[jfxavier]

Formula One racing's governing body the FIA has published a number of rule changes and a revised 21-round calendar for the 2015 world championship, following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Doha on Wednesday.

The 2015 calendar in full:

15/03 Australia
29/03 Malaysia
05/04 Bahrain
19/04 China
10/05 Spain
24/05 Monaco
07/06 Canada
21/06 Austria
05/07 Britain
19/07 Germany
26/07 Hungary
23/08 Belgium
06/09 Italy
20/09 Singapore
27/09 Japan
11/10 Russia
25/10 USA
01/11 Mexico
15/11 Brazil
29/11 Abu Dhabi

From F1 website.
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin.../12/16713.html

[jfxavier]

Mods, please delete the thread if already there in the forum.

Formula One racing's governing body the FIA has published a number of rule changes following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Doha on Wednesday.
link: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin.../12/16713.html

2015 F1 SPORTING REGULATIONS

The following decisions were taken:

Points
Points for both titles will no longer be doubled for the final Event of the Championship.

Standing Restarts
After consultation with the Teams who raised a number of safety concerns, Articles 42.7 and 42.8 on standing restarts have been rescinded.

Virtual Safety Car (VSC)
Following tests of the VSC system at the final Events of 2014, the introduction of the system has been approved for 2015. The VSC procedure may be initiated to neutralise a race upon the order of the clerk of the course. It will normally be used when double waved yellow flags are needed on any section of track and competitors or officials may be in danger, but the circumstances are not such as to warrant use of the safety car itself. The full text of the article is available in Annex I.

Suspending a race
When a race is suspended, the pit exit will be closed and all cars must now proceed slowly into the pit lane, not the starting grid. The first car to arrive in the pit lane should proceed directly to the pit exit staying in the fast lane, all the other cars should form up in a line behind the first car.

Team personnel or equipment on grid
If any team personnel or team equipment remain on the grid after the 15 second signal has been shown the driver of the car concerned must start the race from the pit lane. A ten second stop-and-go penalty will be imposed on any driver who fails to do this.

Power Unit Penalties
The replacement of a complete power unit will no longer result in a penalty, instead as specified in the current regulations, penalties will be applied cumulatively for individual components of the power unit.

If a grid place penalty is imposed, and the driver’s grid position is such that the full penalty cannot be applied, the remainder of the penalty will be applied in the form of a time penalty during the race (not at the next race as was previously the case) according to the following scale :

• 1 to 5 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(a) will be applied.

• 6 to 10 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(b) will be applied.

• 11 to 20 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(c) will be applied.

• More than 20 grid places untaken: A penalty under Article 16.3(d) will be applied.

Time Penalties
In addition to the existing five-second penalty (Article 16.3a), a new ten-second penalty (Article 16.3b) will also be introduced, to be applied in the same manner.

Unsafe Release
If a car is deemed to have been released in an unsafe condition during a race a ten second stop-and-go penalty will be imposed on the driver concerned. An additional penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the stewards, continues to drive a car knowing it to have been released in an unsafe condition.

Qualifying Procedure
The qualifying procedure was clarified: for cases when 24 cars are eligible seven will be excluded after Q1 and Q2, if 22 cars are eligible six cars will be excluded after Q1 and Q2, and so on if fewer cars are eligible.

Safety Car: lapped cars
Once the last lapped car has passed the leader the safety car will return to the pits at the end of the following lap, the race director will no longer have to wait for all the lapped cars to reach the back of the pack behind the safety car.

2015 TECHNICAL REGULATIONS
- The weight of the car, without fuel, must not be less than 702kg at all times during the Event (up from 701kg).

- Changes have been made to the rules governing Wind Tunnel Testing and with regard to the aerodynamic reporting periods for 2015 and 2016.

- Any suspension system fitted to the front wheels must be so arranged that its response results only from changes in load applied to the front wheels.

- Any suspension system fitted to the rear wheels must be so arranged that its response results only from changes in load applied to the rear wheels.

- The Zylon anti-intrusion panels on both sides of the survival cell have been extended upwards to the rim of the cockpit and alongside the pilot’s head.

NEXT MEETING OF THE STRATEGY GROUP
The FIA President confirmed that the next meeting of the Strategy Group would take place on 18 December, and would focus reducing costs, improving the show, making cars quicker and more difficult to drive, and reviewing the technical and sporting regulations, with the aim of simplifying the rules where possible.

ACCIDENT PANEL
A review of all the evidence and other information about the events leading up to Jules Bianchi’s accident at the Japanese Grand Prix 5 October 2014, Suzuka, has been carried out by the 10-man Accident Panel, appointed by the FIA and chaired by Safety Commission President Peter Wright. The Panel has issued a 396-page report on their findings with recommendations for improvements, many relevant to all of motor sport. This has been presented to the FIA World Motor Sport Council, which accepted the findings and gave a mandate to implement the full recommendations and conclusions of the report. The summary issued by the panel can be found on fia.com.

CRITERIA FOR THE ISSUING OF SUPER LICENCES
A proposal on the conditions of attribution of the Super Licence was approved for 2016, on the basis of the following criteria:

1 - Safety criteria
The following changes have been made compared to the current regulations:

- There is a valid driving licence requirement.

- There is a minimum age requirement (18yo).

- There is a verification of knowledge of the F1 Sporting Regulations/ISC rules.

2 - Experience criteria
With the following changes compared to the current regulations:

- There is the 300km in F1 TCC or TPC_ as a minimum requirement.

- There is a 2 years minimum running in minor Formulas.

3 - Performance criteria
With the following changes compared to the current regulations:

- There is a point system requirement, based on the driver results in previous Formulas.

[arunphilip]

Korea is earmarked for 3rd May, pending confirmation. This puts it between the Chinese and Spanish GPs.

Given that this makes it 21 events, and the sporting regulations only allow for 20 in a year (changes require the consent of teams), there's speculation that Bernie has added Korea into the calendar to pressure some other venue to agreeing to some terms, the threat being that he will otherwise drop that venue and bring Korea in instead.

Source: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2014/12/0...rprise-return/

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

Korea is earmarked for 3rd May, pending confirmation. This puts it between the Chinese and Spanish GPs.

The Korean GP hosts themselves have been taken by surprise by the announcement of the 2015 Korean GP, saying they had no prior knowledge of this, and are unlikely to be ready in time.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/1...ype=formulaOne

The article also references how this might be a ploy by Bernie/co to have the engine allocation for 2015 increased back to 5 (it went from 5 in 2014 to 4 in 2015), by playing on the meaning of the phrase "as originally scheduled".

I thought F1 topped the heights of silliness, but then they go and outdo themselves again and again!

[myavu]

Audi or Porsche may compete with Mercedes F1 in near future

The Volkswagen Group, the world's second biggest car maker, is conducting a feasibility study into a potential Formula 1 entry.

VAG currently has three main motorsport programmes - with Audi and Porsche in the World Endurance Championship, Audi in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) and Volkswagen in the World Rally Championship.

The global advertising value of Mercedes' television appearances during its F1 campaign in 2014 was $2.8bn (£1.8bn).

Experts believe the equivalent value for VAG of their sportscar and touring car programmes was about $30m (£19m).

Mercedes spent a net 130m euros (£103m) on F1, once external sponsorship and prize money is taken into account. VAG spent about 320m euros (£254m) on DTM and sportscars.

What a ROI? £103m invested and returns valued at £1.8bn

Source : http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/30336569

Cheers!

Vinu

[asr245]

Making an entry with their own team & with a car made in Germany is a sure shot way to sinking a whole lot of money to get next to nothing in results. How much did Toyota sink in less than a decade with their F1 team based out of Cologne? My guess would be more than a $1B.

The cheapest (& best) way would be to partner with a team like RB or Williams. 2nd option would be to buy out a team will good facilities. If they want something close to Germany, Sauber would be a good option. Starting a team based in Germany would see them spend a whole lot more & fold as soon as results don't show & world approaches another crisis (it's barely out of the previous one).

[asr245]

Originally Posted by arunphilip

The Korean GP hosts themselves have been taken by surprise by the announcement of the 2015 Korean GP, saying they had no prior knowledge of this, and are unlikely to be ready in time.

Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/1...ype=formulaOne

The article also references how this might be a ploy by Bernie/co to have the engine allocation for 2015 increased back to 5 (it went from 5 in 2014 to 4 in 2015), by playing on the meaning of the phrase "as originally scheduled".

I thought F1 topped the heights of silliness, but then they go and outdo themselves again and again!

I think this has got to be the funniest way of increasing engine allocation
Maybe they thought Mercedes may not agree for changes in engine allocation (like they didn't for engine unfreeze) so they brought Korea into play to increase engine allocation to 5. (though I am unsure if a nod of all teams was required for this)

Imagine the look on the face of Korean GP chief when he/she must have read that

[arunphilip]

Originally Posted by asr245

Imagine the look on the face of Korean GP chief when he/she must have read that

He might have thought for a moment that they were going to North Korea!

I read a humorous comment elsewhere that North Korea might be a logical destination for F1, since Bernie seems to be favouring any regimes that aren't democratic (Bahrain, Russia).

[ecenandu]

McLaren going to announce their driver line up today. My guess is, it's going to be Alonso and Kevin.

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by ecenandu

McLaren going to announce their driver line up today. My guess is, it's going to be Alonso and Kevin.

Different reports say its Button and Alonso. Jenson Button reportedly retained by McLaren to partner Fernando Alonso

Hope its true. And a good call by McLaren.

[Hatari]

Originally Posted by ecenandu

McLaren going to announce their driver line up today. My guess is, it's going to be Alonso and Kevin.

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Different reports say its Button and Alonso. Jenson Button reportedly retained by McLaren to partner Fernando Alonso

Hope its true. And a good call by McLaren.

If the choice was between the two, seeing how it was taking so long.
Common sense says, they should retain Button for a year and keep K Mag on as reserve with an option for a 2016 race seat.

[zenren]

The reason for the delay looks very clear from the Telegraph article. If they want to announce Button's name, they could do it any day.

Dennis and Boullier wants to keep K-Mag but the board and other stakeholders like the sponsors and Honda are favoring Button. I guess Dennis is delaying it as much as possible to see if Button might get frustrated with the whole uncertainty and sign up elsewhere. Then it would be easier for Dennis and Boullier to give Magnussen the seat. However, Button seems to be downplaying it really well, saying he is at the end of the career and the pressure is on Magnussen to secure a drive for next year in the crucial years of his career.

Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman, and Eric Boullier, the racing director, are thought to have originally favoured keeping Magnussen. The Dane, 22, is considerably cheaper, at around £500,000 a year as opposed to Button’s £12  million. Magnussen is also seen as a better bet for the future, with Button aged 34. Despite Button comprehensively outscoring his team-mate in 2014, Dennis did not seem keen on the Briton. He even memorably told Button to “try harder” earlier in the season.
However, he does not seem to have been able to win the argument at board level. A meeting last Thursday with McLaren’s two other principal shareholders — Mansour Ojjeh, the TAG co-owner, and Mumtalakat, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund – did not produce any white smoke.

source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/mot...onference.html

[Fullrevs]

This is the sensible idea and it must be a fine line for Ron Dennis to chose between the two. Money spent on Button could be spent on K-Mag and further development of the car. With Button, development of the car could be done a lot better along with Alonso.

I vote for Button. Not quite impressed by Magnussen.

[speedmiester]

So finally Mclaren have confirmed their 2015 driver lineup.
Button will be partnering with Alonso for the 2015 season for Mclaren.

Jenson Button secures McLaren seat alongside Fernando Alonso

This will be interesting and it's good that Mclaren made the right choice of drivers and with Honda powering them, let's hope for a exciting F1 season in 2015.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by speedmiester

So finally Mclaren have confirmed their 2015 driver lineup.
Button will be partnering with Alonso for the 2015 season for Mclaren.

Jenson Button secures McLaren seat alongside Fernando Alonso

This will be interesting and it's good that Mclaren made the right choice of drivers and with Honda powering them, let's hope for a exciting F1 season in 2015.

It is still not officially announced/confirmed by McLaren. These are still rumors, though from multiple credible British media.

The team are to announce their driver line-up at a news conference at their factory in Surrey on Thursday.