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How will F1 2008 shape up?
Topic Started: Aug 19 2007, 06:00 PM (215 Views)
Paul_Murtagh
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Chief Engineer
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With the future of Spyker and Super Aguri up in the air, rumours of Alonso wanting to leave McLaren, Toyota so far refusing to confirm Ralf, Bourdais joining STR and the McLaren-Ferrari spy case hopefully resolved, how is Formula One 2008 going to shape up? Will there be much of a difference on and off track?
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Red Andy
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Depends. Anybody know the state of the regulations for 2008? There was all sorts of talk of restrictions on aero, return to slicks and other promising things, but it's all gone quiet now. If there are significant rule changes over the winter, we could see a serious shake-up in terms of the order. Otherwise the status quo will pretty much be maintained.
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flood1
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Andy, do you have a specific question about the rules. There are 63 pages of regulations and it's hard to summarize the changes, but I'm familar with most of them.
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Paul_Murtagh
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My major question about next year's regulations flood is what major changes will there be? Like will they return to slick tyres? Will the aero rules change yet again? Will traction control be banned? Will aero add-ons be banned?

We just haven't had a definitive announcement about next season's rules from the FIA and it is confusing alot of fans of the sport
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flood1
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I've got that stuff and I'm summarizing it right now. The rules were tweaked several times and I'll have it sorted shortly.
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Paul_Murtagh
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flood1,Aug 19 2007
06:49 PM
I've got that stuff and I'm summarizing it right now. The rules were tweaked several times and I'll have it sorted shortly.

Cheers Flood <thumbsup>
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flood1
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First two important things. These regulations were published on March 28, 2007. They are subject to final revision on Oct. 31st if I'm not mistaken. They are the latest revision currently available.

Tires – No real changes;

12.6.1 All dry-weather tyres must incorporate circumferential grooves square to the wheel axis and around the
entire circumference of the contact surface of each tyre.
12.6.2 Each front dry-weather tyre, when new, must incorporate 4 grooves which are :
- arranged symmetrically about the centre of the tyre tread ;
- at least 14mm wide at the contact surface and which taper uniformly to a minimum of 10mm at the
lower surface ;
- at least 2.5mm deep across the whole lower surface ;
- 50mm (+/- 1.0mm) between centres.
Furthermore, the tread width of the front tyres must not exceed 270mm.

12.6.3 Each rear dry-weather tyre, when new, must incorporate 4 grooves which are :
- arranged symmetrically about the centre of the tyre tread ;
- at least 14mm wide at the contact surface and which taper uniformly to a minimum of 10mm at the
lower surface ;
- at least 2.5mm deep across the whole lower surface ;
- 50mm (+/- 1.0mm) between centres.
The measurements referred to in b) and c) above will be taken when the tyre is fitted to a wheel and
inflated to 1.4 bar.

Traction Control Banned;

9.3 Traction control
No car may be equipped with a system or device which is capable of preventing the driven wheels from
spinning under power or of compensating for excessive throttle demand by the driver.
Any device or system which notifies the driver of the onset of wheel spin is not permitted

More to follow:
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dcoulthard19
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I remember someone saying that the cars were going to be narrower next year, is that still happening?
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Paul_Murtagh
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So we are stuck with grooved tyres <grrr>

But at least traction control is going <yahoo>
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flood1
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Also this:

8.6 Driver controls and displays
Any electronic modules used for driver information displays and switch inputs must be supplied by an FIA
designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA and be suitably housed by each team.

But remember, these ECU's are to be supplied my microsoft (software) and MES (McLaren Electronic Systems).
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flood1
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dcoulthard19,Aug 19 2007
02:02 PM
I remember someone saying that the cars were going to be narrower next year, is that still happening?

No, the regulations published in 2006 said for them to be wider. When the March 2007 regs came out they reverted to the original dimensions and Autsport erronously interpreted that reversal a a narrower car. <nono>
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Red Andy
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Thanks for the clarification, Flood; I had a feeling the return to slick tyres had been shelved (for the time being, at least), but it's good to know they are seeing sense and getting rid of traction control. The thing I'm interested in is aero restrictions - I've heard rumours that aero devices are to be banned between the front and rear axles, but I don't know what form such a ban would take, nor if it is due for next season, the season after, or some time in the distant future.
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Paul_Murtagh
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flood1,Aug 19 2007
07:05 PM
Also this:

8.6 Driver controls and displays
Any electronic modules used for driver information displays and switch inputs must be supplied by an FIA
designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA and be suitably housed by each team.

But remember, these ECU's are to be supplied my microsoft (software) and MES (McLaren Electronic Systems).

What does this mean Flood? Will the FIA be able to monitor the possible use of driver aids better than they did pre-2001?
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flood1
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Paul_Murtagh,Aug 19 2007
02:09 PM
flood1,Aug 19 2007
07:05 PM
Also this:

8.6 Driver controls and displays
Any electronic modules used for driver information displays and switch inputs must be supplied by an FIA
designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA and be suitably housed by each team.

But remember, these ECU's are to be supplied my microsoft (software) and MES (McLaren Electronic Systems).

What does this mean Flood? Will the FIA be able to monitor the possible use of driver aids better than they did pre-2001?

Exactly. With standardized Electronic Control Units (ECU) the cheating that was suspected after the last ban of traction control would now be detectable.
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flood1
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Red Andy,Aug 19 2007
02:07 PM
Thanks for the clarification, Flood; I had a feeling the return to slick tyres had been shelved (for the time being, at least), but it's good to know they are seeing sense and getting rid of traction control. The thing I'm interested in is aero restrictions - I've heard rumours that aero devices are to be banned between the front and rear axles, but I don't know what form such a ban would take, nor if it is due for next season, the season after, or some time in the distant future.

It will take me a little while to get the details rattled out about the chassis. I read the regulations directly and don't accept the media summaries because of up to the second internet deadlines. They often report without due diligence.

I believe the appendages are to be banned in 2009.

The regulations have about 200 dimensional references and no summary of intent. I'll see what I can find, but I believe only minor chassis changes are planned.
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