIA itself regarding the stability of the regulations. The same rules for all teams, stability of regulations, the continuity of the FOTA’s endeavours to methodically and progressively reduce costs, and governance of Formula 1 are the priorities for the future. If these indispensable principles are not respected and if the regulations adopted for 2010 will not change, then Ferrari does not intend to enter its cars in the next Formula 1 World Championship.

Ferrari trusts that its many fans worldwide will understand that this difficult decision is coherent with the Scuderia’s approach to motor sport and to Formula 1 in particular, always seeking to promote its sporting and technical values. The Chairman of the Board of Directors was mandated to evaluate the most suitable ways and methods to protect the company’s interests.

Photo : Copyright Ferrari SPA

The budgetary cap will be optional. The teams which do adhere to the budgetary caps get a lot of benefits. So most rich teams too may adhere to the caps. But we will get to that later.

• Refuelling is again banned in formula one, last time it was so in the 1993 season after which to break the supremacy of the Williams F1 team, refuelling was introduced. I was too young in 1993, read it off another site(dont remember which) that it was so. But in the 2010 formula one season, teams shall be allowed to refuel their cars after the third qualifying. Also Tyre Warmers will be banned.
• The FIA has increased the list of cars on the grid to 26, which translates to 13 teams. Probably Prodrive and USGP will launch their respective teams in the 2010 season. Bernie Ecclestone had told BBC Radio that he has a lot of people confirmed for next season (2010). So lets hold out for announcements with respect to new formula one teams.
• The FOM will be providing financial assistance to all the new teams in the 2010 formula one season to offset the costs associated with starting and maintaining a new formula one team. The official statement from the FIA read :

In addition to the payments which it already makes to the top ten teams in the Championship, Formula One Management, the commercial rights holder, has agreed to offer participation fees and expenses to the new teams. This includes an annual payment of US$10 million to each team plus free transportation of two chassis and freight up to 10,000 kg in weight (not including the two chassis) as well as 20 air tickets (economy class) for each round trip for events held outside Europe.

To be eligible for this, each new team must qualify as a “Constructor” and demonstrate that it has the necessary facilities, financial resources and technical competence to compete effectively in Formula One.

• The minimum weight for formula one cars will now be 620 kg from the 2010 formula one season. Alexander Wurz must be happy.

Budget Cap

Now for the main item, the 40m pounds budgetary cap. All teams who wish to register for the 2010 formula one season must do so by the 29th of May. In these applications they must also mention if they are willing to operate under the budget caps or not. So the budget cap is actually optional, but wait.

In case a team adheres to budget caps they get a lot of functional advantages like :

1. Movable wings, front and rear.
2. An engine which is not subject to a rev limit.

The teams who adhere to the budgetary cap will also be allowed unlimited out-of-season track testing with no restrictions on the scale and speed of wind tunnel testing.

Ferrari is already unhappy about the budget caps and Max Mosely has said that F1 will miss Ferrari if they decide to quit over the budgetary limit. But Bernie was quick to the defence of Ferrari saying that he would work to ensure that Ferrari are saved.

Also the 40 million budgetary cap does not cover the following expense of F1 teams :

1. Remuneration for test or race drivers, including any young driver programmes;
2. Fines or penalties imposed by the FIA;
3. Engine costs (for 2010 only);
4. Any expenditure which the team can demonstrate has no influence on its performance in the Championship;
5. Dividends (including any tax thereon) paid from profits relating to participation in the Championship.

Red Bull Vettel and Webber rip through the rule book

Thanks Red Bull formula one for an excellent video.

Hi, been really busy again with studies and all, college starts again. So today i just wanted to update myself on the formula one rule changes that shall be effective 2009. Most regulations are cost cutting and aim to make the sport of formula one a little slower and less interesting (Except KERS).

Most of the new features may be observed on the car above

1. Slick Tyres : The 2009 season will see the normal grooved tyres being replaced by slick tyres. The slicks would offer better grip (20% according to F1′s official website) and this gain would be neutralised by the fact that aerodynamic regulations have also changed which will result in vastly reduced downforce.

2. New Engine Regulations : The number of revolutions in formula one engines is set to be reduced from 19000 rpm to 18000 rpm which should help preserve the engine. Also the number of races an engine must last is now 3 instead of the earlier 2. Also the Renault team has been allowed to upgrade their engine for the 2009 season so that their power output is able to match upto the other teams.

3. Testing Schedule : No testing will be allowed during the season.

4. Aerodynamics – These are the changes most drivers and teams have opposed. The size of both the rear wings and the front wings has changed.

Front Wing : -

Height : (75mm from 150mm)

Width : (up from 1400 to 1800mm)

Rear Wing : -

Width : (750mm from 1000mm)

Height has been increased by 150 mm.

The back diffuser has been made longer, higher and moved further backwards.

5. KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) – Also known as regenerative braking (I think), this is an optional component in cars. It stores the energy wasted via braking (Kinetic Energy wasted) either as potential energy, or electrical energy in a battery. This energy is then available to the driver via a boost or a turbo button and can be used for seven seconds on a lap.

Thats all at the moment, whats posted above is my understanding of the rule changes. Please correct me if i am wrong.

Photo : Vtornet , CC SA 2.0 License

If the new system is introduced, the driver with the most wins shall win the F1 driver’s championship. Drivers will be given gold, silver and bronze medals. The idea does sound bonkers, but he does have a point. With wins deciding the champion, there will be no point in driving conservatively, so everyone will try and go for the win. Bernie had said :

“All the teams are happy.

“The reason this happens is that I get fed up with people talking about no overtaking.

“It’s just not on that someone can win the world championship without trying to win the race.”

The current point system had come into place to cut off Ferrari’s dominant season in which Michael Schumacher had annihilated the competition. Eddie Jordan however was displeased with the news :

“The points are necessary,” Eddie Jordan said. 

“I was one of the first team principals who advocated the points should go down to eighth place because one point is as important to those teams as a win is to McLaren and Ferrari.”

“He is tinkering with something on which he has lost the understanding.

“He thinks that only winning matters.

“When Hamilton lost the race in Spa and it was given to Felipe Massa, can you believe the controversy that would have created had this been the system?

“There has not been enough thought put into this and for him to say that it comes with the full approval of all the teams , I am sorry, I just don’t believe it.”

Guess who’s back ? , Michael Schumacher will render his services again to the Ferrari formula one team by testing for them. As electronic aids in F1 cars will soon be banned Ferrari wants to test cars without such aids. Michael Schumacher is by far the most experienced in driving such type of cars. The new ECU units shall not have aids such as traction control and other things which make driving a little bit easier. Michael’s manager insisted though that this is just part of his contract and there are as of now no plans to return to formula one racing full time.
Meanwhile a foundation Stone Ceremony was held� on third November 2007 in Abu Dhabi to officially signify the start of construction of one of the most multi-dimensional and highly anticipated themed entertainment attractions in the world, the Ferrari Theme Park.

Officials and special guests in attendance for the event included Ferrari’s President Luca di Montezemolo and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman, ALDAR Properties, as well as invited guests representing media, government and business organizations from around the world.

During the Foundation Stone Ceremony a special time capsule was buried, containing a Conrod and Piston of the F2007, the F1 World Champion Ferrari car, together with the first artist’s impression of the Ferrari Theme Park on Yas Island. The capsule will be then opened again at Ferrari’s 100th anniversary, in 2047.

“This is a very special year for Ferrari” – Mr. Montezemolo said. “Together with the extraordinary commercial success of our GT cars, it brought to Maranello the F1 Constructors World Championship and the F1 Drivers World Championship with Kimi Raikkonen, and I am particularly proud to be present to mark the symbolic start of this great project. Moreover, 2007 is the year of Ferrari’s 60th anniversary, and this Ceremony has therefore a further, important meaning”.

Ferrari Media Photo�