Talk:Formula One regulations

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While in the fifties superchargers were used to increase power, as far as I know, in the eighties the turbocharger was the means to boost power. I have not edited the page because I am not sure of my facts.

Yes but the turbocharger is known since before the WWII. Reguarding the rule there's no difference between a turbo and a simple supercharger. Maybe we should write simply "charged" ?

Sorry Ericd. The reason I removed the content of this page is because I made a new page called Formula One regulations and copied the content. I think that regulations is a more accurate description than rules. I realise that I shouldn't have simply deleted the content of this page though. Do you think that this page should be a redirect to F1 regs, put up on VfD or simply kept as it is, bearing in mind that the main F1 page is the only article that links here? 999 10:26, 8 May 2004 (UTC)

It's better to use "Move this page" in that case. I will go on adding a redirect and moving talk page as well. Ericd 14:36, 8 May 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] blue flags

As far as I know the blue flags only mean that a faster driver is coming up behind you, and is shown even when this driver is in the same lap. If he is, you don't have to let him pass of course. (Tinus)

Perhaps I worded it badly. The FIA regulations define it thus: "Blue flag - Warns a driver that he is about to be lapped and to let the faster car overtake. Pass three blue flags without complying and the driver risks being penalised. Blue lights are also displayed at the end of the pit lane when the pit exit is open and a car on track is approaching." Rdsmith4 19:54, 25 Jul 2004 (UTC)
That quote, which suggests that the blue flag is only used on a driver who is about to be lapped, is from the official Formula One website's guide [1], right? BBC Sport's flag guide [2] says that the blue flag is shown to any driver who is being approached by a faster car. I skimmed the FIA F1 Sporting Regulations [3] (PDF file) but couldn't find anything about flags. Other websites mainly only mention the blue flag being used in a 'backmarker' situation but some mention it being used with cars racing for position and also for cars exiting the pits. My suspicion is that the blue flag simply means that a faster car is approaching but that in practice it is only used on 'backmarkers' (that's the only time I've seen it used). SamH 22:05, 25 Jul 2004 (UTC)
Yes, you're right of course, www.f1.com appears to have paraphrased from the FIA regs. The PDF you linked mentions blue flags only for use at the exit of the pitlane to signal an oncoming car, but it seems the actual flag definitions are found in Appendix H (PDF) of the International Sporting Code, which is a general FIA rulebook. (The FIA certainly has a lot of rules.)
From Appendix H: "d) Light Blue flag: This should normally be waved, as an indication to a driver that he is about to be overtaken. It has different meanings during practice and during the race. At all times: A stationary flag should be displayed to a driver leaving the pits if traffic is approaching on the track. During practice: Give way to a faster car which is about to overtake you. During the race: The flag should normally be shown to a car about to be lapped and, when shown, the driver concerned must allow the following car to pass at the earliest opportunity.
I will change the article to make this clear - hope that's OK. Rdsmith4 22:42, 25 Jul 2004 (UTC)

[edit] start from pit

The article says: "Starting from the pit lane means they start at the tail end of the grid, however, they can not only change an engine, but also start the race on a full load of fuel and with fresh tires" (Race procedure). Is this correct? Is changing of tires (under the new regulations) allowed? Also doesn't refueling AND changing tires in the same pitstop result in a drive-through penalty? Or does a start from the pit not count as a pitstop? Felsir 06:44, July 27, 2005 (UTC)

I think when cars start from the pits and want to add extra fuel (if they were top ten qualifiers) they can't add fuel until the race starts. So it counts as a pitstop. I think one driver was punished (since the race fuel thing started) for refueling in the pits at the start - the start was delayed because someone had stalled, but the team started the fuelling when they thought the lights were going out, instead of when the lights actually did.

if they must do other significant work, body work or suspension adjustments, the car will start from the pit lane. This isn't strictly correct. At Monaco Massa crashed in practice and he started from last on the grid (only because he hadn't set a time). However as long as the damaged parts are replaced with identically set up parts there is no penalty. Maybe if the team wished to change the setup the car would have to start from the pits.

If, for some reason, the car cannot start the race (engine failure during qualifying or practice, suspension fails, etc), the car can still join the race, but will take a 10-position penalty at the start. The ten-place penalty is only for engine failures that occur before qualifying. No other problems get punished. (Engine fails during/after qualifying and the car goes to the back.) --Don Speekingleesh 22:42, 9 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Reason for technical limitations

I seem to remember reading somewhere that if all the technical innovations had been allowed to continue unregulated, it's estimated that todays formula one cars would be capable of a top speed of over 400 mph, and 0-100 in about 2 seconds. Might be worth incorporating to demonstrate need for restrictions on technology in F1. 81.76.6.123 10:45, 18 January 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Penalties

Does anyone know if the two most severe possible penalties listed (being banned for a number of races, and being banned for the rest of the championship) have ever been applied, and if so when? FiggyBee 17:40, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

I think the worse penalty was applied to Tyrell. Ericd 17:53, 25 February 2006 (UTC)

BAR-Honda was banned for a number of races in 2005 after some, um, misunderstandings, over the rules on weight and fuel remaining in the car. 4u1e

Well M. Schumacher in 1997 was disqualified from the World Championship, which I suppose is even more extreme than being banned for the rest of the championship. Alexj2002 16:23, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

I'd disagree - Schumacher recieved a complete non-punishment. None of his 1997 results were removed from him, only his standing in a championship he didn't win. Being DSQed for (part of) a season meaning missing races and chances to gain podiums and wins. --Don Speekingleesh 06:58, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

Don't forget that he also had to do 'Community Service' for the FIA's road car safety campaign. Nice one Max, he won't do that again in a hurry. Oh... miterdale 12:16, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Start Procudure

From the article: "The race is started by ten red lights, controlled by Charlie Whiting. The lights illuminate two at a time, left to right, in one-second intervals, and then go out simultaneously

F1 Start Lights (as Alexj2002 believes them to be)
F1 Start Lights (as Alexj2002 believes them to be)

after an interval of between four and seven seconds. When the lights go out, the race begins."

10 red lights? I'm almost sure it's only five (see [4] for example. The lights appear from videos I've watched to be arranged as shown on the right. The official F1 website [5] agrees "Once all cars have safely taken up their grid positions at the end of the formation lap five red lights will appear in sequence at one-second intervals" Unless there are any objection, I'm going to change the article. Alexj2002 13:32, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

Watching the race today (2006 Turkish Grand Prix) it's definately 5. I'm changing the article. Alexj2002 23:19, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Would it be worth saying that this regulation was first brought into Formula One at the start of the 1996 season? --Phill talk Edits 15:57, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] To Be Done

(transferred from the "History" section of the article): crash test, minimal weight, fuel rules, aerodymics rules, tyre size, number of wheels. (Althought I think some of these have already been at least partly done). DH85868993 04:05, 3 December 2007 (UTC)