Someone just emailed this to me. I guess it's some of the agenda for next weeks meeting on the 24th about 2006 rules and regs,
Make of it what you will......
The return of tyre changes, knock-out qualifying, a restricted number of personnel used in pitstops and a ban on spare and third cars are key components of rule proposals put forward by the FIA for introduction next year.
In an email sent to the teams on Saturday detailing the agenda for a forthcoming meeting of the Formula One Commission, motor racing's governing body has suggested a radical revamp of the Grand Prix weekend in a bid to increase excitement.
The email outlines the changes that the FIA would like made to F1's sporting regulations. A vote on these changes will be made at the commission meeting in London on October 24th.
The details include:
• A revised weekend schedule - with Friday practice taking place from 10am to 11am and 1pm to 2pm. Saturday practice will be from 10am to 11am with qualifying running from 1pm to 2pm.
• A knock-out qualifying format which is broken up into three segments. The slowest five cars will be knocked out in the first 15 minute session, with the next slowest five knocked out in the next 15 minutes. A final 20-minute 10-car shoot-out for the top 10 grid positions will then take place - with cars running race levels of fuel. Those already knocked out can refuel prior to the race.
• Tyre changes in races will once again be allowed.
• A ban on spare cars and the third cars operated by the bottom six teams on Fridays.
• A limit of 14 people to work on a car during a pit-stop, with only one team member allowed to work on each wheel when changing tyres.
• A ban on tyre heaters
• The pre-race build up to be revised, with the pit-lane opening 45 minutes before the race starts for just five minutes. The drivers' parade will then take place once the cars are on the grid.
Some of the changes are known to have support in the pit-lane, especially the knock-out qualifying format and the return of tyre changes, other factors may face stiff opposition.
Those teams that had the chance to run third cars on Fridays next season because they failed to finish in the top four of the constructors' Championship are unlikely to support their ban, even though the FIA claims in the email that it does not make sense to allow third cars if spare cars are banned.
"Prohibiting the use of a third car is essential if spare cars are themselves to be prohibited," said a note in the document.
Justifying the ban on third cars, the document said: "Arguably, the purpose of allowing all but the top four teams to run a third car on Fridays has been defeated as most teams in this position are or were using the extra car to gain a competitive advantage
Regarding spare cars, the document said: "As spare cars are so rarely used now, and with races never being stopped under the new race suspension regulation, it would seem the right time to ban the presence of spare cars at a race."
The FIA has declined to elaborate on the specifics of what has been suggested, but a spokesman did confirm that the items were up for discussion at the F1 Commission meeting.
"We can confirm that the latest in a series of qualifying formats will be discussed," he said.
Minardi boss Paul Stoddart apparently claimed they were 'a crock of shit.
The Full FIA Proposal Document
Possible changes to the draft 2006 Sporting Regulations
1. Practice times
Proposal
Friday Untimed 10.00 to 11.00
Untimed 13.00 to 14.00
Saturday Untimed 10.00 to 11.00
Qualifying 13.00 to 14.00
2. Qualifying format
Proposal
Saturday Morning 60-minute free practice session (10.00 to 11.00)
Saturday Afternoon 60-minute qualifying session (13.00 to 14.00)
13.00 to 13.15 : All cars are permitted on the track and at the end of the 15-minute period the slowest five cars can take no further part in qualifying. These cars will then be arranged on the last five grid positions in the order of their times, the fastest occupying 16th position. The times for the fifteen remaining cars will then be deleted (i.e. be irrelevant to the grid)
13.20 to 13.35 : The remaining fifteen cars are permitted on the track and at the end of the 15-minute period the slowest five cars can take no further part in qualifying. These cars will then be arranged on the grid in positions eleven to fifteen in the order of their times, the fastest occupying 11th position. The times for the ten remaining cars will then be deleted (i.e. be irrelevant to the grid)
13.40 to 14.00 : The remaining ten cars are permitted on the track and at the end of the 20-minute period the cars will be arranged on the grid in positions one to ten in the order of their times, the fastest occupying pole position
• Cars will be under parc ferme conditions (changing tyres and adding fuel will no longer be part of the parc ferme regulations) from the time they enter the track for the first time during qualifying until the start of the race
a. Fuel may be added to cars at any time during the first 40 minutes of qualifying and any car eliminated during the first two periods may then be refuelled at any time until the pit lane opens for the race
b. Teams will be required to fill cars taking part in the final 20-minute period with the amount of fuel with which they intend to start the race. Any fuel used during the 20-minute period may be replaced before the start of the race (cars will be weighed at the exit of the pit lane when they leave for the first time during the 20-minute period and again before the race)
c. Each driver will be permitted to use seven sets of dry-weather tyres for the Event. How he chooses to use them is free except that all tyres used for qualifying and race must be of the same specification. Tyre changes will be permitted at any time during the race
d. Penalties for engine changes or other infringements of the rules will be applied after qualifying in the same way as they are at present
e. Article 131 of the draft 2006 Formula One Sporting Regulations will apply to any car failing to set a time in the first 15-minute period. If more than 5 cars fail to set a time, the rearmost five (after applying Article 131) will take no further part in qualifying, while the remaining cars will be allowed to go forward to the second period. This procedure will be repeated between the second and third periods if necessary
f. If twenty two cars are eligible to take part in the Event six cars will drop out after each of the fifteen minute periods leaving ten for the final 20 minutes
g. If twenty four cars are eligible to take part in the Event six cars will drop out after each of the fifteen minute periods leaving twelve for the final 20 minutes
Note : Five-minute breaks should be sufficient as refuelling takes only seconds. This will also allow time for television advertising without keeping race spectators waiting unnecessarily
It is likely that all cars eligible for the last period will run continuously and as fast as possible for the entire 20 minutes in order to make a final attempt at a good grid position in the last few minutes with minimum fuel and, possibly, new tyres
3. Spare cars
As spare cars are so rarely used now, and with races never being stopped under the new race suspension regulation, it would seem the right time to ban the presence of spare cars at a race
Proposal
Prohibit teams from having more than two cars available for use at any one time
Note : A clear definition of what constitutes a car, as opposed to a partially built chassis, would have to be included (this has already been done in the FIA Draft 2008 Technical Regulations)
4. Third car on Fridays
Arguably, the purpose of allowing all but the top four teams to run a third car on Fridays has been defeated as most teams in this position are or were using the extra car to gain a competitive advantage
Proposal
Teams should no longer be permitted to run a third car on Fridays
Note : Prohibiting the use of a third car is essential if spare cars are themselves to be prohibited.
5. Number of people working on a car
If the two proposals above are accepted, and in order to ensure teams are not required to bring personnel to races purely for working during pit stops, it is proposed that a restriction be placed on the number of people a team can have working on a car during a pit stop
Proposal
Restrict the number of people working on the car during a pit stop, or carrying out any function associated with the pit stop, to fourteen. Furthermore, if a wheel or wheels need to be changed, only one person can be involved with the operation of changing each wheel
6. Tyre heating
There is a case for a ban on tyre blankets, subject to the tyre companies raising no objections on justifiable safety grounds
Proposal
Prohibit the use of any devices, systems or procedures which are intended to heat tyres
Note : It may also be necessary to state that any tyres to due to be used by each driver must placed in the pit lane and be clearly visible to the scrutineers from 8.00am on each day of the Event, any tyres which have not been visible during that time may not be used (or words to that effect)
7. Drivers parade
It may be more convenient to bring the drivers parade closer to the race start time and make it part of the opening procedure
Proposal
Open the pit lane a little earlier and for a shorter time, once the cars are on the grid the drivers could get out of their cars and do the parade.
Open pit lane 13.15
Close pit lane 13.20
Drivers parade 13.25 to 13.40
Start of formation lap 14.00
Dave M
p.s.
Just imagine trying to drive one of these cars on cold and underinflated tyres. Another one for Paul Stoddart to comment on.......... Minardi boss Paul Stoddart apparently claimed the proposals were 'a crock of shit.