FIA training to determine safe settings

During free practice sessions in Canada, the FIA ​​will evaluate the swing range of different teams’ cars and determine the safe settings for each.

The FIA ​​has not yet decided which build can be considered acceptable. To assess the situation in the first two training sessions, the FIA ​​analyzes the so-called “signal Az” – the value of vertical acceleration, which is sent to the FIA ​​by telemetry from the cars.

To check the data in the third practice, the riders run three laps at race pace with DRS disabled. If there is a suspicion that the rider is deliberately slowing down or getting stuck behind another car, the attempt will have to be repeated.

Once the FIA ​​has determined the “safe settings” for each individual car, teams cannot change the ride height, spring rate and damper settings, as well as the aerodynamic configuration of the cars, but there are five exceptions.

1. The car can be lifted even higher
2. Weather Change
3. Configuration change related to the cooling system
4. Tire pressure change
5. Front Wing Adjustments

If a competitor wishes to return to the previously used settings, he must first demonstrate to the FIA ​​that these settings meet the safety criteria. All parameters such as ride height, suspension travel and aerodynamic configuration must be submitted to the FIA ​​after the third practice session, along with the corresponding oscillation values.

If the competitor cannot reach the limits and safe settings required by the FIA, they must use the setting closest to the limits and then increase the rear ride height by a further ten millimeters without changing the suspension and aerodynamic configuration.

As a result of this decision, the teams most affected by the build-up will roll back the most. This will hit Mercedes especially hard and Red Bull will not be affected in any way.