Nabs 79

How does everyone think the new rules will play out? Which team(s) or driver(s) will the new rules benefit?

I think Ferrari and bridgestone should benefit greatly from the tire changes.

The new qualifying should be interesting...

Triple-H

Might be a good idea to post the cliff notes version of the new rules so people know what exactly they are.

I'm running to a meeting, I vote for Nabeel to do it.

Nabs 79

Doug

[I]A number of changes to both the Sporting and Technical Regulations have been made by the FIA for the 2006 Formula One season.

Qualifying
For 2006, the single-lap system used in recent years is replaced be a new three-part, knockout format, with multiple cars on track throughout the qualifying hour, which is split into two 15-minute sessions and a final 20-minute session, with five-minute breaks in between.

Part one: All 22 cars may run laps at any time during the first 15 minutes of the hour. At the end of the first 15 minutes, the six slowest cars drop out and fill the final six grid places.

Part two: After a five-minute break, the times will be reset and the 16 remaining cars then will then run in a second 15-minute session - again they may complete as many laps as they want at any time during that period. At the end of the 15 minutes, the six slowest cars drop out and fill places 11 to 16 on the grid.

Part three: After another five-minute break, the times are reset and the final 20-minute session will feature a shootout between the remaining 10 cars to decide pole position and the starting order for the top 10 grid places. Again, these cars may run as many laps as they wish.

In the first two 15-minute sessions, cars may run any fuel load and drivers knocked out after those sessions may refuel ahead of the race. However, the top-ten drivers must begin the final 20-minute session with the fuel load on which they plan to start the race. They will be weighed before they leave the pits, and whatever fuel they use in the 20 minutes may be replaced at the end of the session.

If a driver is deemed to have stopped unnecessarily on the circuit or impeded another driver during the qualifying session, then his times will be cancelled.

Engines
For 2006, engines are reduced in size from the previous 3-litre V10s to 2.4-litre V8s. The aim is to reduce costs and improve safety. With similar engine speeds, the change is expected to cut peak power by around 200bhp, which in turn is likely to add around three to five seconds to lap times at most circuits. The FIA may allow some teams to use 2005-spec V10s if they do not have access to competitive V8. The FIA will enforce a rev limit on any V10s to ensure performance is comparable with that of a V8.

Tyres
After a season

s2ksimon

too many to absorb but the bigger teams will find a way to get around the 15mins spot

I like the Toyota on Bridgestones even more

I like the Honda v8 blowing up less

ytdlite

i like kimi being able to make a tire change.

Triple-H

I had to bring Nabeels thread back to life, I though this set of "rule explanations" was good to add to this thread.

An Idiot's Guide To The New Rules
Monday February 20 2006

Struggling to understand F1's new 2006 regulations? Have no fear, Planet-F1's boffins are here...

ENGINE CHANGES
* Engine capacity has been reduced for 2006 from 3-litre V10 units to 2.4-litre V8s.
* The '2.4-litre' refers to the maximum engine capacity which must not exceed 2400 cc.
* The 'V8' refers to the 90? V configuration of the engine, while the '8' is the number of cylinders the engine has.
* The new V8 engine has been introduced in the hope of cutting costs and improving safety - expect to add around three to five seconds to lap times at most circuits.
* Engines must also last two entire race weekends - the driver will earn a ten-grid slot penalty for a premature engine change. Bad news for Kimi Raikkonen, then...
* And did you know: Scuderia Toro Rosso is the only team that won't be using V8s this season - the team has been permitted to use V10 engines with rev limiters fitted that will reduce the engine's speed

TYRE CHANGES
* Tyre changes during grands prix will return in 2006, ending the one-season ban on changing rubber in pit stops.
* Teams may use as many as seven sets of tyres per driver during a grand prix weekend. (One consequence of this is that if say, Kimi and Fernando are going head-to-head in a grand prix, the driver who has kept a final set of new tyres in reserve for his final pit-stop could gain a decisive advantage - Ed)
* And did you know: 2006 will be the final season that Michelin compete in Formula One as they've opted to withdraw following the FIA's decision to change the tyre rules.

QUALIFYING CHANGES
* A new three-part qualifying system will be used in 2006, replacing the old one-lap shoot-out.
* Qualifying will last one hour and drivers may put in as many laps as they want to during any of the three sessions as long as they haven't been eliminated.
* The first session, which is 15-minutes long, will see all 22 drivers on track, each carrying a low fuel load. At the end of the session, the slowest six drivers will be eliminated and they will make up the final quarter of Sunday's grid filling the positions P17 to P22 in order of fastest to slowest.
* A five-minute break will follow.
* Following the break, the second 15-minute session will begin and the remaining 16 drivers will return to the track, once again carrying a low fuel load. At the end of the session, the slowest six will be eliminated and they will make up positions P11 to P16 on Sunday's grid in order of fastest to slowest.
* A five-minute break will follow.
* The final session, which is 20-minutes long, will see the final ten drivers battle for pole position. However, in this session they will have to carry the same amount of fuel that they plan to start the race with. The fastest driver will take P1, while the slowest will occupy P10 on the grid.
* And did you know: If you find this new format confusing don't worry, you're not alone. Max Mosley also doesn't understand it!