FIA agrees to overhaul of F1 rules

Following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Monaco today, it was agreed that the plans provisionally agreed between FIA president Max Mosley and the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMDA) would be followed through.

It was agreed that any future changes to the regulations would only be allowed to happen if it could be proved they were beneficial for the sport.

"Following the agreement between GPMA and FIA, the technical regulations governing Formula One will undergo significant change over the next five years and beyond," said a statement issued by the FIA.

"The objectives will be to promote research relevant to the motor industry (and society in general), to eliminate developments which do not meet these criteria, to reduce costs while improving cost effectiveness and to keep, and augment, the image and excitement of Formula One as the world's leading motor sport category."

The FIA published a rough agenda of regulations changes for the next five years, although some will still need ratification by the GPMA and car industry experts.

Next season's planned regulations will be unchanged, but in 2008 there will be a push to reduce a car's aerodynamics.

This could include the banning of aerodynamic devices, such as bargeboards and winglets, between the front wheel centreline and the rear wheel centreline. This could go hand in hand with a restriction on the use of wind tunnels and test rigs, depending on whether agreement can be reached among teams.

In 2009, it is hoped that downforce can be reduced by 50 percent and that aerodynamic designs can be honed to help improve overtaking. On the engine front it is hoped that energy recovery devices can be introduced - with their use increasing the following season.

The FIA wants to look at partially standardised aerodynamics for 2010, which will probably be the last season for the current format of 2.4-litre engines.

For 2011, the FIA hopes that a new four-race engine will include high-efficiency turbocharging, fuel flow limits, direct injection and the use of bio fuels. The FIA is also considering completely freeing up driver aids.

By 2012, the FIA hopes that the technology advances made by the manufacturers will not only benefit the road car industry but also the sport's smaller teams.

"Everything will be on the principle that new technologies, or rather the relevant devices, shall be freely available for sale to any team which wants them at an easily affordable price," said the FIA statement.

The World Motor Sport Council's decision on the Formula One World Championship:

Following the agreement between GPMA and FIA, the technical regulations governing Formula One will undergo significant change over the next five years and beyond. The objectives will be to promote research relevant to the motor industry (and society in general), to eliminate developments which do not meet these criteria, to reduce costs while improving cost effectiveness and to keep, and augment, the image and excitement of Formula One as the world's leading motor sport category.

The following is an agenda for the next five years. A number of these points, particularly from 2010 onwards, will require careful examination with GPMA and detailed input from car industry experts.

2007

- regulations are already published
- (existing 2.4 litre engine remains "frozen");

2008

- regulations as published but possible elimination of aerodynamic appendices (barge boards, winglets, chimneys, etc) forward of rear wheel centreline and behind front wheel centreline (subject to unanimous agreement of competing teams);
- possible sporting regulations to restrict the use of wind tunnels and/or models for use in wind tunnels and/or test rigs (subject to the consent of a majority of competing teams);
- (existing 2.4 litre engine remains frozen)

2009

- energy recovery and re-use from braking
- reduction of 50% of downforce
- aerodynamic and other changes to facilitate overtaking
- existing 2.4 litre engine remains frozen or, possibly, a four-race drive train (engine and transmission)

2010

- a proportion of waste heat recovered and used to propel the car
- a proportion of waste energy from exhaust gases recovered and used to propel the car
- wholly or partially standardised aerodynamics (or, possibly, new rules to encourage road-relevant research into aerodynamics)
- (existing 2.4 litre engine remains frozen, or, if applicable, four-race drive train remains frozen)

2011

- perhaps a new four-race engine including
  - high-efficiency turbocharging
  - fuel (energy) flow limits
  - direct injection
  - downsizing so as to ensure very high (15000+) rpm
  - bio fuels (possible freedom to use any bio fuel, with a limited maximum energy flow rate rather than a maximum fuel flow rate)
- perhaps a new approach to the chassis with
  - further reductions in downforce
  - greater emphasis on cornering performance and handling by means of chassis, suspension, and brake management
  - complete freedom to use electronics to make the car more energy-efficient (drive train, etc, management)
- possibly also free up driver-aid electronics
- materials - limitations on materials to bring them more into line with those used in road cars
- other road-relevant technologies

2012

- new engine as above
- It is proposed that the foregoing should be a basis for discussion. There may be other interesting and important technologies as well as areas of research which are not mentioned.

Everything will be on the principle that new technologies, or rather the relevant devices, shall be freely available for sale to any team which wants them at an easily affordable price.

The FIA Senate has been mandated to finalise its regulation changes to the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, following a meeting on 19 December 2006. These will be voted on before 31 December 2006, in order for them to be incorporated into that championship.