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 61 - 80 of 140

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  1. If overtaking becomes the norm with the new aero­ packages and to detune engines to make them last 3­ races takes too much of a performance hit, it may well­ be that teams that can afford it will just take the 10­ place grid drop and go with new engines every race.

    From Scottish C, on Fri 12 Dec 8:45PM

  2. Hmmm, some interesting cost cutting ideas, I'm not­ sure some teams will last on 3 races an engine! I do­ like the no-refuelling idea for 2010 though, this could­ bring about some big changes and make for a lot more­ over taking. Hopefully this will bring more independant­ teams to formula1 and build up the grid again!

    From tifosi4eva, on Fri 12 Dec 8:36PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hmmm, some interesting cost cutting ideas, I'm not­ sure some teams will last on 3 races an engine! I do­ like the no-refuelling idea for 2010 though, this could­ bring about some big changes and make for a lot more­ over taking. Hopefully this will bring more independant­ teams to formula1 and build up the grid again!

    From tifosi4eva, on Fri 12 Dec 8:36PM

  4. Nice to hear that max wants to be whipped no sorry­ wants to whip F1 into shape.

    From CE, on Fri 12 Dec 8:26PM

  5. HI

    From Andrew C, on Fri 12 Dec 7:39PM

  6. One of the problems with F1 is that football fans on­ their day off are getting involved.
    Just look at some­ of he nasty brainless comments here or some of the­ disgraceful behaviour we've seen over the last­ couple of years- especially in Spain.
    By this I­ don't wish to insinuate that all football fans are­ like that. But it remains a fact that football attracts­ a higher proportion of @#$% than other sports.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Fri 12 Dec 7:30PM

  7. I remember the days when the cars were filled up at the­ start and it was up to the driver if he needed tyres,­ so not so many pit crew to pay. A lot better racing­ too.

    From Peter T, on Fri 12 Dec 7:06PM

  8. Poor F1...going downfall.Yes,cost-cutting measures are­ good,but the sport will lose its beauty and­ entertainment.F1 afterwards won't be F1.

    From Guyver_3, on Fri 12 Dec 6:53PM

  9. perhaps f1 should take alook superleague formula, what­ great racing no refuellng and complete reverse grids­ for the second race fun for fans and teams at a­ fraction of the cost for fans and teams

    From aidyalmerimar, on Fri 12 Dec 6:50PM

  10. Sadly I think f1 has kiled itself by loading the gun­ the credit crunch has fired

    From david, on Fri 12 Dec 6:35PM

  11. And how can we forget the ban on active suspension for­ '94? Bernie and Max had no clue that a slow safety­ car will bring tire pressures dangerously low on the­ racers - absolutely no clue! As far as I'm­ concerned, they should both be charged for the­ manslaughter of Ayrton Senna.

    From yyce16, on Fri 12 Dec 6:23PM

  12. Taff - If you don't watch it then your opinion is­ basically worthless.
    I also enjoy football more than­ F1, but I would hope both will continue to prosper in­ the absensce of large amounts of disposable income.

    From tim_simpson_thfc, on Fri 12 Dec 6:21PM

  13. Gee, re-fueling was forced on the teams in '94 by­ Max and Bernie - costing the teams more. And now­ they're banning it, costing even more. I remember­ when they banned slick tires in '98. Jacques­ Villeneuve said it was "Stupid." Max's­ direct reply was, "Perhaps one day he will thank­ me." Well, Max, no one is thanking you. And­ don't forget how they've made the formula­ change they're engine types each year, including­ this past year when they forced the standard ECU on all­ of the teams. If you want to see why it costs so much­ to develop a car each year, you need only look at those­ two clowns. Let's see if another Tilka-designed­ track is brought in; more boring races. My daughter­ draws better circuits than this goof.

    From yyce16, on Fri 12 Dec 6:17PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    interesting equal money equal cars ect...we'll see­ who the best driver is then and it won;t be Tax­ evasion hamilton(also known as knock off nigel,as in­ the tv add)

    From andy, on Fri 12 Dec 6:15PM

  15. I think Bernie Ecclestone should quit F1 and go into­ films.The next James Bond perhaps!

    From Perry Neeham, on Fri 12 Dec 6:12PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Football is for the ordinary folk, F1 is for moneyed­ people and it is not a sport. All you need to do is­ strap some nutter in a machine and talk to him on the­ radio while he avoids crashes. The spectators are blood­ sport followers as they are desperate for a crash­ otherwise it would be even more boring. I could not­ care less whether it folds for good. I do not watch it

    From taff, on Fri 12 Dec 6:05PM

  17. I get the feeling that in 2009 we are all going to­ worring about more important things than F1...like­ where to live and how to eat....

    From davids, on Fri 12 Dec 5:50PM

  18. kels435, the aloud to which you refer is girls aloud­ (i.e. @#$%).
    I think you meant allowed.
    I'll not­ get into the rest of your spelling mistakes, however I­ do agree, the removal of refueling will return the­ sport to a procession devoid of the entertainment­ provided by the speculation over how much fuel is in­ which car. Qualifying has finally been made interesting­ with the fuelling regulations imposed on the top 10 and­ now all that hard work will be undone by these­ knee-jerk cost cutting initiatives.
    I agree that in the­ current financial climate it is important to cut costs­ however the cost of refuelling could be easily offset­ by reintroducing competion in fuel suppliers and­ allowing those who chose the 'cheaper' fuel­ extra privilages in race or qualifying situations.
    To­ simply say that proper development is too expensive not­ only devalues the sport, but it relegates F1 to a­ formulaic racing series and not the pinnacle of­ motorsport I thought it was.
    Let's all watch NSACAR­ next season, at least they're allowed to crash...

    From tim_simpson_thfc, on Fri 12 Dec 5:45PM

  19. Can't understand why anyone wants to watch the­ organised traffic that is motor racing. I have a friend­ who goes all over to watch these events. He told me­ that the cars can go past at 180 mph. That's a mile­ in just 20 seconds. The stand he sits in is about 1/8th­ of a mile long so I said "That means when a car­ goes past the stand you see it for 2 1/2 seconds?"­ He said "Yes, great isn't it?" I thought­ "What a der der!"

    From quatt47, on Fri 12 Dec 5:45PM

  20. Racingshed, have you shed your brains. Can you not­ understand a very simple thing. Sponsors are drying up,­ motor manufacturers are struggling to make any money­ selling their cars, and they will be cutting costs. F1­ is in peril. It's nothing to do with trying to open­ F1 for small cheap teams, it's trying to keep the­ big teams in it. I agree that without the technology at­ the highest level, F1 might as well be GP2. So F1 is­ finished in the medium term for me anyway. But that is­ a different issue to being able to support those high­ costs. Remember, Ferrari is owned by Fiat, and Fiat­ could really start suffering soon. So maybe even the­ red @#$% will have to disappear. Tbe costs must be kept­ down

    From walkingsex1, on Fri 12 Dec 5:21PM
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