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 101 - 120 of 140

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  1. Ah...Sarge there you are; back to the old days.....that­ was when men drove cars and not kids........Bring on­ Thundersports too!

    From justblowinoffsteam., on Sat 13 Dec 3:31PM

  2. Might as well go back to the old F-5000 series of the­ '70's!! All stock block 305 c.i. Chevy­ engines, no turbo just an airbox, and the standard­ McLaren, March or Lola chassis. Even back then the­ fuel bladder was so big they could run almost 400km­ without a stop and all we ever used was octane 104­ aviation gas. There would be at least 40 cars on the­ grid, and you could picnic with a family of 4 all day­ for less than $100!! A second hand Lola 332 rolling­ chassis could be bought for $15,000.

    From sarg g, on Sat 13 Dec 3:16PM

  3. Shoretr races? You can't do that to me! I look­ forward to that two hour nap once a fortnight.

    From Feltorange, on Sat 13 Dec 3:15PM

  4. Cost cutting, FANTASTIC!!!. The way things are going,­ in 5 years time i'll be on the starting grid in my­ Lacetti estate in Monaco. Mosley's an arse, retire­ NOW.

    From marktsparky65, on Sat 13 Dec 1:46PM

  5. One engine? What like the Cosworth DFV like nearly­ everyone used for years... Hardly new!

    From BBC 2, on Sat 13 Dec 1:33PM

  6. At long last no more refueling. Talk about reinventing­ the wheel

    From r.l.milligan, on Sat 13 Dec 12:51PM

  7. Jason T you sad g1t.
    Paddington/ Marnio/ Never y/ Rick­ M/ etc are all the same sad person who posts the same­ message over and over again. They are not funny they­ just p1ss everybody of in here.
    I just hope you are new­ to this site otherwise I would end it all now because­ all of your cred has gone.

    From Asif e Giv-a-Shee, on Sat 13 Dec 11:37AM

  8. f1junky1000 and others, where is your sense of humour!!­ I find Marnio and co's posts a breath of fresh­ air, it makes a change from reading boring or angry­ posts such as yours. Keep up the posts Marnio, Marion,­ Nevey Y etc, dont let these b@stards grind you down,­ your points are valid! Merry Crimbo!!

    From Jason T, on Sat 13 Dec 10:58AM

  9. Bye Bye Formula 1. What would Fangio, Hawthorn,­ Collins, et al, make of it? I believe that in­ Australia they have dirt track racing. Even that might­ be better than the formula for 2010.
    Dave H.

    From haydon649, on Sat 13 Dec 10:57AM

  10. pdmcosworth i got 5 thumbs up you only got 2 dumb­ arse!!!!

    From stevebullisgod, on Sat 13 Dec 10:54AM

  11. All very well all you moaners going on about change,­ why don't you put some big cost cutting ideas­ together, send them to the FIA. I am not a MM supporter­ or a supporter of any one else, just like F1, want want­ it to survive. Smaller pay packets for ALL over payed­ sports people would help, maybe.

    From ANDREW, on Sat 13 Dec 10:41AM

  12. Never Y, Marnio or whatever alias you're currently­ using... aliens from mars? What a demented @#$% you­ are! There's only one alien from mars and it's­ you. Do the doctors at the asylum know you're­ breaking your curfew? Look behind you, it's doctor­ Glock with your straightjacket. What a sadtwat.

    From Steve B, on Sat 13 Dec 10:12AM

  13. HE LOST ALL RESPECT FROM THE HIS FELLOW POSTERS!
    NEVER­ Y THE IDIOT NEVER WOULD SHUT UP THEN AGAIN THE­ OFFSPRING OF BROTHER AND SISTER WHAT DO YOU EXPECT.
    HIS­ OBSESSION WITH MCLAREN DOES NOT BORDER ON THE ANNOYING­ IT IS DAMN RIGHT RIGHT ANNOYING.
    NEVER Y SUFFERED FROM­ MULTIPLE PERSONALITY PROBLEMS, POSTING AS MARNIO AND AS­ SOME ORTHER CHARACTERS.
    HOPEFULLY HE WOULD ONE DAY DIE­ OR JUST GO AWAY BUT AS IS WITH EVERYTHING IN LIFE­ PEOPLE LIKE NEVER Y LIVE FOREVER SPOUTING THEIR HATRED­ AND STUPIDITY.
    NEVER Y NEVER Y HOW STUPID ARE THOU!!!

    From f1junky1000, on Sat 13 Dec 10:08AM

  14. Shorter races and no pit stops? Daft, daft, daft.­ Who's going to pay for a 45 minute race? Unless­ they have two races, like in biking, it's bonkers.­ Pit-stops are interesting, it's all part if the­ strategy game. They should both stay. I'm all for­ cost-cutting and environmental changes, but keep the­ character and the good bits of the sport, for crying­ out loud!

    From ddubdrahcir, on Sat 13 Dec 9:04AM

  15. Here are a few more cost cutting measures for F1. lets­ go round in a circle and race stock vehicles like­ Chevy's , Dodge's and Toyota Camry's and­ have no technology at all and use duct tape on cars­ when they get slightly damaged.
    Oh Wait! That is­ Nascar.
    This is where this sport is heading. Boring,­ short races with no excitment at all.

    From Daniel S, on Sat 13 Dec 8:02AM

  16. I find some of the proposals very strange.Some of the­ ideas its just going to make the sport very boring. I­ can't imagine a short distance F1 without­ overtaking, no refuelling. The stuff about standard­ engine for all teams, I really don't get that! One­ of the thrills of the sport is the competitiveness­ which comes from the guys in tech. I bet some of us­ will just switch our interest back to the most­ beautiful game of soccer. I hope the guys(Max and­ Bernie) knows they're going to be held responsible­ for the demise of F1 sport.

    From seun odunmbaku, on Sat 13 Dec 7:25AM

  17. A few reasonable ideas and some daft ones. How much do­ tyre warmers cost to run?
    As the engine power is­ reduced why not get rid of the plank (no not Bernie,­ the one under the car) and let them use ground effect­ again, that will increase grip in the corners and allow­ more overtaking opportunities.
    Why not bring back mass­ dampers and flexible wings, all technology that made­ the cars go faster and was banned.

    From Mike, on Sat 13 Dec 5:28AM

  18. These might be good suggestions but i just find it­ difficult to take Max Mosley seriously.....

    From gav_1994, on Sat 13 Dec 4:44AM

  19. A1 is taking over F1 in the popular stats. Its a joke.­ What next Bio fuel for Lewis and diesel for the others

    From Graham M, on Sat 13 Dec 3:09AM

  20. We get these ill thought out, cobbled together knee­ jerk reactions, no proper consultation with the teams,­ behind the scenes fixing on a grand scale, and BE and­ his business partners taking 50% of all F1 revenues,­ stashing the cash while Rome burns around them. How to­ solve this financial crisis? put the money back into­ the sport, not in BE's back pocket.

    From Bentley Boy, on Sat 13 Dec 2:35AM
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