[Natashasuw]

The FIA will unveil later today in Monaco the raft of cost cuts that look set to secure the sport's future.

No details of what was agreed have yet been released in public, but it is understood they revolve around dramatic cuts in testing - which perhaps go as far as a total in-season testing ban - plus reductions in wind tunnel work and aerodynamic development.

Furthermore, it is believed that the FIA will approve an 11th hour decision to drop plans for a standard engine for 2010 after the manufacturers agreed themselves to supply cheap power units to independent teams. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72449

[hitaEtela]

Furthermore, it is believed that the FIA will approve an 11th hour decision to drop plans for a standard engine for 2010 after the manufacturers agreed themselves to supply cheap power units to independent teams. Didn't see that one coming

[thargeagsaf]

...and the winner is ? Luca di Montezemolo

[Rexaviennatutr]

No in-season testing at all, surely not?? So they will be putting new parts on cars that havnt even been checked out on track, thats safe isnt it?

[quorceopporce]

So, it turns out that Lewis Hamilton's remarks yesterday about the standard engine not happening, which sounded like a misreading of the situation to me, were correct. Excellent news for F1. See, it wasn't beyond the wit of man for them to cut costs and avoid the Cosworth option!

[Natashasuw]

Didn't see that one coming

Indeed, and what, I wonder, happens to Cosworth who bid for and won the contract which (it appears) may have now been dropped?

[hitaEtela]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72442

I think we're missing the message here.

Max has been out "Maxed" I think. He held this threat of standard engines over the teams and they have responded with a package that has swamped him. It seems that the teams have finally started properly working together and have rewritten the FIA rule books by consensus.

So, next year, we will get closer, cheaper racing i think.

However, did you see the caveat at the end. You're forgetting Bernie in this little love-in.

Knockie hypothesis is this. Bernie is still hoping to charge top $$$ for the commercial right to F1 but is being battered by an increasing number of circuits. He is going to have to move his position and negotiate.

If FOTA can provide a united front with the teams and the FIA, they might secure additional funding from FOG/FOM thereby redressing the inequality in the sport.

I see Bernie as the rather meaty filling in a FOTA / FIA sandwich.

Knowing Bernie though, he's not too bothered as he's sold off 90% of the business and the 10% is in his estranged wife's name

[hitaEtela]

Indeed, and what, I wonder, happens to Cosworth who bid for and won the contract which (it appears) may have now been dropped?

Well, we still have F2

[CealialactBek]

No in-season testing at all, surely not?? So they will be putting new parts on cars that havnt even been checked out on track, thats safe isnt it?

That's why they should have an unrestricted Friday test day. So they can test new parts etc, without any restrictions on tyres, engines, etc.

[Natashasuw]

Well, we still have F2

Oh yeah. I do remember reading a while ago that someone has signed up to drive in that series, but they'll have Audi power.

Having just checked...Max said: "We have completed the tendering process and are now in exclusive negotiations with Cosworth together with Xtrac and Ricardo Transmissions (XR) to supply a complete Formula One power train starting in 2010."

I guess those negotiations will just stop

[wmirkru]

Unless Cosworth were tipped the wink about the tendering process being a bluff, they'll have wasted a lot of time and money on this.

[hitaEtela]

Oh yeah. I do remember reading a while ago that someone has signed up to drive in that series, but they'll have Audi power.

Having just checked...Max said: "We have completed the tendering process and are now in exclusive negotiations with Cosworth together with Xtrac and Ricardo Transmissions (XR) to supply a complete Formula One power train starting in 2010."

I guess those negotiations will just stop

Hope they didn't spend too much on this. Must have been stupid to when it was obviously one of Max's negotiating ploys

[Natashasuw]

It seems that the teams have finally started properly working together and have rewritten the FIA rule books by consensus.

That certainly appears to be very true and if so is a significant development. Until the formation of FOTA the FIA could rely on divisions among the teams in order to impose regulation changes.

[Rexaviennatutr]

That's why they should have an unrestricted Friday test day. So they can test new parts etc, without any restrictions on tyres, engines, etc.

That does sound like a good idea. Or maybe let them test at the circuit theyve just raced at like the do in moto gp.

[CealialactBek]

That does sound like a good idea. Or maybe let them test at the circuit theyve just raced at like the do in moto gp.

I don't see a problem with that, but the fact is that Friday has been pointless for many years now. And if they insist upon keeping it then they might as well give it some reasonable purpose, and a test session seems the best idea to me. Especially if all other testing is banned.

Then you have a tactical choice. Do you use the test session to set up for the race, or test your new parts?

[Natashasuw]

A total ban on in-season testing, major revisions to engine regulations and dramatic cuts in aerodynamic development have formed the cornerstone of a radical rules overhaul that will cut costs in Formula One.
Following a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on Friday, the FIA has announced a host of measures that will be put in place over the next few years that will cut budgets by at least one third from next season.
All in-season testing, apart from that conducted during scheduled practice on a Grand Prix weekend, has been banned.
Teams have also been outlawed from using any tunnel that exceeds 60 percent scale and 50 metres per second after January 1, 2009. Factories will also have to be closed for six weeks per year.
Engine life is to be doubled, with drivers limited to a maximum of eight power-units over the course of the season - plus four for testing. However, the three-race rule voted through on November 5 remains in place.
This extra life will be achieved through a rev reduction to 18,000rpm, with no internal re-tuning allowed. Adjustment to trumpets and injectors will be permitted, however.
The reduction to 20 engines per team for the season means engine budgets should be cut in half compared to this season.
More to follow. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72456

[Immampdah]

Then you have a tactical choice. Do you use the test session to set up for the race, or test your new parts?

Or maybe you do both?!

[Natashasuw]

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).
Limit of 18,000 rpm.
No internal re-tuning. Adjustment to trumpets and injectors only.
The three-race rule voted on 5 November remains in force.
Cost of engines to independent teams will be approximately 50% 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% scale and 50 metres/sec to be used after 1 January 2009.
A formula to balance wind tunnel-based research against CFD research, if agreed between 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 tyres 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% of their budgets compared to 2008, while the savings for independent teams will be even greater.
2010
Power train
Engines will be available to the independent teams for less than €5 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. If an independent supplier, the deal will be signed no later than 20 December 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 taken in respect of each element as to whether or not it will remain a performance differentiator (competitive element).
Some elements which remain performance differentiators will be homologated for the season.
Some elements will remain performance differentiators, but use inexpensive materials.
Elements which are not performance differentiators will be prescriptive and be obtained or manufactured in the most economical possible way.
Race weekend
Standardised radio and telemetry systems.
Ban on tyre warmers.
Ban on mechanical purging of tyres.
Ban on refueling.
Possible reduction in race distance or duration (proposal to follow market research).
Factory activity
Further restrictions on aerodynamic research.
Ban on tyre 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 FOTA will study the possibility of an entirely new power train for 2013 based on energy efficiency (obtaining more work from less energy consumed). Rules to be framed so as to ensure that research and development of such a power train would make a real contribution to energy-efficient road transport.
An enhanced Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) system is likely to be a very significant element of an energy-efficient power train in the future. In the short term, KERS is part of the 2009 regulations, but is not compulsory. For 2010 FOTA is considering proposals for a standard KERS system. The FIA awaits proposals.
A number of further amendments were adopted for the 2009 and 2010 Sporting and Technical Regulations.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72459

[CealialactBek]

Ban on refueling.

That's an interesting little line hidden away in the detail there. I didn't expect to see that one. But it does make perfect sense. How much do those fuel rigs cost after all?!

[hitaEtela]

That's an interesting little line hidden away in the detail there. I didn't expect to see that one. But it does make perfect sense. How much do those fuel rigs cost after all?!

Could be your life if we have another Massa like mix-up