GO TO EARLIER STORY GO TO THE NEWS INDEX GO TO NEXT STORY FIA reveals radical cost-cutting measures
By Jonathan Noble
A total ban on in-season testing, major revisions to engine regulations and dramatic cuts in aerodynamic development have formed the cornerstone of a radical rules overhaul that will cut costs in Formula One. Following a meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Monaco on Friday, the FIA announced a host of measures that have been agreed with the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) and will be put in place over the next few years that will cut budgets by at least one third from next year. All in-season testing, apart from that conducted during scheduled practice on a grand prix weekend, has been banned. Teams have also been outlawed from using any tunnel that exceeds 60 percent scale and 50 metres per second after January 1, 2009. Factories will also have to be closed for six weeks per year. Engine life is to be doubled, with drivers limited to a maximum of eight power-units over the course of the season - plus four for testing. However, the three-race rule voted through on November 5 remains in place. This extra life will be achieved through a rev reduction to 18,000rpm, with no internal re-tuning allowed. Adjustment to trumpets and injectors will only be allowed. The reduction to 20 engines per team for the season means engine budgets for independent teams should be cut in half compared to this season. Teams will also have their manpower reduced at race weekends through a number of measures, including the sharing of information about tyres and fuel that will eliminate the need for spotters. The FIA is hoping that the above measure will ensure a big enough cut in team budgets for next year. In a statement issued on Friday it said: "It is estimated that these changes for 2009 will save the manufacturer teams approximately 30% of their budgets compared to 2008, while the savings for independent teams will be even greater." For 2010, the regulation changes get even more dramatic. The door has been left open on the FIA's offer of a standard specification engine, with it being made clear engines will be made available to independent teams for 5 million Euros per season. This will either come from an independent supplier like Cosworth, who won the FIA's tender for a standard engine, or from manufacturer teams providing they give guarantees. These engine specifications will also be used in 2011 and 2012 as well. It is hoped that a standard transmission can be used, and work will be conducted on using as many standard parts on a chassis as possible - where teams agree that these bits should not be performance differentiators. On race weekends there will be standardised radio and telemetry systems, a ban on tyre warmers, a ban on the mechanical purging or tyres and a ban on refuelling. This will come alongside further restrictions on aerodynamic research and other possible limits on factory facilities. The FIA is also to conduct a market research programme to work out whether there should be changes to qualifying, the use of a medal system instead of points or a reduction in race distances. There is also the possibility of a standard KERS being used in 2010, but this depends on a proposal being put forward by FOTA. A number of teams may decide not to run the devices next year amid fears about mounting costs. Regarding the longer term future, the FIA statement added: "The FIA and FOTA will study the possibility of an entirely new power train for 2013 based on energy efficiency (obtaining more work from less energy consumed). Rules to be framed so as to ensure that research and development of such a power train would make a real contribution to energy-efficient road transport." Go to earlier story Go to the News Index Go to next story
Logo of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has revealed the details of the cost-cutting measures for Formula One that were agreed on Wednesday in talks with the teams. The new measures are expected to save the manufacturer teams at least 30 percent of their budgets next season, with the savings increasing as more of the measures are introduced in the future. The raft of agreements has saved the teams from the threat of standardised engines until at least 2013 and savings for independent teams are predicted by the FIA to be even higher.

For next season the engines will now have to last 3 races, rather than thee current 2 race requirement, and each driver is allowed up to 8 engines throughout the year and the team is allowed a further 4 for testing. Engines will now be rev limited to 18,000 rpm and Renault managed to obtain agreement from the other teams for modifications of its engine to bring it into line with the other engines in the sport. Testing will be affected, with in season testing banned and wind tunnels not to exceed 6:10 scale or 50 metres per second. Teams will be expected to share fuel and tyre data at grand prix in an effort to save on the manpower requirement at the race weekends. The teams will also have to close their factories for 6 weeks a year. The FIA will also be conducting research into the possibility of using a medal system for F1 next season, an idea championed by Bernie Ecclestone, the boss of Formula One Management.

Starting in 2010 more changes will come into force, with the introduction of the cheaper engines being made available to independent teams, costing less than €5 million per season. Any contracts for the cheaper 2010 engines will have to be signed by the 20th of December, 2008. Another engine freeze will occur at the start of the 2010 season, with the engines from 2010 continuing through to the end of 2012. The FIA also intends to try to introduce standardised transmission systems in 2010 and will look at chassis design to determine which aerodynamic parts will be standardised or allowed to be competitive differentiators. Races will see more changes in 2010 with the use of tyre warmers and refuelling banned, and the possibility of shorter race distances has been put forward pending market research. What work the teams can engage in at the factories will also be further limited this season to reduce the manpower and other running costs.

The FIA has raised the possibility of a new power train entirely to be developed for the 2013 season, in consultation with the Formula One Teams Association, and will also discuss making Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) compulsory from 2010. KERS, which is being introduced as a voluntary measure in 2009, has divided the teams with some embracing the technology while others, such as Ferrari, have criticised it.