2006 F1 Regulation Changes for 2006 Part 2

Continued from Part 1.

Talking about tyres, spectators also will get to see more exciting and thrilling races this year after FIA announced the re-introduction of mid-race tire changing after many high-profile tire related incidences were recorded in 2005.

Among them, Kimi Raikkonen’s final lap shunt at Nurburgring, Renault’s excessive tyre-wear in Monaco, Williams’ triple tyre failures during the Turkish GP, and the infamous withdrawal of Michelin-shodded teams from the United States Grand Prix.

The switch to 2.4-litre V8 engines is also understood to have facilitated the return of tyres stops, as FIA is satisfied that speeds will be reduced sufficiently to allow for greater performance from the tyres. Each driver however, is limited to 14 sets of tyres per race weekend; 7 dry, 4 wet and 3 extreme weather tyres. The tyre change rule would also appear to be more damaging to Michelin, as it has coped much better with last year's one set per race rules.

“It's not looking too bad, to phrase it carefully,” Schumacher said recently. “Or, to phrase it a little less careful: there are many things pointing in a good direction. Tire changes may be helpful in some ways, but it won't make us champion. But I think we will be able to rule out some things now that made life hard for us last season; for instance having next to no rubber on our tires during the final laps, and consequently being much too slow.”

A new qualifying format will also be introduced, doing away with the dreaded single lap qualifying. In October 2005, FIA had secured teams’ agreement to switch qualifying to the knockout format from the start of the 2006 season. Cars will no longer go out for individual laps, but will all enter the track at the same time, trying to record the fastest timed lap. Two 15-minute sessions will each see the five slowest cars eliminated, leaving 10 cars to fight for pole in a final 20-minute open session.

Toyota Technical Director, Mike Gascoyne explains: “We've got the first two sessions where we have to go out and do a time, and in the third we're going to want to be out lapping because we want to bring the fuel level down. And then with two minutes to go, everyone's going to be diving into the pits for quick tyre changes. I think it will be pretty hectic!”

All in all, the early part of the season will prove to be pivotal for most team’s championship aspirations. Teams that have got their overall package sorted in terms of reliability and performance vis-à-vis the changes in regulations will undoubtedly benefit the most. Cost or safety concerns, ultimately, Formula One in 2006 will only be better for motor racing fans like you and me.

As Cosworth's Managing Director, Tim Routsis puts it: “As far as the fans are concerned, they are in for a very exciting start to the season because I cannot remember an occasion in the last ten years or so where the rule changes have been as fundamental as they are this year.” Indeed it will.

Words By Kamarul Aznam