| The FIA (the governing body of motorsport) has | | | | The engines have been down-sized to 2.4 litre V8 |
| made quite a few changes to the technical | | | | motors with 4 valves per cylinder. The minimum |
| regulations of F1 cars. Some of these will be in | | | | number of gears for these cars is 4 and the |
| effect as early as the start of the 2006 season | | | | maximum is 7. The wheel width at the front of all |
| and the rest will only come into play in 2008. | | | | cars must be between 390mm and 450mm with |
| Here are some of the more interesting specs | | | | the width at the rear being between 490mm and |
| that have changed: | | | | 505mm. The overall weight of the engine must be |
| It was decided last night (Monday 24th Ocober) | | | | at least 95kg. |
| at a meeting of the Formula One Commission in | | | | The FIA have given a concession to |
| London that the qualifying format for Formula | | | | manufacturers and teams not ready with their |
| One is changing for next season and the changing | | | | new engines saying they will allow them to use |
| of tyres during races will be allowed again. They | | | | other engines (such as the V10 engines currently |
| are also considering a radical change in the | | | | being used) with the performance decreased; |
| rear-wing design which might be brought in as | | | | obviously this will be controlled by the FIA and |
| early as 2007. | | | | no-one else. |
| The new qualifying is going to work as follows: | | | | All cars must now be fitted with a starter which |
| A 3 phase qualifying knockout with the 5 slowest | | | | the driver must be capable of using to start the |
| cars after 15 minutes dropping out. 5 more cars | | | | engine from his seated position. This should cut |
| will drop out in the next 15 minutes and the | | | | out some of those embarrasing failed starts to |
| remaining cars will compete in a 20 minute session | | | | GP's for some drivers. |
| for the top positions on the grid. | | | | From 2008 the FIA will choose 1 tyre |
| Qualifying has been changed a lot in recent years | | | | manufacturer to supply all the teams. This is a |
| to try and get better exposure for smaller teams | | | | dramatic change and should increase the |
| and at the same time mix the grid up to allow for | | | | excitement value by levelling the playing field a bit; |
| more overtaking during a race. | | | | it's a real pity they could only get this in from |
| The new split rear wing (called the Centre | | | | 2008. |
| Downwash Generating Wing) has been designed | | | | Pit to car telemetry will be prohibited so the team |
| to allow closer following and therefore more | | | | will not be able to fix any gremlins from the |
| passing opportunities as well. A step in the right | | | | pit-wall and all voice radio communication must be |
| direction as recent changes to the cars and | | | | open and accessible to both the FIA and the |
| especially aerodynamics have been mostly to | | | | broadcasters. |
| slow the cars down instead of increase | | | | No competitor can carry out more than |
| entertainment. | | | | 30,000km of testing during a year. |
| The weight of the entire vehicle, including the | | | | Some interesting changes here, I sincerely hope it |
| driver, must now not be less than 550kg. This has | | | | increases the competitiveness and excitement of |
| been decreased from 605kg. | | | | this sport because it needs it. |