F1 Regulations for 2006

[Ed]

Thanks Ed.
What are these exotic materials

I knew that would be your next question!

There is a fairly large list that goes like

Unless explicitly permitted, these materials may not be used anywhere on the engine:
Magnesium based alloys
Metal Matrix Composites (MMC?s)
Intermetallic materials
Alloys containing more than 5% by weight of Beryllium, Iridium or Rhenium

And that is just the start!!

We've published a page listing the changes for 2006. It is at the Formula 1 Regulations page, click on 'Summary of the Formula 1 Rule changes for 2006'. From there you can get more details!

[Kapel]

With Qualifying in 2006 being super confusing & the 2 race per engine rule continuing for the new V8's also, just wanted to figure out as to how would the penalty be applied for a car who changes the engine??

Can Some1 qualify in the 1st position with super lite fuel load ,then change the engine,take 10 grid penalty & then re-fuel??
this would lead to only 9 cars with fuel on board for the race & 11 with option to refuel(incase only 1 cars changes the engine)

[Ed]

With Qualifying in 2006 being super confusing & the 2 race per engine rule continuing for the new V8's also, just wanted to figure out as to how would the penalty be applied for a car who changes the engine??

Can Some1 qualify in the 1st position with super lite fuel load ,then change the engine,take 10 grid penalty & then re-fuel??
this would lead to only 9 cars with fuel on board for the race & 11 with option to refuel(incase only 1 cars changes the engine)

When a driver (of the final 10) gets penalised 10 places for an engine change they aren't allowed to refuel after qualifying and this hasn't changed.
But there are a lot of what if scenarios, some The Heretic mentioned already. For example a driver with a new engine can afford to spend the entire 20 minute session burning fuel then setting a fast lap at the end then putting back the fuel used in qualifying!
Also if a number of drivers from the final 10 have a 10 place penalty, it means the fastest of the slowest 10 could be 7th or 8th on the grid yet has the option of refuelling!
This is what would happen as it stands however the FIA will probably tighten the rules a bit as we get closer to the start of the season.

[JayVee]

Oh I am going to just love this new qualifying format ...... why do they bother

[mlittle]

They've always got to think of someways to confuse us F1 fans.....why not just bring back the 107% standard and be done with it?

[GhoGho]

They've always got to think of someways to confuse us F1 fans.....why not just bring back the 107% standard and be done with it?

The way I understand it is the reason that the 107% rule was dropped is the fact that another rule regarding the number of cars required to qualify for the race to be ?official?. If the 107% rule was applied then very few races would have the required number of cars having qualified allowing for an official race.
I would still like to see the old format brought back, but even this complicated new system has to be better than what we had last year.

[BlinkyBill]

Pat Symonds has come out with some interesting comments on the impact of the tyre rule changes this year.

Among his key points were:

- The need to choose your tyre before qualifying rather than on Friday night, will see a substantial drop in Friday running by front line cars. Expect mainly 3rd cards on the track on Friday
- The reduced Friday running will also come about because qualifying will involve a lot more mileage and have a critical influence on engine preservation throughout the race weekend.
- The option to use your 7 sets of tyres however you want, may see some interesting strategies, with some tracks possibly demanding the use of 3 fresh sets for the qualifying stint.
- Expect a much greater variety in pit stop/race strategies.

I tend to agree, and think that this impact is a good thing. Varied race strategies always adds a bit to the race. I just dont like the potential messing around with fuel loads. . . the car that gets 10th on the grid has a decided advantage over the 2 or 3 cars in front, unless some of the top 10 qualifiers choose to not run in the last qualifying session, fuel the car up and take 9th spot.

[GhoGho]

I tend to agree, and think that this impact is a good thing. Varied race strategies always adds a bit to the race. I just dont like the potential messing around with fuel loads. . . the car that gets 10th on the grid has a decided advantage over the 2 or 3 cars in front, unless some of the top 10 qualifiers choose to not run in the last qualifying session, fuel the car up and take 9th spot.

Glad to see someone else is looking forward to the new system.
I dont quite see how the guy in 10th spot gets an advantage though.
If 10th was the best they could do with a light fuel load, how will filling up be an advantage?
If the dont fill up and run light, then they will have to deal with traffic and overtaking, ultimately losing time.
If they do fill up then they will be much slower than most.

Advantage?? How?

[BlinkyBill]

Simple - If cars 7, 8, 9, & 10 are all comparable. The team that either opts out at 10, or ends up with 10, can start with a heavier fuel load than the comparable cars in front . . . who are forced to start with the fuel they qualified on. Providing they keep up in the traffic, they should have an advantage in the first set of pit stops . . .

I recognise with tyres, the strategy will be more complex than this, but p10 get that added advantage over those immediately in front by having extra discretion. A number of cars did it last year with the 10 grid penalty. They qualified heavy, and the cars immediately in front were all jumped in the first round of pit stops.

[Ed]

The new format does offer a number of choices when it comes to race strategy but I suspect that after a few races, the teams will figure out what the optimal solution is.

Qualifying this year will give us a bit more insight on the race strategy. For all the cars running in the 3rd session, we'll know how many laps they will at least have prior to the first pit stop in the race.
We will also get an idea of how heavy or light they are by the number of laps they run in the 3rd session.

We may find teams making it into the final 10 then filling up and not going out at all in the third session. They would jump the lighter cars in front and save their engines and tyres for the race.
As BlinkyBill says, we've seen McLaren do well last year despite starting from the midfield because of an engine penalty.

On the other hand, a team that isn't worried about engine reliability may decide to go out for the entire 20 minute session (around 12 - 17 laps depending on the track) and putting in a flyer at the end of the session then refuelling. Of course if many teams do that, we'll have traffic and fast laps could be spoiled.

There is an earlier discussion on the new qualifying format on this thread

[JayVee]

Bring back 12 lap qualifying. Simple but exciting.

The more rules you have the more loopholes you create.

This qualifying will be a farce and Mad Max will find some way to blame the manufacturers

[Julian Mayo]

Bring back 12 lap qualifying. Simple but exciting.

The more rules you have the more loopholes you create.

This qualifying will be a farce and Mad Max will find some way to blame the manufacturers

I reckon I will just about have my head around the new system by mid-season, and Mad Max will change it

[BlinkyBill]

Bring back 12 lap qualifying. Simple but exciting.

The more rules you have the more loopholes you create.

This qualifying will be a farce and Mad Max will find some way to blame the manufacturers

The alternative would be to create a really crazy qualifying format and increase the amount of action.

Perhaps qualifying at night! Yeah - that would be awesome!!!! It doesnt matter what Max does, because no-one will be able to see it. No-one would care about the crap TV coverage because you wouldnt see anything.

I should run for Max's job - I'm brilliant.

Then what?

I'm thinking a 3 race, V8 Supercar type format. Reverse Grid in the second race.

Yes . . .

And then, YES! In the first race, cars start facing backwards. That way they need to incorporate a 180 Degree spin into the start.

Ohhh - how good is this. On fire!

and then, simply brilliant: In the last race, drivers swap cars. If Fisi puts it into the wall in race two, it doesnt matter, he gets FA's car, and FA is out. Forces comparable setup, team work, and might even increase the amount of internal team boxing matches.

Superb action!

Team radios all on the one station - everyone listens in to everyone . . . yes.

Compulsory crowd involvement. Lucky seat draw. 24 people are selected at Random to form part of the pit crew. Left front wheel in the hands of the people! . . . totally random. Imagine the increased attendance!!!Imagine what an MW fan would do on Schumi's car. Imagine Julian on Schumi's Car and Kapel on the Williams!!!





That would boast ratings amazingly! Max is crap - so uncreative and placid.

Thats it. I want his job.

Vote 1 BlinkyBill to run F1, he's no dill
Vote 1 BlinkyBill to run F1, he's no dill
Vote 1 BlinkyBill to run F1, he's no dill

[Julian Mayo]

Man, I am so staying with Wild Turkey

[rah]

LMAO, please no one send this to Max. He is still deciding rules for 07!