MiamiPhill

Each new Formula One season sees a raft of major and minor regulation updates, aimed at achieving a range of different objectives - and 2008 is no different. Some have been well publicised, such as the ban on traction control, others less so, such as the loss of qualifying?s ?fuel burn? phase.

In a bid to analyse their impact, the Renault team guide us through the primary changes in the first of a two-part feature?

Technical Regulations, Article 5; Sporting Regulations, Article 28.5
"As in 2007, only homologated engines may be used in the 2008 championship. For the new season, the homologation perimeter has been widened to include all elements included in Articles 5.4 and 5.17 of the Technical Regulations. Items included in Article 5.17 can be changed without penalty, but only with components of an identical design. The duration of the engine homologation period is likely to be five years, and competitors will now be able to make their first engine change during the season without a grid penalty being imposed. However, this change may only be made in the event of a genuine failure."
IMPACT: The extension of the homologation perimeter is a logical step onwards from the homologation phase that began in 2007. Homologating engine ancillaries in addition to the V8 itself prevents teams from diverting significant spend into areas of very small return, such as the development of improved fuel pumps. The ?free? first engine change is a significant change to the rules, but cannot be exploited as a ?joker? owing to the fact that it must be as a result of a genuine technical failure.

Technical Regulations, Article 8.2
"8.2 Control electronics:
8.2.1 All components of the engine and gearbox, including clutch, differential and all associated actuators must be controlled by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which has been manufactured by an FIA designated supplier to a specification determined by the FIA. The ECU may only be used with FIA approved software and may only be connected to the control system wiring loom, sensors and actuators in an manner specified by the FIA."
IMPACT: The introduction of the Microsoft-MES SECU (Standard Electronic Control Unit) marks a significant change for the ING Renault F1 Team, which previously used the Magneti-Marelli Step 11. In technical terms, the SECU is about half as powerful as the outgoing system, with a quarter of the memory. The SECU package is composed of six units, with a weight gain of over 35 percent compared to the previous system. The introduction of the SECU eliminates a number of control systems, including traction control and EBS (engine braking system). In total, the loss of these systems will cost up to 0.4s per lap.

Technical Regulations, Article 13.1.1
"A revised cockpit entry template for 2008 gives greater lateral driver head protection
compared to the design used in 2007. The upper edge of the chassis side now sits 655mm above the reference plane (roughly 20mm above the highest point in 2007) and maintains this maximum height along a length of 270mm. The resulting head protection is more substantial than in previous years."
IMPACT: The new head protection was introduced to reduce the risk of driver injury in the event of one car passing over another, following an incident at the 2007 Australian Grand Prix. This change has led the team to pay particular attention to the question of inboard or outboard placement of the mirrors, to ensure maximum visibility. This modification to the rules is a further example of the FIA drive to maintain Formula One at the pinnacle of motor sport and automotive safety.

Technical Regulations, Article 15.1
"A list of permitted materials may be found in the Appendix to these regulations."
IMPACT: The materials restrictions in force from 2008 means that the cars must be built from a list of approved materials. This eliminates some of the more exotic and expensive materials that were being used in small quantities by some teams, without forcing constructors into retrograde steps in technology. This restriction has been designed to prevent the diversion of spend into areas of diminishing return, as restrictions are imposed elsewhere in the regulations.

Technical Regulations, Article 19.4.5
"19.4.5 A minimum of 5.75 percent (m/m) of the fuel must comprise oxygenates derived from biological sources. The percentage that each component is considered to originate from a biological source is calculated from the relative proportion of the molecular weight contributed by the biological starting material."
IMPACT: Formula One fuel has been strictly regulated since 1993, when the FIA imposed unleaded fuel that had to meet the Euro 95 standard applied to pump fuel for normal road cars. Prior to 1992, Formula One racing had used leaded fuel with very high octane ratings for maximum power. Since specifying the use of ?pump fuel?, the FIA?s has ensured Formula One racing operates in advance of standards in force for production cars. The introduction of a small percentage of bio-fuels anticipates 2010 road car norms.

ITNurse

I'm right there with you MP, I missed racing the minute it was over last season. Can't wait to see what kind of performance the new cars bring. No US GP though and this is the year I was going to Indy. Shoulda went last year!

BetterMakeWay

I hardly can wait to see how the new bimmer performs.

This season should be very very interesting!!

MiamiPhill

According to Spanish newspaper;

Ron Dennis has forcibly relinquished his role as team principal of McLaren, and will be replaced by deputy Martin Whitmarsh, a Spanish newspaper claims. The national sports daily Marca says the decision, compelled by the British team?s engine and equity partner Mercedes-Benz, will shortly be confirmed by means of a press release.

Marca said Mercedes, the German manufacturer that is tipped to shortly take over the entire Woking based team, was angered by Dennis? mishandling of the espionage scandal last year that cost the outfit a lot of money and arguably both 2007 titles.

Dennis, who has overseen McLaren?s ultra-successful reign since the early 1980s, could be given a new position but will not be in a crucial decision-making role, Marca added.

Dennis still owns 15 per cent of McLaren, with the rest of the equity divided between Mercedes, a Bahraini company, and Mansour Ojjeh.

Stay tuned!!

ITNurse

WOW!! No news of it on the F1 website yet.

ITNurse

McScapegoat: Ron Dennis blames internet media for losing F1 title

[attachment=58194:rondenni...tertubes.jpg]
Ah scapegoating, the last refuge of the defeated. This season McLaren got caught red-handed (pardon the pun) and lost the constructor's championship. Then its poor reliability and performance meant that neither of the team's incredibly talented pilots could lock up the driver's title, either. Rather than look inwards to find cause for his team's enormous disappointment, team principal Ron Dennis is pointing his finger. And he's pointing in our direction.

"The internet is an unregulated source of information that is a nuissance." That's what Dennis had to say. "It has added to the pressure on our team." Ron went on a bit, but that's pretty much the gist of it. Feel free to follow the link to find out how else we and our ilk screwed things up for McLaren.

(For those not yet sufficiently entertained, Autosport is reporting that McLaren mechanics made Dennis a fake trophy.)

Don't blame us, Ron. Blame Al Gore. After all, he invented the internet.

[Source: F1-live]

MiamiPhill

Taming the beast - driving without driver aids.

A major talking point for the new season surrounds the arrival of the Standardised Electronic Control Unit, or SECU, and with it the elimination of driver aids such as traction control and engine braking systems.

The SECU enables the FIA to police an article of the regulations central to the ?DNA? of Formula One racing - that ?the driver shall drive the car alone and unaided?. But, what should we expect as this new era dawns? And how difficult is it to tame a 2008-spec Formula One car? Double world champion Fernando Alonso and Renault team mate, Nelson Piquet Jr, explain?

?It is in the low-speed (second gear) corners that you notice the difference because that is where the traction control would normally kick in,? reveals Alonso. ?That means you have to change your driving style quite dramatically. Last year we used to go straight to full throttle, but now we need to be gentler and feather the throttle.

?Another difference this year occurs when you get wheelspin because, in the absence of traction control, it becomes impossible to stop it - even if you back off the throttle. When you have wheelspin, the revs rise and you have more torque, which makes the wheels spin even more. Therefore, to deliver a good lap time, it is essential to avoid wheelspin through all parts of the corner, and that is not easy.?

Alonso also highlights the variation in steering inputs: ?With traction control we used to get more understeer at the exit of the corner, but this is no longer an issue. Rather, from midcorner onwards, the car oversteers and slides more, which again influences your driving style and the racing line.?

The new regulations have also removed the engine braking systems (EBS) that used to moderate the locking of the rear wheels, and give greater stability, under heavy braking. It is the loss of this system, rather than the loss of traction control, that Piquet believes has the greatest impact.

?The biggest difference you notice with the 2008 cars is not the loss of traction control, but the absence of engine braking control because the car is much more unstable, especially on used tyres,? says Nelson. ?When you look at the telemetry, the brake pressure is now much less compared to last year. With EBS you could brake much harder; if you did that without the electronics, you will simply lock up your wheels.?

Alonso echoes Piquet?s sentiments and emphasises the need to adapt set-up accordingly. ?Without EBS you do suffer with locking of the rear tyres because stopping a car travelling at 300 km/h is not easy,? he explains. ?You have to adapt the set-up of the car to compensate for the loss of all the systems. It will be down to the driver to adapt and I am convinced that as the season develops we will have forgotten what it was like to drive with these aids.?

And yet, despite all the changes, the speed of the cars remains almost unaffected. The loss of the driver aids represents a loss of between three and four tenths per lap, a difference that is unnoticeable to the naked eye. More important, perhaps, is what the fans now know they are watching: 22 of the world?s best drivers, in total control of the most demanding racing cars on the planet.

JetBlack5OC

I can't wait for this season to start.

Looking forward to the Singapore Grand Prix, first ever night race.

pinguhk

I can't wait for this season to start too.
I what to see how bad Alonso dose
Will be going to the China F1 this year to suport Hamilton

BetterMakeWay

What makes you sure Alonso will do bad?