FIA FOTA Accord
01.02.2010
New regulations for the 2010 Formula One season have been approved by the F1 commission. The two new regulations are concerning tires and the points system. The approved tire rule, will force the top ten qualifiers to start the race on the same tires they used to set their quickest qualifying times.
This rule was proposed during the last round of meetings of the F1 commission and the FIA. This was done in an effort to introduce a new strategic element to qualifying now that the fuel loads will be standard at the start of the each race.
The argument is that this new rule might lead the team to re-evaluate how to approach qualifying. Some teams may not go for pole if it means that they may be able to start the race with tires better suited for race conditions without sacrificing too much performance. This would make it a delicate balancing act.
My personal thought on this is that it’s all sensationalism and artificial. There must be something else to this, because I cannot understand why the teams would propose or agree to such a rule. With the prospect of a full load of fuel on used rubber, what advantage could qualifying in the top ten give teams other than initial track position? How long will the newer harder/stiffer compound Bridgestones last and how well will they cope with the change of direction when cold on a full tank? Does this spell disaster for first corner incidents? Is there a safety concern for the drivers? On circuits like Monaco, will this add to the already boring procession that has become synonymous with the glamorous yet useless trot around the principality?
This artificial inflation of the sport carries on to yet another one of the approved rule changes. While I completely and totally agree that there should have always been a bigger gap between first and second place, the new points system takes it perhaps one step too far. While the end goal is achieved we are now left with a race winner taking 25 points and second place taking 18 points with the final podium spot worth 15 points. That’s a 10 point gap between first and third. The 2010 points system will see the top 10 finishers be rewarded with points in this order: 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1. Is this indeed another attempt to sensationalize a sport with rule manipulation, or does this system actually achieve its set goals?
FOTA and the FIA both desperately are trying to repair the damage done to the sport with various scandals, be it spying or cheating over the last few years and some big name manufacturer’s leaving the sport due to the economic climate. With the return of F1 legend Michael Schumacher, and an abundance of driver and team changes including the introduction of new teams and faces and most importantly, the prospect of an exciting new season ahead, many old fans are returning and many new ones are interested in Formula One again. Is it really necessary to constantly be fiddling with the sport’s rules and regulations? Will the refueling ban go the same way as the one tire rule of 2005?
We already know that Diffusers will be banned in 2011, and KERS may be re-introduced – when is it time to say ENOUGH!
Ernesto Nigro
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I agree Ernie, though in a slightly different sense. I cannot figure out why they would agree because it gives the tire supplier too much power in determining the results. If you’re into conspiracy theories.
What if Bridgestone introduced a compound that was really rubbery on the outside but hard as rock on the inside? This can effectively inflate the advantage of teams in P10 and Lower by a significant margin.
Again, I’m all for passing but it has to be done naturally not with gimmick rule changes. I’m not saying I have a solution, I just know that this isn’t it.