Tag: FIA

News

Official FIA Document Of Vettel’s Demotion To The Back Of The Grid

The need for fuel sampling is covered by Article 6.6 of the F1 technical regulations, which reads:

6.6 Fuel draining and sampling

→ 6.6.1 Competitors must provide a means of removing all fuel from the car.

→ 6.6.2 Competitors must ensure that a one litre sample of fuel may be taken from the car at any time during the Event. Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the stewards of the meeting), if a sample of fuel is required after a practice session the car concerned must have first been driven back to the pits under its own power.

→ 6.6.3 All cars must be fitted with a -2 ‘Symetrics’ male fitting in order to facilitate fuel sampling. If an electric pump on board the car cannot be used to remove the fuel an externally connected one may be used provided it is evident that a representative fuel sample is being taken. If an external pump is used it must be possible to connect the FIA sampling hose to it and any hose between the car and pump must be -3 in diameter and not exceed 2m in length. Details of the fuel sampling hose may be found in the Appendix to these regulations.

→ 6.6.4 The sampling procedure must not necessitate starting the engine or the removal of bodywork (other than the cover over any refuelling connector).

News

FIA releases 2013 calendar

Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has released the calendar for the 2013 season, following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) in Paris, France on Friday.

It features 20 races, the same number as 2012, but with the omission of the European Grand Prix in Valencia and the provisional addition of a new US round in New York.

The FIA’s calendar in full:
17/03 Grand Prix of Australia
24/03 Grand Prix of Malaysia
14/04 Grand Prix of China
21/04 Grand Prix of Bahrain
12/05 Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona)
26/05 Grand Prix of Monaco
09/06 Grand Prix of Canada
16/06 Grand Prix of Jersey (New York) *
30/06 Grand Prix of Great Britain
14/07 Grand Prix of Germany
28/07 Grand Prix of Hungary
25/08 Grand Prix of Belgium
08/09 Grand Prix of Italy
22/09 Grand Prix of Singapore
06/10 Grand Prix of Korea
13/10 Grand Prix of Japan
27/10 Grand Prix of India
03/11 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
17/11 Grand Prix of USA (Austin)
24/11 Grand Prix of Brazil
* TBC

Features, News

Update On 2012 Mercedes W03 DRS Wing System

We call it the DRS, because that’s all it is. The purpose of the DRS is to improve overtaking and that’s what we’re trying to do.

2012 Mercedes W03 wing system has became a hot debate since before the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last month. Rivals like Red Bull and Lotus have been objecting to the design and requested clarification from FIA race director Charlie Whiting. Mercedes claimed that the system is part of the DRS and it complies with the rules and regulations of Formula 1. Currently, at least 5 teams are considering the design illegal, with Red Bull and Lotus leading the objections. FIA will be reassessing the wing system of Mercedes W03 this week.

Article 3.15 and 3.18 of technical regulations states that any system except DRS that is controlled by drivers and alters the aerodynamics of cars is prohibited and only the upper flap of the rear wing may be varied. Rivals believed the system is driver operated and since it falls outside the boundaries and cannot be considered part of DRS, hence the system is illegal.

Let’s look deeper into the DRS system.

When DRS flap is opened, it reveals a duct and air is sucked and channeled via thin pipes all the way through the chassis to the nosecone. Then it is channeled down to the front wing flaps, stalling the wing, reducing drag and raising top speed. When DRS is enabled,  the loss of drag at the rear will cause the car to be imbalance in terms of downforce at the front and at the rear and stalling the front wing flap can reduce the drag and downforce at the front of the car, bringing the car back to balance. And, when the DRS is not operating, the front and rear wing is not stalled and both front and rear downforce can be restored.

The question to be considered is whether the operation of the system is passive or driver operated and this secondary function of the DRS can be accepted. Response from FIA is expected before the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai at 13-15 April 2012.

***UPDATE*** Lotus has filed a protest against Mercedes’s rear wing on Thursday ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix and on the same night, the stewards had agreed to reject the protest because they believe the system was completely passive. (Click here to read the full decision by FIA)

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