2018: Tweaking the Rules

The 2018 F1 season is just around the corner, so let’s discuss what’s changing for the new season…
In just over a month it will be time to head for Barcelona to start winter testing. Prior to that, we’ll be whipping the covers off our new STR13, so while we wait, let’s take a look at what’s changed in terms of the technical and sporting regulations for the coming season. We’re not talking about the sea change we saw last year, but nevertheless there are some significant novelties.
The first of these is the Halo, which divided opinion when it was trialled during practice last season, however what is undeniable is that it is aimed at improving safety, by protecting the driver’s head from medium to large debris – a wheel for example. We say farewell to the T-wing and the shark’s fin engine cover, which are now consigned to history, while the back end of the car will now feature one smaller fin on the engine cover.

As from this year, each driver will have to make do with just three power units, down from the previous total of four, for all 21 rounds of the championship. Our engineers, working closely with our new partner Honda, will have to find the right compromise between performance and reliability, to avoid our drivers picking up penalties handed out for exceeding the number of components allowed in the rules.
On the subject of penalties, as from this year, the FIA has simplified the way they are applied: any driver receiving a penalty equivalent to 15 or more grid positions, will automatically start from the back of the grid. In the event of more than one driver having the same number of penalties, the one who first notifies the need to change any component will start highest up the order. It’s definitely more straightforward and less of a brain-teaser than the previous penalty system.
Thanks to Pirelli, Formula 1 will be even more colourful this year. The sole tyre supplier has delivered a new range to include the new Superhard compound, which has an orange band, while the Hards will from now on be blue. Then there’s the new softest compound, the pink Hypersoft, which should see lap times come tumbling down and the racing could be even more exciting, with more complex race strategies and more pit stops than in the past. Taking into account the two compounds for use in wet conditions, there are now no fewer than nine different tyre types to choose from.
There’s plenty to get excited about and the countdown can start now!