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The 2006 season sees two major changes, in engine layout and to the sporting regulations. | |||||
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Engines | |||||
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Formula One engines are now of a V8 configuration. This means the engines have 2 cylinders less than in previous years, and have a reduced capacity of 2.4 Litres compares to the 3.0 Litre engines of previous years. | |||||
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The engine capacity has been cut due to the increase in speeds in recent years, and also as a cost cutting measure. Straight line speeds should be reduced as a consequence, with a horse power loss of approximately 150. | |||||
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Horsepower levels are now around the 750 mark, but engines should be revving higher. A recent video posted on the Cosworth website showed an engine revving up to 20,000 RPM. | |||||
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WHAT THE RULES SAY | |||||
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5.1.2 Subject only to Article 5.2, engine
capacity must not exceed 2400 cc. 5.1.4 All engines must have 8 cylinders arranged in a 90º "V" configuration and the normal section of each cylinder 5.1.4 must be circular. 5.1.5 Engines must have two inlet and two exhaust valves per cylinder. 5.1.5 Only reciprocating poppet valves are permitted. 5.1.5 The sealing interface between the moving valve component and the stationary engine component must be 5.1.5 circular. 5.4.1 Cylinder bore diameter may not exceed 98mm. 5.4.2 Cylinder spacing must be fixed at 106.5mm (+/- 0.2mm). 5.4.3 The crankshaft centreline must not be less than 58mm above the reference plane. 5.5.1 The overall weight of the engine must be a minimum of 95kg. 5.5.2 The centre of gravity of the engine may not lie less than 165mm above the reference plane. 5.6.1 Variable geometry inlet systems are not permitted. 5.6.2 Variable geometry exhaust systems are nor permitted. 5.6.3 Variable valve timing and variable valve lift systems are not permitted. 5.7.1 The pressure of the fuel supplied to the injectors may not exceed 100 bar. 5.7.1 Sensors must be fitted which directly measure the pressure of the fuel supplied to the injectors, these signals 5.7.1 must be supplied to the FIA data logger. The FIA regulations also impose the use of certain materials, and limit their stiffness. For example: Pistons must be produced from an aluminium based alloy. Crankshafts must be produced from an iron-based alloy. Camshafts must be produced from an iron-based alloy and must be made from a single piece of metal. Crankcases and cylinder heads must be produced from an aluminium-based alloy. Magnesium based alloys, MMC (Metal Matrix Composites), Intermetallic materials and alloys containing more than 5% of beryllium, iridium and rhenium are forbidden. |
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| CONSEQUENCES OF THESE REGULATION CHANGES | ||||||
| -For
the first time, engine minimum weight and the position of the centre of
gravity are specified in the rules. The -regulation
minimum weight limit is 95kg. -There is a power loss relative to the V10 format used in 2005 of approximately 20% proportional to the reduction -in engine capacity. The elimination of variable trumpets degrades the power delivery and the width of the power -curve. This is the starting point for 2.4 Litre V9 performance development. -The narrower power band and reduced power will oblige the drivers to be closer to the rev limit most of the time: -according to the nature of the circuit, the average revs will be 300 or 400 rpm closer to maximum revs. -The time spent on full throttle will also increase relative to 2005, owing to the reduced power levels combined with -improved aero performance and better tyre grip. -Vibrations are often mentioned in connection with the V8. A distinction must be made between internal and -external vibrations. The first concern primarily the torsional vibrations of the engine's internal moving parts. -These are fundamental to engine development, and they can depend on factors such as the firing order. The -external vibrations are partly a consequence of the internal vibrations and can be minimised according to how the -crankshaft is balanced. In the car, external vibrations are felt by the chassis components and the driver. -Had the V8 engines been used in an identical fashion to the V10, fuel consumption would have reduced -proportionally to the reduced engine capacity. However, because the new engines will spend more time at higher -revs and full throttle, the reduction in fuel consumption will not be so great. |
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SOURCE: RENAULT F1 |
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| Sporting Regulation Changes | ||||||
| The main changes affecting the 2006 Sporting Regulations regard tyre usage, the format of race weekends, and qualifying. These are shown below: | ||||||
| Article 75) | Quantity of tyres | |||||
| a) | During the event no driver may use more than seven sets of dry-weather tyres, four sets of wet-weather tyres and three sets of extreme-weather tyres. A set of tyres will be deemed to comprise two front and two rear tyres all of which must be of the same specification. | |||||
| IMPACT: Each team may only bring two types of dry tyre to a race, as in previous years, but is no longer obliged to do so. Therefore, a team could potentially bring just one tyre type, and use seven sets instead of six or fewer. | ||||||
| Article 77) | Use of Tyres | |||||
| a) | No driver may use more than one specification of dry-weather tyre after the start of the qualifying practice session. | |||||
| IMPACT: In 2005, teams had to choose between two available types of tyre on Friday evening. This is no longer the case, and the choice is only made when qualifying begins. | ||||||
| Article 114) | Free Practice sessions will take place: | |||||
| a) | The day after initial scrutineering from 11.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 15.00. | |||||
| b) | The day before the race from 11.00 to 12.00. | |||||
| IMPACT: Instead of three and a half hours of free practice in 2005, the teams now have only three hours on Friday and Saturday in which to complete their preparations for the race. | ||||||
| Article 115) | The
qualifying practice session will take place on the day before the race
from 14.00 to 15.00 The session will run as follows: |
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| a) | From 14.00 to 14.15 all cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of this period the slowest seven cars, taking into account only laps which were completed before the end of the period, will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session. Lap times achieved by the fifteen remaining cars will then be deleted. |
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| b) | From 14.20 to 14.35 the fifteen remaining cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of this period the slowest five cars, taking into account only laps which were completed before the end of the period, will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session. Lap times achieved by the ten remaining cars will then be deleted. |
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| c) | From 14.40 to 15.00 the ten remaining cars will be permitted on the track. |
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| IMPACT: Qualifying is split into three parts, with the final session representing a 'super pole' contest between the ten fastest cars. They must begin the session with the fuel for their opening race stint, and then run until the fuel load is low enough to set a competitive lap time. Fuel used during the third session is then replaced prior to the race. | ||||||
| Article 117) | Each
car will be deemed to be in parc fermé from the time at which it leaves
the pit lane for the first time during qualifying practice until the green
lights are illuminated at the start of the formation lap which immediately
precedes the start of the race. Between these times, other than when cars are returned to the parc fermé overnight, the following work may be carried out: -wheels and tyres may be removed, changed or rebalanced and tyre pressures checked. |
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| IMPACT: Drivers may now start the race on new tyres, which was not the case in 2005, 2005 or 2003. | ||||||
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Source: RENAULT F1 |
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| Coming soon to Focus F1 |
| Further updates to the Weird and Wonderful section, and an F1 dictionary! |
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Please remember to check back after every Grand Prix to read our in-depth race reports! |
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