Back in December, the FIA published the latest incarnation of the Sporting Regulations – these ones for the 2016 season. Outwardly, there are a few major changes – however it’s the smaller changes that could have the biggest influence on racing in the 2016 season.
Engines
Currently, the teams will be allowed 5 power units per driver during the season, an increase of one from last year. The reason for this increase, 2 extra races from the previous season, Azerbaijan and the return of Germany to the calendar. This means each engine is has to last 1,250 km of race mileage (this doesn’t include free practice and qualifying).
However, significantly for the teams – if the calendar drops back to 20 races or less (which is a risk at the moment), then the power unit allowance drops back down to 4 engines. Meaning each engine then has to cover 1,500 km of race mileage. An extra 250 km might not sound like much – but engine designers are working on critical life timing for each component, and this could become close once practice sessions are taken into account.
Homologation for these engines must occur by the end of February – meaning that the engines for 2016 must have been signed off before winter testing has even begun – however there is the ability to make changes after for safety and reliability, and the in season token development system.
Safety Studies
Another key area is safety, thankfully the FIA is continuing its safety crusade, and in 2016 that includes the addition of a high speed camera to each car to study the driver’s head movements during an accident. This will help with understanding what happens during an impact. In addition to this all drivers must now wear in-ear accelerometers during any time in the car.
High Speed Cameras to assess head movement during impact: Image Source and more information http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120831
Wind Tunnel Usage
The FIA have apparently become suspicious of some teams going beyond the 60 tunnel hours/65 runs per week regulations, given their rate of aerodynamic development – leading from this they must supply two digital pictures (with date stamp) of the models before each run. These must show the entire working section of the tunnel with the model in situ. Highlighting any teams breaking the rules, or at least this is the theory – the data theft risk associated with the FIA holding the biggest photographic database of F1 aerodynamic development could fill a whole series of blog entries.
These changes may seem small in the context of the wider changes in regulations – but it is highly likely that we’ll be watching these smaller influences taking on a bigger impact in the 2016 season.