Maybe just maybe, when the FIA president visited the Honda garage sometime this season, he was bitten by ‘environment friendly bug’. So much so that when the F1 fraternity and fans alike, mocked his plans of such an idea some time ago, he actually set out to chalk out the way he could do it.
In motor sport, change is always constant. To achieve more reliability at higher speeds, more efficiency and more grip on the surface with new aerodynamics. All in all, anything related to automobiles needs to re-invent itself every year so that the sport can get better and faster with more thrills and frills. That’s the charm of motor sport. And F1 is at the pinnacle of this domain consisting of the fastest and the most sophisticated racing machines on this planet. Nothing beats the experience of an F1 engine or for that matter a race when compared to the lesser mortals, the Formula 3 or the newly established A1 GP. Even the Moto GP is vying for attention as all that is dear in motor sport belongs only to F1. So then why Max Mosley wants to destroy the simplest of things in life is a mystery.
The changes have been coming in since the last few years. First the engines had to last two weekends came in 2005 along with the only one tyre set per race rule. Then to keep safety concerns at bay, the multiple tyre changes rule was brought in again in 2006. But the manufacturers were reduced from two to one, with Michelin ousted and Bridgestone remaining the sole supplier in 2007. Also at the end of the 2006 season, they had the engine freeze implemented where the teams couldn’t develop engines further. Next year i.e., in 2008 new electronics will be introduced to make it a more challenging sport for the drivers and ultimately even the traction control will be off the grid from 2009. And now come the face changing regulations that are being planned for 2011.
Face changing is not an exaggerated expression being used here. Well to accept this, one ought to know what it is that the FIA or rather its President is planning. Currently used 2.4 litre V8 engines to be replaced by 2.2 litre V6 ones with around 770 bhp which is around 100 bhp less than the current levels. The maximum rpm limit will be restricted to around 10000 revs, about 9000 less than the current levels in order to reduce noise pollution. Plus the engines will be turbocharged and will run on bio-fuel to not only cut down costs but also be environment friendly. And like the A1 GP, the cars will be provided with power boosters so as to enable them in overtaking. Last but not the least the engines ought to last five grand prix weekends rather than two.
Totally absurd regulations. That’s the only thought that comes to mind. If these changes are brought in, the very USP of the sport would be endangered. First of all, how can you provide for the power boosters as the sport hinges on driver skills too? If we wanted to see all cars the same, we would rather watch A1. And by cutting down the revs to 10000 rpm, one will only get slower engines. Do we want to make the fastest racing cars the slowest and take the ultimate charm out of the sport? And this talk of lasting engines through five weekends is absolutely worthless. How is that possible when the stakes are so high that drivers push to the very limit in each race?
The only good point is about the bio-fuel being used so that the exhausts could be reduced. But in doing so, every team will have to raise their budget in order to be able to produce or procure the fuel from others. Which will ultimately increase the costs rather than decrease them. How the competing manufacturers will agree to this is beyond understanding?
F1 is a sport where the latest technologies and innovations made are sometimes incorporated in the real world cars. But to take the changes or innovations the other way will only deteriorate the sport, rather the cult that is Formula 1. It’s about time the FIA understood that.
Via: Planet-F1
