[jfxavier]

F1 has moved so far away from the traditional sprint race that it was, it looks more like the old endurance racing. At the same time the endurance racing has become more of a flat out sprint race now a days.
The technological freedom that is available to the Endurance racing car designers would be something the F1 car designers would die for.
Adrian Newey's complaints and his interest to move away from F1 is a part of this restrictive rules within which innovation gets lost.
Recent comments from Fernando about how the driving of an F1 car has evolved into something like management of a cockpit is obvious when you see how the below pictures showing how the steering wheel of a McLaren has evolved over time.
Looking at the Steering wheel of Senna's McLaren and the modern car, you can imagine how much of a driver's mental faculty can be applied on racing the car and away from all the info & buttons on the wheel. No wonder the drivers are fed up and they just want to race flat out.

Source : http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/team...eering-wheels/


This wheel has but two functions – to steer left and right!

The M23’s steering wheel is adorned with a single switch – an emergency ignition-kill switch.

The MP4/4 steering features two buttons – the self-explanatory radio button (green) and a boost button (red).

Clearly, this wheel is a quantum step ahead of what had gone before – a legacy of the rapidly increased automation that hit F1 in the 1990s.

A series of rotary dials at the base of the wheel – these ramp the engine up and down, and change differential and traction settings. The two green function switches (+10 and +1) allow a wide range of functions to be accessed and activated – usually following a procedural instruction from an engineer over the radio.

MP4-29’s steering wheel uses the new large LCD readout, which provides the driver with the ability to access and scroll through a large menu of data. More and more function switches have migrated to click-dials on the sides of the wheel. Hidden from view (behind the wheel) is the DRS activation button.
Bottom-centre is the tyre-selector – this automatically dials in traction settings to complement the chosen tyre).

[jfxavier]

According to Autosport's Ian Parkes, If they are to be confirmed for tyre supply from 2017 Pirelli will consider "introducing extra variations within its current tyre compound range in a bid to improve the show." It is primarily aimed at increasing the number of pitstops in a race.
“If we were able to choose from a wider range [than the current four dry tyres] then we’d have more certainty to deliver the two-to-three-stop races,” says Paul Hembery
“As far as the public is concerned it would be [for example still] a hard and a medium tyre… at a certain type of race.
“But we would be able to choose from three versions of the hard and three versions of the medium”.
This would mean the range of dry tyres developed by Pirelli for each year would rise from 4 to 12. Three versions each of the super soft, soft, medium and hard tyres. However, the public would apparently be left in the dark as to which of the three variations of tyres was being used at each race.

[jfxavier]

Andries van Overbeeke, who has presented several concepts of how future F1 cars could look like in a series called “Echoes of a nearby Future” has released another stunning looking concept of a 2019 McLaren with a closed cockpit.

The full gallery is available on The artists website http://andriesvanoverbeeke.com/

Here is what he has to say about this project.

There once was a time when the racing world was ruled by savage beasts. They were captured just before the snowy season, when noble brave men had one winter to tame this creature. After months of championship battle, a handful of the best animals were kept for another winter of training, while the others were set free again.

The mixing of the creatures in the wild with their variety of genes gave rise to diversity at all levels. Every hunting season new species were discovered, with unseen traits that were often invincible and sometimes remarkable. We have all heard the myth of the hexapod.

But somewhere along the way, things changed. Once beloved peculiarities were now seen as monstrosities. The eccentric ones became a freaks, and were put down and hunted down untill none were left. Where we once witnessed battles like Dhalsim vs Blanka, these days only one species is left. But not without risk. Although it is strong, lack of genetic diversity leads to weaknesses that can whipe out a whole species at once. There is an ongoing ailment involving nasal deformation, causes by living in the standardised cages.

We must set them free. Legend goes that in the remote untraveled fields, savages still roam. Let life find a way.

[jfxavier]

The first results of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association Global Fan Survey, which was conducted in association with Motorsport.com, have been revealed and have delivered a fascinating insight in to what fans currently think of F1.

The Executive Summary of the Survey can be downloaded at www.gpda.motorsport.com.

Here are the highlights of the results.

[jfxavier]

FIA has invited teams to submit their own proposals following last week's Strategy Group meeting at Biggin Hill. Ideas being discussed include attempts to increase downforce but to reduce the loss of aerodynamic performance when following another car closely.

Under the current regulations, F1 cars produce their downforce from a small rear diffuser, the rear wing and complex front wings. The front wings have become so complicated in recent years because they are crucial to the airflow downstream on the car, and that means the effects of following another car closely are even worse than in the past.

A proposal put forward by Red Bull is to alter the proportion of downforce produced by the wings and the underbody. A longer underbody tunnel, similar to that used in F1 in the late 1970s and early '80s - and currently used in GP2 - is included in the proposal. This would increase downforce and also provide aero performance more equally to the front and rear of the car.

It is believed cars would then be less affected by following others closely, and make it easier to overtake without the assistance of DRS.

In order to prevent car performance from reaching the runaway levels seen with the ground effect cars of the early 1980s, a spec floor has been suggested by one of the independent teams - although a design for this has not been finalised yet.

AUTOSPORT understands that if teams are required to design their 2017 cars around a spec floor design, the cut-off point for a decision to be taken would be March '16.

In the current proposal, however, the front wings are set to remain complex, with the only change being an increase in width in conjunction with the wider tyres that are expected to come in for 2017.

With the front wing remaining relatively unregulated, there is the potential for it still to have too much of an effect on the rest of the car's aero and therefore still make following closely on track difficult.

Counter proposals to Red Bull's initial suggestions include limits on front wing development to maximise the effect of the ground effect design.

Source: http://m.autosport.com/news/report.p...al-for-f1-2017

[jfxavier]

Here is the one and only JPM speaking his mind about how to make F1 interesting in a jiffy.
He sure knows a thing or two about exciting races in F1.

https://youtu.be/NsiVcT2aPFc

Source: http://www.fia.com/multimedia/video-...toya-interview

[jfxavier]

The decision over F1's future tyre supplier for 2017 - 2019 will be made after negotiations of commercial terms with Bernie Ecclestone, before the tyre company is officially appointed by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council after the bids of both Pirelli and Michelin met the FIA's technical and safety requirements.

Source : http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/...relli-michelin

[jfxavier]

Auto Motor und Sport had published some of the 2017 F1 proposed designs drawn by Giorgio Piola after asking around in F1 technical circles and looks like from the Ferrari , Red Bull and McLaren proposals, the Red Bull-design has prevailed.

Here is the video animation created based on the info available.
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/v...7-9827070.html

Source: http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/f...7-9689160.html

[johannskaria]

One of the biggest complaints about the current hybrid turbo V6 engines employed in Formula One is that they don't make the right noise. So to fix it, the motorsport governing body has mandated a change to the exhaust systems to make them louder starting next season.

"For 2016, all cars must have a separate exhaust wastegate tailpipe through which all and only wastegate exhaust gases must pass,this measure has been undertaken to increase the noise of the cars and will not have any significant effect on power or emissions."

Autoblog article link

[jfxavier]

Formula 1's plans to deliver cars in 2017 that are around five seconds per lap faster than now are on course following tweaks agreed with teams.

Source : http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/fa...-deliver-leap/

Various proposals were put on the table, and a more conservative option that was preferred by the FIA was not given the green light because it was felt that it would not deliver enough of a lap time benefit.

That left teams working on an idea based around a more aggressive proposal from Red Bull, which has now been refined following the most recent Technical Regulations Working Group after the Japanese Grand Prix.

This will involve an 1850mm wide front wing - which is 200mm wider than the version currently used – and a rear wing that is 950mm wide and 800mm high.

The diffuser design will also be similar to how F1 cars were back in 2010, which should allow improved performance from the floor.

One change that has been approved is for the tyres to be slightly narrower than first proposed, because of concerns that the higher drag produced by the original concept offsetting all aerodynamic gains.

So the idea now is for the tyres to be 300mm wide at the front and 400mm wide at the rear. Current tyres are 245mm wide at the front and 325mm wider at the rear.

[shyn]

The FIA is now evaluating three solutions for closed cockpit designs in Formula 1, it revealed on Saturday, with the latest tests due to take place next month.

Motor racing's governing body has been looking at various solutions to help improve drivers' head protection, with calls for action having increased in the wake of Justin Wilson's fatal IndyCar accident at Pocono in August.

One of the key considerations has been to find a way of protecting drivers without it having a negative impact on visibility or extraction by safety personnel – which were factors in the FIA believing a fighter-jet style canopy is not the right solution.

An idea of a forward-rollhoop structure also posed similar problems, with a GP2 test at Magny-Cours conducted by Davide Valsecchi reported to be 'not pleasing'.

New concepts to be trialled

Now the FIA has settled on three possible ideas – a smaller version of the forward-rollhoop design, the halo concept that has been worked on by Mercedes, and a new centreline roll hoop idea, which features three long strips of material that run from the front of the cockpit to the rollhoop.

The FIA's safety director Laurent Mekies said: “We are trying to find concepts that can do the job – and we will find a way that can deal with the other matters [of visibility and extraction]. We are scanning quite a broad range of solutions.”

2017 introduction possible

With testing of the closed cockpit ideas ongoing, Mekies said that introduction of any design change in F1 would be unlikely before 2017 at the earliest.

“We are at the research stage, and we cannot make anything before 2017 – it is not doable,” he said. “But probably something in 2017 could be reintroduced if we get good results.

“If we don't get good results and we need a better solution then there will be a delay.”

GPDA backs stance

With the FIA having made a presentation of its plans to the GPDA meeting on Friday, its chairman Alex Wurz said all drivers were behind it – including those like Nico Hulkenberg who previously had been sceptical.

“I am not disclosing which drivers want what, but in the case of Nico he changed his mind after yesterday's meeting,” said Wurz.

“100 per cent of drivers are of the same opinion, and have the same feeling and the same direction that we have to stick with the research and we have to accept it will take time.

“The solutions must be safer, and move F1 forward. We don't want to introduce anything which is more negative or jeopardising.”

He added: “We have seen solutions that are not pretty, but first we need to work on the function and then we can work on the style.”

High-speed camera for 2016

The FIA also revealed that it has begun track testing at F1 races of the new high-speed cameras that will be mandatory next year for improving accident research into how the driver's helmet moves in the cockpit environment during a crash.

Daniil Kvyat and Fernando Alonso tested prototype devices, fitted in front of their cockpits looking backwards at their helmets, during Friday practice in Austin.

Source: http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/th...ed-next-month/

[jfxavier]

AMuS has published some drawings/ pictures of the proposed 2017/18 cars regulations.

Since February the FIA is in close discussions with F1 engineers about how the new generation of F1 cars should look like. Over time the original Red Bull concept has been modified in many details. A first computer graphic of the 2017 cars was finally handed out to the teams during the last Formula 1 Commission meeting on November 24th at Paris.

Bird's eye view:



(1) Longer nose.
(2) end plates end in front of the front tire.
(3) wider tires also on front axle.
(4) Wider cars.
(5) The cars are expected to generate 100 points more downforce.
(6) more freedom in design of sidepods + limited area for floor.
(7) (8) new rear tires + new rear wing.

Front view:



(1) The rear wing will grow from 80 to 95 cm, while its height will be only 80 cm.
(2) The tires become wider. The tread for the rear tires will be 40 instead of 32.5 cm.
(3) The cars width will be 2 m.
(4) The end plates end up like now just ahead of the front tires.

Side View:



(1) The front wing will have a delta shape.
(2) The nose is gaining 20 cm in length.
(3) The deflectors in front of the sidepods are more voluminous.
(4) The surface of the subfloor is limited.
(5) The rear wing is attached to two rearwardly inclined endplates here.
(6) The diffuser changes.

Rear view:



(1) Here we see once more, how much lower the rear wing is.
(2) The Beam Wing celebrates its comeback.
(3) The wider tires should bring 3 seconds a lap.
(4) The diffusor is allowed to rise 33 cm in front of the rear axle. The height is limited to 22 instead of 12.5 cm.

Source : http://www.ams-mag.com/news/2017-f1-...-10300454.html

[jfxavier]

The now infamous "Tokens" for PU development is set to be scrapped from 2017.

"The token system is being removed," Renault's Cyril Abiteboul said today. "One of the reasons we have all agreed to do this is that we all need the performance of the engine to converge.

"An F1 that is dictated by the performance of the engine is not good for anyone.

"You see it is not good for Mercedes, it is not good for Renault, Ferrari – we all have interest to change that.

"We have decided, also for the public, to stop the public being confused between the penalty system, the token system – we have decided to simply remove the token system."

Source : http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1...m-2017-671488/

[jfxavier]

Meetings of the F1 Strategy Group and the F1 Commission were held yesterday in Geneva, with a number of proposals being agreed. Upon the recommendation of the Strategy Group, the F1 Commission passed a series of new measures.
Apart from the Quali tweaks for 2016, the other proposed changes for 2017 are as below.

Driver of the Day

The F1 Commission agreed to the introduction of a Driver of the Day award, to be implemented by the Commercial Rights Holder in conjunction with Formula One broadcasters, with the intention of driving greater fan engagement.

Viewers will be encouraged to vote online for their “Driver of the Day” throughout a Grand Prix, with the winner to be announced as part of the race broadcast immediately following the conclusion of the race, when the driver will be presented with their prize.

2017 Sporting and Technical Regulations

Following the recommendation of the Strategy Group, the F1 Commission agreed to postpone the deadline for the finalisation of 2017 Sporting and Technical Regulations until 30 April, 2016 – to allow all stakeholders the best opportunity to complete all relevant work.

2017 bodywork

New bodywork regulations have been adopted to create more exciting cars, delivering additional downforce to increase speeds and lower lap times.

The FIA, teams and official tyre supplier will continue discussions on the best solution for testing of the new tyres required as part of the regulations.

* A summary of the proposed changes – which will be included in the final 2017 Technical Regulations to be approved by the World Motor Sport Council – is attached.

Power unit supply

Significant further progress was made on the four major topics regarding Power Unit supply:

- Supply cost

- Obligation to supply

- Performance convergence

- Further improvement of noise



A working group consisting representatives of the FIA, Commercial Rights Holder, Power Unit suppliers and customer teams will undertake further work with the aim of reaching agreement on a plan to meet the above requirements by 30 April, 2016.

Cockpit protection

The F1 Commission confirmed the intention of introducing some form of cockpit protection from the 2017 season. All stakeholders are working together to make this a reality, with the “Halo” concept currently the preferred option. Other options, such as transparent cockpit protection, will continue to be evaluated.

Source : http://www.fia.com/news/fia-statemen...rmula-one-cars

[jfxavier]

The 2017 tyre prototypes were tested this week at Silverstone.
They would prefer for a middle east venue for winter testing for obvious reasons.

Here's what Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery had to say.

http://www.formula1.com/en/latest/in...mbery-q-a.html

Q: Given the fact that the tyre situation will change completely in 2017, what effects will that have on racing? The stints will be longer, which makes the window for pitting bigger, so we are likely to see less stops. Is it going to change race strategy completely?

PH: Well, we will have much less degradation in 2017 and tyres will - if we achieve what we are trying to achieve - have a wider operating window. And yes, that in itself will take away some level of strategy - or at least variations between teams. Having said that, we will still try to achieve some level of degradation! (laughs) What we definitely will see is faster cars. We expect a three to four second improvement in performance, which is clearly quite substantial. So the tyres will be working very hard and the compounds will be working hard - and that will cause degradation, so we will still have a good level of strategy.

Q: How far along are you with development? Obviously you haven’t yet sampled a 2017 car…

PH: We will be on the track for the first time [with the 2017 tyres] in the first four days of August - working with a hybrid car and not with an exact 2017 car. But that will give us a good guideline of how the tyres are performing. And that will give a lot of answers to a lot of questions. (laughs) There is, of course, already a huge amount of work and indoor testing going on in our factory. I am hopeful that we will give the sport what it wants in 2017.

Q: So 2017 pre-season testing - when all the teams are running their new cars and the new tyres - will be paramount. Will they have the final version of the 2017 tyres?

PH: Normally yes, but if we have any surprises - if the cars then are very different to what we had envisioned - then we will have to react to that. Probably not for the first race, but at least when we have some really good winter testing we should know in advance how it is likely going to be - what changes are needed.

Q: If you are looking for ‘good winter testing’ to provide representative data for the season ahead, Barcelona in February might not be ideal? What is your preferred venue?

PH: We would prefer to go somewhere like Bahrain or Abu Dhabi. The temperatures will be representative and we know the tracks very well. We definitely would want to go to representative tracks.