Winds of change.......again!

[Veyron]

Teams agree to new Formula One format
Some of the changes may come sooner than expected

Successful meeting for Max Mosley

Formula One team chiefs agreed in principal to give the go-ahead to sweeping changes designed to make the sport more exciting after a meeting with FIA president Max Mosley here Tuesday.

A new engine format, a single tyre supplier and a ban on electronic driver aids were three of the many areas accepted by the teams for introduction by the 2008 season.

Mosley and the 10 team principals were joined by the sport's commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, and several engine manufacturers for the meeting, which took place in the Automobile Club de Monaco. And Mosley said: "It was a very good meeting. Where I had expected very significant dispute and debate there really was none and it was very constructive.

"We went through all of the proposals and discussed them with the teams in some detail and as far as doing things sooner than 2008 there was a wide measure of agreement that we need changes much sooner. It will make Formula One more interesting, there will be closer racing and more overtaking. The basic idea is to make the racing closer and more interesting for the fans because that is what they want to see."

The engine format could be brought in two years early, by 2006, if engine manufacturers can come up with an efficient method of reducing costs when they meet to discuss ideas at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.

Mosley added: "I think we are going to see a new engine formula in 2006 and the engine manufacturers are going to make proposals in addition to those that we have made to reduce the engine cost by 50 percent."

A new qualifying format could be brought in before the end of the year after team principals agreed the back-to-back single lap system introduced this season has failed.

Mosley hopes the changes will improve the spectacle and put a greater emphasis on driver skills while also reducing operating costs and encouraging new teams to enter the sport. He is also pushing for a reduction in non-event testing throughout the year and is also keen on banning mid-race tyre changes while retaining refuelling stops in Grands Prix.

He believes the sport has suffered from a lack of entertainment in recent years and pointed to the battle between Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi in the opening MotoGP race of the year as an example to follow.

"Everyone I know who likes racing is still talking about Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi in South Africa. These people care about racing and I think that the point on that is now being accepted."

The conclusions from the meeting here, and from the additional engine manufacturer's discussions, will now be presented for approval to the FIA's World Motorsport Council at a meeting to take place on June 30.

Source AFP

Source

[camaroincal]

Well I guess If everyone agreed it's a good thing. But to me it seems that a few teams are finally catching up with Ferrari. Michael Shumacher is just that great of a driver, and I think no matter what they do to the rules he'll probably still win a ton of races. But right now BAR, Renault, and Williams are nipping at Ferrari's heels imo. I think this next race will be very interesting. I wonder what kind of engines they will use instead? V8's?

[ales]

You call that nipping at the heels? It must have really sucked when Ferrari was miles ahead then

For the issue at hand - I can't believe they agreed to that! Wonder if every time radical changes were proposed/implemented the public didn't like them. Some seem dead pointless - banning tyre changes but allowing refuelling?

[simdel1]

Originally Posted by ales

You call that nipping at the heels? It must have really sucked when Ferrari was miles ahead then

For the issue at hand - I can't believe they agreed to that! Wonder if every time radical changes were proposed/implemented the public didn't like them. Some seem dead pointless - banning tyre changes but allowing refuelling?

i know. its never (or hardly ever) the speed that the tires are changed that determines how quick a pit stop is, but the speed of refueling. i cant see what it helps achieve except force teams to use harder rubber, which reduces cornering speed. maybe it will contribute to cost savings by using far fewer sets of tires.

i would never want to see refueling banned though...that would be just too silly.

[camaroincal]

Originally Posted by ales

You call that nipping at the heels? It must have really sucked when Ferrari was miles ahead then

For the issue at hand - I can't believe they agreed to that! Wonder if every time radical changes were proposed/implemented the public didn't like them. Some seem dead pointless - banning tyre changes but allowing refuelling?

Look at Rubens Barrichello. Same car as MS, yet he's not dominating. That's why I think the other teams I mentioned are going pretty good. It's just MS has that much more talent that the rest. In fact Jenson Button is only 1 point behind Rubens in the points. And JPM is only 6 away and the up and comer Alonso is only 8 away. So you take MS out and it's pretty close.

[cruisey]

Change is good! so lets change it back the way it used to be!

[RallyRaider]

Originally Posted by cruisey

Change is good! so lets change it back the way it used to be!

Best post on this forum ever!

[ales]

Originally Posted by cruisey

Change is good! so lets change it back the way it used to be!

But used to be when? Pre 2003? Pre 1998? Pre 1994?

I still can't believe they all agreed to those changes. There must have been some smart people in that meeting, but that doesn't show.

As usualy, though, I'll complain and all, but will still place my butt in front of the TV every fortnight and watch, hopefully, the best cars and drivers in the world.

[RallyRaider]

Originally Posted by ales

But used to be when? Pre 2003? Pre 1998? Pre 1994?

Pre 1967

[l33tc4k30fd00m]

I'd be pushing for radical changes...

By that I mean less downforce... 70's downforce levels. Such pretty cars...

But I don't know how they can keep the tech edge...

Would be nice if they could work something out so the teams had more choice though. All the cars look pretty much the same at first glance.

[NSX-R-SSJ20K]

i only think its renault and BAR that are catching. Williams sucks

[NSX-R-SSJ20K]

Originally Posted by l33tc4k30fd00m

I'd be pushing for radical changes...

By that I mean less downforce... 70's downforce levels. Such pretty cars...

But I don't know how they can keep the tech edge...

Would be nice if they could work something out so the teams had more choice though. All the cars look pretty much the same at first glance.

back in the day the Lotus boys came up with a form of downforce that is the most dangerous because it could fail in the middle of the corner. It's called ground effect and has only been recently surpassed it turns of actual force applied on the car. I say bring back slicks.