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 The
Gearbox
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Regulations restricting the
number of gearboxes used by
a driver during a race
weekend have come under
review. From 2008 a driver
must use one gearbox for
four consecutive race
events. Should a gearbox
need to be replaced the
driver will drop five places
on the starting grid. Should
a driver retire from a race
he will be able to start the
following race weekend with
a new gearbox without
incurring a penalty. |
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The
Engine
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As in 2007, an engine
must last for two
consecutive race events.
Should the engine fail and
need to be replaced before
qualifying, the driver will
incur a grid penalty of ten
places. He will be relegated
to the back of the grid if
the engine is changed after
qualifying. However - new
for 2008 - a driver will be
permitted to use a
replacement engine, without
incurring a penalty, the
first time this becomes
necessary (this cannot take
place at the final race of
the season).
Regulations ‘freezing’
engine development also
continue this season; engine
innovations are heavily
restricted and any
alterations need to be
authorised by the FIA.
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Electronic Control Units
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This year all teams must use
a Standardised Electronic
Control Unit (SECU) which
controls the car’s
electronics. The FIA
specified and approved
system will allow the
governing body to monitor
all 22 cars more closely.
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Traction and Launch control
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The FIA has also banned the
‘start systems’, which
detect when a race start is
given and ‘traction control’
devices, which prevent the
rear wheels spinning if too
much power is applied. This
new regulation potentially
places more emphasis on
driver skill. |
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Fuel
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2008 regulations outline
that 5.75% by weight of
bio-oxygenate must be
incorporated in Formula One
fuel. Shell and Ferrari have
been working together over
the past year to develop a
new formulation that meets
the regulation but also
provides maximum performance
for the season.
Race fuel load will still
be decided in qualifying and
the optimum blend of fuel is
vital. Fuel blends need to
deliver the maximum power to
the car whilst maintaining
efficiency and drivability.
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Oil
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As in 2007 the ‘freeze’ on
engine development means
that teams have fewer
variables with which to
improve performance. Engine
lubricant therefore remains
an important differentiating
factor, providing Shell with
the added challenge of
developing an engine
lubricant that will help
Ferrari maintain its pole
position. |
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Tyres
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Each team will receive
two specifications of tyre
per race weekend, with each
driver having to use both
specifications during the
race.
Drivers are provided with
14 sets of dry weather tyre
for the event. A maximum of
four sets are available to
each driver for the first
day leaving them ten for the
remainder of the event.
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Friday Practice Sessions
(Thursday in Monaco)
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Friday is an official test
day with two 90-minute
sessions; the teams do not
need to conserve their race
engines or gearboxes. |
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Saturday Qualifying
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Following a one hour
Saturday practice session,
the one hour allotted for
knock-out qualifying begins
at 14:00 local time
Saturday, at each race:
Q1 – All
race entrants can use this
20-minute session to run as
many laps as they wish. At
the end of this session, the
slowest six cars will be
eliminated and assigned the
bottom spots on the starting
grid. These cars may be
refuelled prior to the race.
Q2 – The
clocks are reset for another
15-minute qualifying
session. Once again, the six
slowest cars of this session
drop out; filling grid
places 11-16. These cars are
allowed to run any fuel
level they desire in the
next day’s race. The
remaining ten cars have
eight minutes to prepare for
Q3, when the clocks are
reset for the final knockout
round.
Q3 – The
fight for pole position puts
the ten fastest cars into a
battle against each other –
and the clock. The fastest
lap of this session wins
pole position. As in the
previous sessions, each car
can run as many laps as
desired within this final,
ten-minute window. This year
cars will no longer get back
the fuel used in this
session – they must now
start the race with whatever
fuel is left in the car once
qualifying is over.
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