No penalty for first engine change in 2008

[mipuumal]

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, January 17th 2008, 17:08 GMT

Formula One drivers are set to escape a grid penalty for their first engine change of the season, autosport.com can reveal, after teams agreed to a minor tweak to the rules.

Since the introduction of longer life engines, a driver has been automatically handed a 10-place grid penalty for an engine change in during practice sessions, or has been moved to the back of the grid if he has needed a new power unit after the start of qualifying.

But following discussions in last week's team principals' meeting in Paris, it was agreed that the first engine change of the season should now no longer result in a punishment.

In a letter sent by FIA president Max Mosley to teams, he confirms in writing that the rule tweak was supported by team principals.

"It was agreed that each team could have one engine failure per car without penalty during the 2008 season," wrote Mosley. "This would be the first engine failure suffered by each car."

The rule proposal still needs approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, with a vote on the matter expected imminently.

Interesting, I wonder if this will provide some midpack teams a chance to overperform in one race/quali session.

 

[m7ammed]

Gearbox failures is whats going to show this year, since it has to survive 4 races

 

[peterjford]

Gearbox failures is whats going to show this year, since it has to survive 4 races

Does the gearbox have to remain sealed for 4 races? Don't they use different ratios for different tracks? What about fluid changes? What about clutches?

 

[Sureboss]

Ah, but would a clutch be considered part of the 'gearbox'. Would gearbox be defined as the gears alone?

I'm not an expert on gearboxes, but I'd say 4 race weekends = 2,000 miles of racing? 2,000 miles for a gearbox shouldn't be too much trouble. I'd say it'd take more than an engine would, durability wise.

 

[Stevisiov]

How do you change the gear ratio without changing the gearbox, does trowing a few different cogs in count as a gearbox change?

 

[Blake]

Teams are allowed to change the ratios for each race weekend.

At the second, third and fourth Events seals may be broken once, under supervision and at any time prior to the start of the qualifying practice session, for the sole purpose of changing gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears).

Gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears) may also be changed under supervision for others of identical specification at any time during an Event provided the FIA technical delegate is satisfied there is evident physical damage to the parts in question and that such changes are not being carried out on a systematic basis.

 

[waynz]

The dumbest rule in F1... This rule ruins races, instead of drivers fighting it to the line they hold back so they dont have to risk a penalty.

Yay, one engine change without penalty is a start but seriously this rule has already costed people championships. One is not enough.. no where near.

$0.02

 

[mipuumal]

Mark Blundell had a cool idea in 2005, that only the teams should be penalized from engine changes. I guess if a driver got an engine change and went on to win the race, the team would only get half the constructor points or something.