The 2008 Technical Review
Despite the 2008 F1 season being filled with talk (and testing) of KERS, cost-slashing measures and a return to slick tyres, this year's regulations remained quite static. Craig Scarborough takes a look at the innovation created by a consistent set of rules in the first of a two-part review of the year's technical developments
Rule changes
Over the winter, new rule changes were introduced to reduce costs and equalise the teams' pace. The engine specifications were already frozen and no teams were allowed to alter internal parts of the engine without special permission.
The FIA introduced a single engine electronic control system. This ECU also controlled the gearbox and prevented the cars using traction control (TC) and other electronic driver aids. As well as the new electronics, the gearboxes themselves now had to last four races without being changed.
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