On November 18, under the chairmanship of FIA President Mohammed bin Sulayem, the last meeting of the Formula 1 committee of this year took place in Abu Dhabi, during which a number of decisions were taken with a view to 2023.
Mohammed bin SulayemPresident of the FIA: “The position of Formula 1 is now very strong and this growth in popularity and success is due to the hard work the FIA is doing together with Stefano Domenicali and his organisation.
I would like to thank everyone, including of course the championship participants, whose representatives attended the F1 Commission meeting – this year they put on a great show for everyone. Looking at recent races, I think we can expect an exciting season in 2023 and our sport will continue to progress in all areas.”
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1: “It has been an incredibly interesting season and the popularity of the championship continues to grow worldwide. This would not have been possible without the tireless work of the F1 Commission and all teams.
We are all working together to continuously improve our sport for the benefit of the fans, and I would like to see the 2023 season become even more interesting.”
Topics discussed by the Commission and major decisions
The FIA has informed the Commission that a detailed review of the Sporting Regulations will take place before 2024 to continue the continuous improvement process. During this work, consultations will take place with FOM and all teams and all possible changes must be approved by the end of April 2023 according to the standard procedure.
In addition, the FIA will make a general analysis of all legal procedures before 2024.
Severe weather changes
Judging by the comments of the riders, with the transition to a new generation of cars, visibility in heavy rain has decreased, becoming a determining factor affecting the starting procedure or the need to interrupt the session.
In that context, the FIA is launching an investigation to see how the spray plume that forms behind cars on a wet track can be reduced.
The research will go in the following directions:
It is necessary to develop a standard set of body panels that will reduce the intensity of the water plume caused by tires in rainy conditions: we are talking about using body panels (wheel arches) of the smallest possible size above the wheels.
Find out to what extent the tunnels under the bottom of the machine affect the intensity of the water plume.
Ensure that the design of the wheel arches is such that it does not affect the tire change procedure at pit stops.
Research into the possibility of equipping machines with extra light signals.
Said body panels can only be fitted to cars prior to a race or in situations where extreme weather interrupts the session with red flags.
A draft design has been submitted to the Commission and the FIA will further refine the initial concept in 2023 with input from teams.
Sanctions for replacing power plants
The committee discussed proposals for a possible adjustment of fines related to the replacement of power stations. Everyone agrees that the current system of fines is not strict enough, does not prevent plant replacement for strategic reasons, and also creates conditions to replace more elements than necessary if the fine exceeds a certain level.
Ultimately, this leads to higher costs and devalues the current restrictions. Discussions on this subject will continue at the level of the Advisory Committee on Power Plants.
Thermal covers in 2023-2025
The aim of the FIA and FOM is to phase out the use of thermal covers by 2024, but after much discussion and analysis of riders’ opinions, the Commission has decided to postpone the final decision to July 2023, and in the remaining time to collect additional information and perform any necessary tests.
Apply DRS after start, restart or safety car
The Commission approved a proposal to analyze a way to tighten the peloton and intensify the battle on the track, such as allowing the use of the DRS system a lap earlier after the start of the race or sprint, after the period when the safety car was on track, or restart.
In 2023, this method will be tested in all sprint races with the aim of introducing it in all stages of the championship in 2024.
Closed park conditions
There was talk of simplifying the closed park procedure during the championship stages, the sprint of which is scheduled. The FIA staff is currently under increased pressure to prepare for the sprint races as requests from teams increase between qualifying and the sprint.
Compensation for damage in case of accidents
The current system for eliminating the consequences of accidents during the sprint will be simplified. For stages with a sprint, teams are paid an extra amount. The committee approved a proposal to increase the amount of the fee from $150,000 to $300,000 starting in 2023.
Technical and Financial Regulation
Minor changes to the Technical and Sporting Regulations received unanimous approval. The Commission has also decided on stricter requirements for the strength of the upper roll bar, which will come into effect in 2024.
All rule changes are still subject to approval by the FIA World Motorsport Council.
Source: F1 News
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