Rediscover Formula One : Formula One News, Views and Reviews

Regulations
Engine

2006 will see a number of significant changes to the Formula One regulations. In an attempt to curb the increasing engine power levels of recent years, the maximum engine displacement will be reduced from 3.0 to 2.4 litres and the number of cylinders from 10 to 8. However, some teams will be allowed to continue using 3.0 litre 10 cylinder engines with a rev limiter for the 2006 and 2007 season only, in order to avoid the costs of re-engineering their cars in a short period. The switch to smaller engines may not mean a significant decrease in power, however, because some engine suppliers have already indicated that their smaller V8s can rev higher than the 19,000rpms normal for 2005-spec V10s. Initial testing proved that the new engines were six seconds slower than their V10 counterparts, but this margin is set to reduce dramatically as the season draws nearer.

Northampton-based engine builder Cosworth has an enviable record of success with V8 engines, and it claims to have made further history by becoming the first manufacturer to have broken the 20,000rpm limit on track. (December 2005)


Cost reduction

In the long run, the FIA intends to introduce greater restrictions on testing and the introduction of standardized electronics, tyres and brakes to reduce costs and entice more new private teams into the sport.


Tyres

Tyre changes return to Formula One next season. Each driver will be limited to 14 sets of tyres, consisting of 7 sets of dry-weather tyres, 4 sets of wet-weather tyres and 3 sets of extreme-weather tyres.


Qualifying

This new qualifying system consisting of three sessions of varying length. A 15-minute session is held first, in which the 5 slowest cars from that session are eliminated and thus set in grid positions 16 - 20. After a 5 minute break, another 15-minute session is held with the remaining cars, and again the 5 slowest cars are eliminated and set in positions 11 - 15. These 10 drivers that have been eliminated will now be allowed to return their cars to their garages and modify them, as well as their fuel load, as they see fit.

The remaining 10 cars will then, during a 5 minute break, will declare their fuel loads to the FIA. A final 20 minute session will then set the top 10 grid positions. The teams will be allowed to run their fuel load as low as possible by making as many laps as possible, and thus improve their times as the weight falls. This is an improvement for the TV audience because the teams will need to be out making as many laps as possible to lower their fuel load. Following this session, the top 10 cars will be placed in parc ferme and required to refill their fuel load to the level of that at the beginning of the final 20 minutes.

There is speculation that a small change will come into force on this rule, as a loophole was found by the FIA. It was feared that teams would declare a big fuel-load, but then on the out lap, 'leak' or use a big quantity of fuel and thus having a lighter car to go quicker with. The FIA though will calculate, based on fuel consumption of a V8 engine, how much fuel had been used, and the teams will only be allowed to refill up to that level, instead of the original one given. (Source)

If 11 teams are accepted for the championship (Which at this stage is looking unlikely), 6 drivers will be eliminated after the first 15-minute session and 6 after the second 15-minute session, filling positions 11 - 22. The last 20 minutes will be the same, with 10 cars battling it out and having to refuel at the end of the session. If a 12th team is accepted, then it will be similar to the 11-team format, but with 12 drivers left for the final 20 minutes.


Practice

Only one free practice session will take place on Saturdays. It will be one hour in length, and will finish no less than two hours before qualifying, usually between 11.00 and 12.00, replacing the old system of two 45-minute sessions.