Testing banned as F1 cuts costs

Eurosport - Sun, 14 Dec 07:04:00 2008

Formula One costs will be slashed from next year by at least 30 per cent as a result of cost-cutting measures including a ban on testing during the season.

FORMULA 1 2008 Max Mosley, FIA president - 0

The governing FIA said in a statement that independent teams would see engine costs halved in 2009, with a year's supply priced at five million euros (£4.47m) from 2010.

Testing will be banned during the season other than at regular Friday practice at grand prix weekends, and from 2010 refuelling will cease and grand prix distances could be shortened.

The FIA estimated that the new measures would save manufacturer-owned teams the equivalent of 30 per cent of their 2008 budgets next year, with independent teams seeing even greater reductions.

The measures come with the sport staring into the abyss, with the manufacturers who own half of the teams facing plunging sales and share prices.

Honda, who have spent hundreds of millions of pounds for scant reward, have already announced they are pulling out - triggering fears that another carmaker could quit before the season starts in Australia on March 29.

"I think this is probably the first step towards Formula One saving itself," FIA president Max Mosley said.

"What's significant about these changes is when you walk down the pit lane, or you sit in the grandstand or watch television, you will notice no difference at all. It will be Formula One as we all know it but clearly much less expensive."

The FIA World Motor Sport Council, approving changes unanimously agreed by the teams, said engines would be detuned to 18,000 rpm and have to last for three races next season rather than the current two.

The teams will be limited to a maximum of 20 engines per season, eight for each of the two drivers and four for testing - about half their current usage.

"Engines will be available to the independent teams for less than five million euros per team, per season," the FIA said, looking ahead to 2010.

"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 December 20, 2008.

"This same engine will continue to be used in 2011 and 2012 (thus no new engine for 2011)."

There will be restrictions on the use of costly wind tunnels from January and reductions on the number of team personnel attending races.

The new KERS system, which recovers energy generated under braking to produce additional bursts of power, will not be mandatory next season.

"For 2010, the Formula One Teams Association is considering proposals for a standard KERS system," the FIA said, adding that it was awaiting proposals.

In the longer term, The FIA and FOTA "will study the possibility of an entirely new power train for 2013 based on energy efficiency".

Factbox: Cost-cutting measures

CHANGES FOR 2009

* Engines must each last for three successive races, rather than two at present, with the 2.4 litre V8 units reduced to 18,000 rpm (currently 19,000) with no internal re-tuning allowed.

* All engines will otherwise remain the same as in 2008, with the exception of Renault who have been authorised to make certain modifications to restore parity.

* Teams will be allowed a maximum of 20 engines per season, eight for each driver and four for testing. This is about half their current usage.

* Independent teams will pay approximately half what they were paying in 2008.

* Testing during the season will be allowed only at Friday practice on race weekends. In 2008, teams were limited to 30,000 km per season.

* Wind tunnels exceeding 60 per cent scale and air speeds of 50 metres per second to be outlawed from January.

* The number of team staff at races is to be reduced through various measures, including sharing information on tyres and fuel.

CHANGES FOR 2010

* Engines are to be made available for independent teams for less than five million euros (£4.47m) per team, per season, either provided by an independent supplier or the manufacturer teams backed by guarantees of continuity. That compares with current engine costs estimated at more than 15 million euros (£13.41m) a season.

* The same transmission to be used by all teams, subject to confirmation that this is practicable.

* The FIA will compose a list of standard parts for the chassis.

* Radio and telemetry systems to be standardised.

* Refuelling will cease during races and the use of tyre warmers will be banned. Race distances and duration could also be reduced, subject to market research.

* Aerodynamic research will be further restricted.

LONGER TERM

The FIA and Formula One Teams Association will look into the possibility of an entirely new powertrain (engine and transmission) for 2013, based on energy efficiency.

Reuters

Comment 121 - 140 of 140

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  1. May I reiterate my request you grab your ears and pull,­ I promise you it will help.

    From ginger_gitt, on Mon 5 Jan 11:19PM
  2. Unfortunately it would appear you have forgotten what­ lies you have previously told.

    From ginger_gitt, on Mon 5 Jan 11:19PM
  3. Therefore your post should have said "Ferrari will­ never run Honda's KERS because they already have­ the best system on the grid".

    From ginger_gitt, on Mon 5 Jan 11:19PM
  4. You guaranteed us that Ferrari were miles ahead of­ EVERYONE in their development of KERS.

    From ginger_gitt, on Mon 5 Jan 11:18PM
  5. mouronroute: Why oh why oh why would Ferrari run­ without KERS?

    From ginger_gitt, on Mon 5 Jan 11:17PM
  6. Never Y Im feeling that you create all these different­ personalities just so you have someone to call friend.­ is that true, are you a Billy No Mates l-a-d-y-b-o-y??­ Question: why do you hate Hammies dad so much?? Are you­ jealous? wots up Did your daddy leave you and your­ other daddy and go off with another daddy????. Poor­ you. OOooorrrr do you fancy Hamilton senior?? Is that­ it?? You want a big piece of "Ham" dont you?­ dont deny it, You "twitch" at the thought of­ Ham senior dont you. Poor boy, there is no shame in­ having those thoughts nowadays. Why not ask him out! he­ may say yes. But what would your Goose Stepping­ Internet buddies think? Best not to tell them. We have­ enough hate in the world.

    From Gavin F, on Mon 15 Dec 2:56PM
  7. I am fed up of hearing people slating Hamilton, he has­ been an insperation for F1. Why do farrari get away­ with murder? When lewis does a similar thing he gets­ severely punished for it.the sport is starting to get­ beyond a joke at times. There are a lot of talented­ drivers onb the circuit at the moment, why can they be­ left alone to race?

    From Tony, on Sun 14 Dec 7:08PM
  8. Who are real cheats in F1 and have been for years and­ years? Some clues
    1) Their cars are red
    2) Their­ name is ferrari
    Now even the brainless ferrari fans­ might work that one out.
    Now the overly flamboyant­ Alonso will drive a red car and all the gay male Alonso­ supporters will become tifosi.

    From Major Bumsore, on Sun 14 Dec 5:35PM
  9. Not for Anything, Whats killing F! is Bernie's­ desire to travel to singapore, india, china and­ wherever he feels he can deepen his already vast­ pockets. How about some circuits where you can actually­ pass a #%$^*& car. Singaopre, Valencia and hungary­ alone this year looked like a parade train and not a­ race.!! And test bans during the season is ridiculuous.­ everyone loevs watching cars eveolve race after race. I­ live in Montreal and we lost our GP beacuse hat troll­ Bernie is greedy as @#$%. he needs to go along with­ that sick nazi sympathizing mosley!

    From mike, on Sun 14 Dec 5:06PM
  10. Ferarri keep making mistakes at refueling stops - now­ refuelling is to cease! well done Max! - thats your­ retirement slush fund secured! do us a favour and take­ your retirement now!

    From david.malcolmuprg, on Sun 14 Dec 11:41AM
  11. Testing may be banned but testiculating isn't!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 10:17PM
  12. I thought the FIA wanted innovation? The word­ "standardised" appears quite alot in the­ story. Standardised surely limits innovation?

    From ginger_gitt, on Sat 13 Dec 9:53PM
  13. Never Y, never, in all my born days have I read so much­ tripe.
    You sad lonely useless loser. When will idiots­ like you get a life?
    Never.
    Lewis Hamilton IS the F1­ World Champion, he will continue to be until the end of­ next year.
    There wasn't any cheating by him, or any­ other driver or team.
    The saddest thing in all your­ idiot posts is your lack of ability to understand that­ Lewis Hamilton won and injected some excitement into F1­ again.
    When you grow up and get a real brain you might­ be able to understand this.
    But I doubt it.
    Now go­ away, play with your toys and shut up.

    From Jon, on Sat 13 Dec 9:42PM
  14. Who are real cheats in F1 and have been for years and­ years? Some clues
    1) Their cars are red
    2) Their­ name is ferrari
    Now even the brainless ferrari fans­ might work that one out.

    From Major Bumsore, on Sat 13 Dec 9:21PM
  15. ..and what happens when ferrari use up their 20 engines­ with 3 races to go (due to blow ups or something­ else)...what happens then Max???

    From Matthew B, on Sat 13 Dec 6:39PM
  16. Why on earth shorten the race distance,what about the­ paying spectator.
    Need to make F1 more exciting with­ more tracks capable of overtaking.

    From Al H, on Sat 13 Dec 5:11PM
  17. 666666 ALL RACES SHOULD BE AT LEAST 2 HRS TO BE­ WORTHWHILE

    ---------- ***

    From jestyn.thyme, on Sat 13 Dec 5:01PM
  18. _________________----------------- I N V A L I D ­ --------------- !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ???

    ­ ________77777^^^^^^^^ ------------ I N V A L I D­ ------------- 1 1 1 1 1 1 1­ 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From jestyn.thyme, on Sat 13 Dec 4:59PM
  19. ffghjklkjhg

    From jestyn.thyme, on Sat 13 Dec 4:56PM
  20. Yes Sir, I was there!!! Even made it to Brands,­ Donnington, Silverstone then a week at Imola. I'm­ a Yank so it was a big thing for me as a kid.

    From sarg g, on Sat 13 Dec 4:55PM
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