The FIA has noted about the Sporting and Technical rule changes for both 2020 and 2021 F1 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the decision was taken to postpone the sporting and technical rule changes of 2021 to 2022, the FIA has further clarified on what changes will take place in 2020 and also 2021. As we know, the Budget Cap remains unchanged for next year.
Starting with the 2020 F1 season, the FIA has brought multiple changes on the Sporting Regulations. The 18-inch tyre test days is officially cancelled and it is unclear if there will be any testing undertaken by Pirelli – likely indication that the current spec will continue.
The decision to continue with the 13-inch tyres was already confirmed to FormulaRapida.net. Aside the tyre test, the young drivers’ will get one day running – which is optional – at the circuit where last round of 2020 F1 will take place.
Teams will be allowed to run two cars for it. Meanwhile, for any changes to the upcoming 2020 F1 calendar, as known, there won’t be any votes. In fact, only 60 percent of vote is required for any further changes to the rules going forward this year.
The FIA clarified that the minimum of eight events have to take place to constitute a championship. They have also put an onus on promoters’ as any cancellation of event three months before it takes place will automatically remove it from the next year calendar.
However, if it is a force majeure case, then the FIA Judges will look into it. Looking at the shutdown, it is being extended to all the power unit manufacturers’ as well, where no work will take place like the normal shutdown scenario for F1 teams.
The break can be extended if mutually agreed and in good faith considering the local Government’s ruling. A revised list for power unit elements has also been released by the FIA, where they have mentioned about the number of races.
It goes:
Should the number of races in the Championship drop to 14 or less, each driver may use
no more than 2 engines (ICE), 2 motor generator units-heat (MGU-H), 2 turbochargers
(TC), 2 energy stores (ES), 2 control electronics (CE) and 2 motor generator units-kinetic
(MGU-K).
Should the number of races in the Championship drop to 11 or less, each driver may use
no more than 2 engines (ICE), 2 motor generator units-heat (MGU-H), 2 turbochargers
(TC), 1 energy store (ES), 1 control electronics (CE) and 2 motor generator units-kinetic
(MGU-K).
Additionally, they have put a ban on aerodynamic development for the 2022 Regulations during 2020, which started on March 28 and will continue until December 31. The much-talked Dual Axis Steering will remain banned for 2021 despite chassis staying the same.
The full text from the FIA regarding the swift decisions goes:
Changes for the 2020 Sporting Regulations have been approved in order to give flexibility to the FIA and Formula 1 to react to the crisis and organise a race calendar that best safeguards the commercial value of the Championship and contains costs as much as possible. This will be achieved by the following methods:
- The addition of Article 1.3, in order to be able to change certain articles with 60% support amongst the teams, so as to increase flexibility during this difficult period. In any case a subsequent approval by the World Motor Sport Council will be required.
- The permission for the FIA and Formula 1 to change the calendar without a vote (deletion of Article 5.5)
- Changes to testing (Article 10.5)
- Addition of Power Unit Manufacturers shutdown (Article 21.10 and 21.11)
- Changes to permissible Power Unit elements if the number of races reduces (Article 23.3)
- The banning of aerodynamic development for the 2022 Regulations during 2020 (starting on Saturday 28 March).
The World Council approved the previously-announced delay of the 2021 Technical Regulations to 2022 for cost-saving measures. Further measures will be introduced for 2021 following discussions with the teams. These will include the homologation of the Survival Cell (from 2020) and certain other components.
In addition, dual axis steering systems (DAS) will not be permitted in the 2021 regulations as defined in Article 10.4.2. These technical changes have already received the required unanimous approval of the participating competitors, as they represent fundamental changes introduced after 18 months prior to the start of the year of the relevant Championship.
Here’s what Helmut Marko suggested but was turned down
Here’s Mattia Binotto on calendar discussions
Here’s F1 teams shutdown details
Here’s Pirelli notifying on 13-inch and 18-inch tyres
