The FIA World Motorsport Council agreed today in Monaco to introduce radical measures to reduce Formula One costs for the 2009 season.
In-season testing is now banned completely, engine rules have been changed drastically, and aerodynamic development has been limited significantly, among the notable changes.
The FIA and teams estimate that the moves will reduce costs by 30 percent for manufacturer teams in 2009 while saving independent teams even more.
A framework was also laid out for 2010 and beyond.
Full List of F1 Changes
The following measures to reduce costs in F1 have been agreed to by the World Motor Sport Council. These proposed changes have the unanimous agreement of the F1 teams, who have played a major role in their development.
Changes for 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).
-- A limit of 18,000 rpm.
-- No internal retuning. Adjustment to trumpets and injectors only.
-- The three-race (engine life) rule voted on Nov. 5 remains in force.
-- Cost of engines to independent teams will be approximately 50 percent 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 percent scale and 50 meters per second to be used after Jan. 1, 2009.
-- A formula to balance wind-tunnel-based research against CFD research, if agreed among 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 tires 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 percent of their budgets compared with 2008, while the savings for independent teams will be even greater.
Changes for 2010
Powertrain
-- Engines will be available to the independent teams for less than e5 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.
-- In the case of an independent supplier, the deal will be signed no later than Dec. 20, 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 made in respect of each element regarding whether or not it will remain a performance differentiator (competitive element).
-- Some elements that remain performance differentiators will be confirmed for the season.
-- Some elements will remain performance differentiators but will use inexpensive materials.
-- Elements that are not performance differentiators will be prescriptive and obtained or manufactured in the most economical possible way.
Race weekend
-- Standardized radio and telemetry systems.
-- Ban on tire warmers.
-- Ban on mechanical purging of tires.
-- Ban on refueling.
-- Possible reduction in race distance or duration (proposal to follow market research).
Factory activity
-- Further restrictions on aerodynamic research.
-- Ban on tire 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 the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) will study the possibility of an entirely new powertrain for 2013 based on energy efficiency (obtaining more work from less energy consumed).
-- Rules will be framed to ensure that research and development of such a powertrain would make a real contribution to energy-efficient road transport.
-- An enhanced kinetic-energy recovery system (KERS) is likely to be a very significant element of an energy-efficient powertrain in the future. In the short term, KERS is part of the 2009 regulations but is not compulsory.
-- For 2010, the FOTA is considering proposals for a standard KERS system. The FIA awaits proposals.
