The FIA is exploring the possibility of moving to a new penalty system for the replacement of power plants and their components, which would be more understandable to fans than the current one.
Each rider is only allowed three power units and a certain number of their individual components per season, and when the limit is exceeded there are penalties.
At the same time, it has become quite common for Formula 1 teams, foreseeing possible problems with the engine of one or another racer’s car, to deliberately replace the components of the power plants for tactical reasons in order to avoid a penalty in the form of losing a race. positions at the start on those jobs where it is easier to catch up and earn back accordingly. One of these circuits is, for example, the Belgian ring in Spa.
But when engine changes are made to different teams’ cars at the same stage of the championship, the grid is so different from the qualifying results that even seasoned Formula 1 fans can’t always easily figure out why it looks the way it does.
The issue was discussed at the Formula 1 Commission meeting in November and this process should continue at the level of the FIA Powerplant Advisory Committee.
According to RacingNews365, there are already a number of proposals for changes to the penalty system that could be implemented in the future. The Formula 1 Commission will come back to this subject at its next meeting.
1. At the first replacement of the power station components, it is proposed that the penalties of loss of starting positions be replaced by a penalty served by the rider during the Grand Prix. Penalty seconds to be served by the driver during the first pit stop, and it is possible to introduce additional restrictions regarding the period during which it is necessary to serve the penalty. For example, until a certain lap of the race.
2. If other elements of the power plant are changed at the same stage of the championship, it will incur additional penalties, which should also act as a barrier to such substitutions for tactical reasons. The size of these sanctions is yet to be discussed.
3. Any replacement of any element of the power station will exclude it from the number of elements available to the rider in the future.
4. If the control panel or any of its components are damaged as a result of an accident, special exceptions are made in this case.
5. As the penalties become more severe, it is proposed to increase the number of power plant elements available to the rider by one unit. For example, if three internal combustion engines were previously allocated for a season, now there are four.
Discussion and analysis of the submitted proposals will take place at the level of FIA advisory committees together with team strategists. Any changes to the rules will then be put to a vote at a Formula 1 committee meeting, where the FIA has 10 votes, Formula 1 10 votes and one vote for each champion team.
Finally, the changes must be approved by the World Motorsport Council.
Source: F1 News
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