Formula 1 fans are waiting for the new-look cars to emerge next month, with an aerodynamic rules revamp set to deliver very different front and rear wings.
The push to get rid of the ‘outwash’ effect of the old wing designs, and help reduce the turbulence for following cars, is aimed at trying to help improve the chances of overtaking.
There are also much talked about new tyre rules aimed at simplifying how the compound selections are labelled on grand prix weekends. But it is not just the aerodynamic and tyres rules that are changing for 2019, because the FIA has approved a whole raft of sporting changes too that will make a difference to grand prix weekends.
Formula 1 drivers will face two new rules when it comes to what they wear in the cars in 2019. The wearing of biometric gloves (which drivers have already been using) has been formally made mandatory by the new sporting regulations. The most significant change is with the crash helmet though, as a new safety standard is being introduced to offer better head protection. Building on the lessons from Felipe Massa’s crash at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, new forehead covering dimensions with a smaller visor opening allow for greater ballistics protections and better energy absorption in the area that had previously been protected by a Zylon panel.
Here are some of the other 2019 rules changes that have been overshadowed by aero tweaks:
Fuel limit up
Formula 1’s turbo hybrid era was based around delivering more fuel efficient engines, but that had the unintended consequence of forcing drivers into economy runs in races. As teams battled to make improvements, the reality of the higher drag cars from 2017 led to some compromise with the original 100kg limit for a race being raised to 105kg. That still was not enough to allow proper flat-out racing for everyone though, so it was agreed that for 2019 a further five kilos will be allowed. But whether or not teams will fill their cars to the maximum 110kg, or prefer to go lean on a lighter fuel load, remains to be seen…
Help for heavy drivers
With the total weight of cars having long included the driver, it has been clear that teams have been helped if the man in the cockpit is as light as possible. And even if the driver is not light enough to actually bring things under the minimum weight limit, which is 743kg this year, what a lightweight can bring is the freedom for teams to use ballast in the right areas to help car performance. For the start of 2019 there is a change that should help the heavier drivers lose some of their disadvantage. From now on, the weight of the driver and his seat will be measured at the start of the campaign and must hit a minimum of 80kg. Any driver under that limit will have to have ballast fitted inside the cockpit area.
New oil burn limits
Formula 1’s fight among the car manufacturers has pushed thermal efficiency levels of the current engines to pretty impressive numbers. But such was the competitive fight to be best with the new turbo hybrid engines that grey areas were exploited to the max – and this included burning oil to help boost power. The FIA duly stepped in to limit how much teams were allowed to burn, and some further restrictions have also been put in place for 2019. From the start of this season, a new clause in the regulations stipulates that teams must keep their auxiliary oil tanks empty throughout qualifying. This will prevent any efforts by teams to burn extra oil for a ‘party mode’ boost during the crucial battle for the top grid slots.
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