There will be savings on engine costs, a ban on in-season testing outside grand prix weekends and a reduction in staff numbers that will mean bad news for many skilled workers in Britain’s south Midlands, the worldwide centre of motor sport.
Engines will be available to the independent teams from 2010 for less than £4.5 million per team per season, supplied by an independent supplier or a manufacturer backed by guarantees of continuity.
This could mean huge savings for teams such as Williams and Force India, who currently buy their engines from Toyota and Ferrari respectively.
There will be no in-season testing from next year except during a race weekend and during scheduled practice, which could mean extra action for weekend racegoers.
The teams have also agreed that manpower will be reduced by means of a number of measures, including sharing information on tyres and fuel to eliminate the need for “spotters” who scan the activities of other teams for tactical clues.
The FIA estimate that the list of changes for 2009 will save the manufacturer teams approximately 30 per cent of their budgets compared to 2008, with the savings for independent teams even greater.
But this is still a lot less than the drastic cuts that FIA boss Max Mosley wants to see.
The proposals for change are as follows:
From 2009:
* Engine life to be doubled. Each driver will use a maximum of eight engines for a season, plus four for testing (i.e 20 per team).
* Engines to be limited to 18,000rpm.
* Cost of engines to independent teams will be approximately 50 per cent of 2008 prices.
* No wind tunnel testing using models exceeding 60 per cent scale and speeds of 50 metres/sec to be used after 1 January 2009.
* Factory closures for six weeks per year, to accord with local laws.
From 2010:
* The engine from 2010 will continue to be used in 2011 and 2012 (thus no new engine for 2011).
* Subject to confirmation of practicability, the same transmission will be used by all teams.
* The FIA are to compose a standard parts list relating to the chassis. Some parts will be allowed development, other will be required to use inexpensive materials.
* For a race weekend there will be standardised radio and telemetry systems, a ban on tyre warmers, mechanical purging of tyres, and most crucially, a ban on refuelling.
* There will also be a possible reduction in race distance or duration (with a proposal to follow from market research).
* With regards to factory activity there will be further restrictions on aerodynamic research, combined with a full analysis of factory facilities with a view to proposing further restrictions on such facilities.
In the longer term, the FIA and FOTA are to study the possibility of an entirely new power train for 2013 based on energy efficiency.
The rules will be framed to ensure that research and development of such a power train would make a real contribution to energy-efficient road transport.
The FIA believe an enhanced Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) system is likely to be a very significant element of an energy-efficient power train in the future.
In the short term, KERS is part of the 2009 regulations, but is not compulsory, however, from 2010 FOTA is considering proposals for a standard KERS system.
With regard to F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone’s medal system, market research will be conducted, also into a possible change to qualifying.
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