Tuesday, January 9, 2007

DRIVER CHANGES

RULE CHANGES

  • Although the FIA had planned to switch to a single tyre manufacturer from 2008, Michelin has announced they will end participation in Formula 1 after 2006, leaving Bridgestone as the sole supplier from 2007 to 2010.
  • Tyres will be supplied in accordance with the revised Sporting Regulations, which provide for a total of 14 sets of dry weather tyres per driver over the race weekend: four sets for Friday only, and 10 for the rest of the weekend.
  • The teams finishing 5th–11th in the previous seasons' Constructors' Championship will no longer be allowed to run a third car on Friday following a rule change. [28] The teams that finish 1st–4th are already banned from doing so.
  • Engine development will be frozen from the 2006 Japanese Grand Prix, with these engines being used for the whole of 2007 and 2008. This is described as engine "homologation" by the FIA. It was previously set to be introduced in 2008. [29]
  • All cars will be fitted with red, blue and yellow cockpit lights. The purpose is to give drivers information concerning track signals or conditions. The lights must be LEDs each with a minimum diameter of 5mm and which are fitted in order that they are directly in the driver’s normal line of sight. [30]
  • In order to give rescue crews an immediate indication of accident severity each car must be fitted with a warning light which is connected to the FIA data logger. The light must face upwards and be recessed into the top of the survival cell no more than 150mm from the car centre line and the front of the cockpit opening and as near to the marshal neutral switch as is practical. [30]
  • The two Friday practice sessions will expand from 60 minutes to 90 minutes. Any team will be allowed to use two cars, which may be driven by either the two race drivers or a nominated third driver. [31]
  • The engine penalty will now only apply in the second day of the grand prix weekends. Any engine change in the first day will not be penalised. [31]
  • No car will be allowed to enter the pits during a safety car period until all cars are in the group following the safety car. This prevents drivers from racing to the pits immediately after a safety car is deployed. In addition, any lapped cars in front of a car on the lead lap will be required to pass the safety car and restart at the end of the line-up instead of maintaining their physical position. [31]
  • The Formula 1 teams have unanimously agreed to the voluntary early introduction of the testing agreement scheduled for 2008. This limits each team to an annual limit of 30,000 km.

THE new F! season

ING Australian Grand Prix Australian GP Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit Melbourne 18 March

2 Malaysia Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Malaysian GP Sepang International Circuit Kuala Lumpur 08 April

3 Bahrain Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain GP Bahrain International Circuit Sakhir, Manama 15 April

4 Spain Gran Premio Telefónica de España Spanish GP Circuit de Catalunya Barcelona 13 May

5 Monaco Grand Prix de Monaco Monaco GP Circuit de Monaco Monte-Carlo 27 May

6 Canada Grand Prix du Canada Candian GP Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Montreal 10 June

7 United States United States Grand Prix United States GP Indianapolis Motor Speedway Indianapolis 17 June

8 France Grand Prix de France French GP Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours 01 July

9 United Kingdom British Grand Prix British GP Silverstone Circuit Silverstone 08 July

10 Germany Grosser Mobil 1 Preis von Deutschland German GP Nürburgring Nürburg 22 July

11 Hungary Magyar Nagydij Hungarian GP Hungaroring Budapest 05 August

12 Turkey Petrol Ofisi Turkish Grand Prix Turkish GP Istanbul Park Istanbul 26 August

13 Italy Gran Premio Vodafone d'Italia Italian GP Autodromo Nazionale Monza Monza 09 September

14 Belgium ING Belgian Grand Prix Belgian GP Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Spa 16 September

15 Japan Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix Japanese GP Fuji Speedway Mount Fuji 30 September

16 People's Republic of China Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix Chinese GP Shanghai International Circuit Shanghai 07 October

17 Brazil Grande Prêmio do Brasil Brazilian GP Autódromo José Carl