Some interesting regulation propositions for 2008

[Bolton Midnight]

Without TC or winglets we won't see a return to the sideways antics of yesteryear. If you watch a really quick rally Escort Mk 2 (RWD) or WTCC BMW 318 (RWD) driver they are not sideways, but neat and tidy.

[luvracin]

How long has variable valve timing been "not permitted"?!

..and Fuel Pressure supplied to injectors not to exceed 100bar, but at the same time, fuel must be injected into the side or top of the inlet port. So that's Direct Injection fuel pressures in a Port fuel injection fuel system configuration.... interesting......

[wedge]

VVT has been banned for a long time, over a decade at least.

I'm surprised no one yet mentioned Electronic Stability Program. There was rumours of this circulated during the Melbourne GP.

[Sleeper]

I've seen a lot of really silly comments about TC in this thread. It made near BUGGER ALL difference when it was re-introduced in the Spanish GP of 2001, and it will make near BUGGER ALL difference when its banned for next year, though dont get me wrong, I do want it gone. What I saw in last years Hungarian GP is that in the wet, TC isnt going to save you if you get well out of shape in the wet (how manny times did we see Massa, Speed and Kubica spinning in that race?), and that from regularly reading Autosport it seems that all the talant is used on corner entry these days, not exit.

To the person that mentioned Launch Controle, as far as I know thats been banned for about 2 years or so.

As for the aerodynamics, big changes are needed, but what a lot of people here dont realize is that its not quite how much you've got, but how its produced that counts. GP2 and Champ Cars both arent short on downforce but its produced mainly from the floor rather than upper body surfaces, which means that its not as suceptable to turbulance.

As for Electronic Stability Programs, I want to hear a lot more about this but from the little I have heard, I'm worried.

[tinchote]

To the person that mentioned Launch Controle, as far as I know thats been banned for about 2 years or so.

Electronic TC has been banned for two years, but that doesn't mean that they are not using it. Most likely some kind of mechanical system, or even electronic: they are not testing for spinning, but they respect a pre-selected sequence of RPM and gear changes.

[CarlMetro]

It made near BUGGER ALL difference when it was re-introduced in the Spanish GP of 2001, and it will make near BUGGER ALL difference when its banned for next year

I suggest you go sit at a track on the outside of a high accerlaration bend, somewhere like Luffield at Silverstone for instance. Make sure that you're there for both GP2 and F1 and then tell me that TC doesn't make a difference. The GP2 cars will ALL feed there throttles in gradually, being careful not to push too hard too soon. The F1 cars will ALL quite simply plant the accelerator foot flat to the floor, letting the traction control sort out just how much acceleration the rear wheels can handle.

[Mark]

Over the years F1 drivers (especially those joining the sport since 2001) have come to rely on the traction control to sort things out for them, bascially just mashing the throttle on the exit of the corners. This will sort out who is the best drivers, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the current stars struggling in 2008.

No slicks is disappointing, with no tyre war, why not?!

[ioan]

No slicks is disappointing, with no tyre war, why not?!

Must be about cost cutting.

[XR8]

Down at the Melbourne F1 GP I was watching the cars at the corner leading on to the pit straight.It was quite apparent that the ferarri drivers were either off the throttle or full on through these series of corners as there engines would pop and bang all the way through untill they reached a straight line.In contrast most of the other cars you could hear the drivers modulate the throttle to balance the car.It was quite evident to me that the Ferraris had a lot better electronics(t/c) than the other cars possibly with the exception of mclaren as the drivers could just mash the throttle and hang on.

[Sleeper]

I suggest you go sit at a track on the outside of a high accerlaration bend, somewhere like Luffield at Silverstone for instance. Make sure that you're there for both GP2 and F1 and then tell me that TC doesn't make a difference. The GP2 cars will ALL feed there throttles in gradually, being careful not to push too hard too soon. The F1 cars will ALL quite simply plant the accelerator foot flat to the floor, letting the traction control sort out just how much acceleration the rear wheels can handle.

I'd take that up if I could afford it.

Is there any difference besides the engine note, and the fact that we all know that GP2 cars can get sideways under power quite a bit? If TC gets banned the only difference is that drivers will have to make a change in the way they feed in the throttle, a skill they should all have learnt anyway in the juniour formulas. The drivers in both series are just driving to the limit of their respective machinery, in F1 at the moment that just means mashing the throttle when they come out of a tight corner and letting the TC do the work, but it doesnt mean they dont all have the skills to controle wheelspin.