Max Mosley Unveils His Vision of F1 in 2008
Max Mosley, the FIA president, unveiled radical proposals to change the face of Formula 1 on Friday.
As he faces another year of Ferrari domination, Mosley released a series of plans to improve the spectacle from 2008 onwards in a document released at the San Marino Grand Prix.
His proposals for the 2008 regulations include fitting cars with smaller engines, banning electronic driver aids in order to bring down costs and make racing closer.
Mosley’s ideas were detailed ahead of a two-day meeting with Formula 1 team bosses in Monaco on May 4.
Source: IAfrica.com
Mosley is keen to see a full grid of 24 cars, and believes the key to attracting new teams in to reduce operating costs for teams, and improve “the racing spectacle without introducing artificial rules”.
Engines will be limited to 2.4-litres under his proposal and they will last two races. Manual gearboxes will return and traction control and power steering will be banned.
He has also suggested that no spare cars be available to teams at Grands Prix, one tyre company supplies all teams and outside of event testing is limited.
Mosley also wants tyre changes to be removed from races, but is keen for refuelling to remain.
In addition, Mosley raised the issue of constructors’ scoring points from a maximum of four specified cars, encouraging the big players to back smaller teams with mechanical assistance and information.
He also wants a new qualifying format to be discussed with the sport’s commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, the teams and race promoters after this year’s system was heavily criticised.
But Mosley’s proposals are likely to meet strong objections from the teams.
Following the two-day meeting in Monaco, the ideas are to be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council on June 30 for consideration.
Making Formula 1 more exciting.
It is interesting, the organizers seem the last to get it that the fans of Formula 1 are a little jaded and want something more?
More exciting, more interesting, and a lot more uncertainty as to the outcome of each race. They also want to see more racing!
The team bosses have aired a few interesting ideas of how to get more oomph and sizzle out of Formula 1.
There are clearly two types of teams: the haves and the have-nots!
The haves win more often, get more sponsorship and have more money to become even better and so have even more! And, the have-nots?well they barely exist. But if it were not for these smaller, struggling, and, less-well-off teams, Formula 1 would maybe have four or five teams.
How boring would that be..?
So here?s an idea that solves most of the problems, and will satisfy almost everyone?
Maintain the present rules regarding qualifying. But allocate points?on a sliding scale?for both drivers? and constructors? to every team/car that actually qualifies. Now qualifying actually becomes a sort of speed trial-race that has more value and more meaning.
Also, the order of qualifying becomes the order of drawing a raffle that is done 2 hours, or so, before the actual race the next day. This drawing determines the place on the grid!
The cars may not be touched after qualifying, just as they are now prohibited: the fuel loads, and strategies are therefore fixed long before the grid drawings.
In the two hours between the start of the race and the drawing, the teams may trade grid positions. This trading is made public! So the fans get to see the bosses bidding and scheming. And, the sponsors will get so much more exposure.
Let?s say it?s a race like Monte Carlo, or Hungary where passing is exceptionally difficult. A have-not team draws the pole position. Their bosses may decide that they don?t have an engine that can go all the way and so trade the pole which they won in the lottery drawing for many millions in cash. Now, they are not so have-not!
Don?t you think this trading process would make excellent TV?
Of course the race would have a similar points-award system to what is current.
These concepts adds many dimensions to the greatest motor racing known as Formula 1.
It is like combining chess, which is skill intensive, with roulette that is mostly luck. Many professional sports have a coin toss that determines kick off and direction of play?so lady luck is not new to sport!
Qualifying will now generate so much more excitement. Because it counts for the overall competition, and mathematically gives the fastest, a first draw to a blind raffle. Yet, it is possible that pole position could be drawn last, by the slowest driver.
How often have we not seen fast drivers kept up by slow drivers.
But the trading session could even this out somewhat. Remember the fuel loads and strategies are locked in before qualifying begins.
If the haves have to pay to buy pole position every time they will soon be have-nots. And, pole position does not guarantee a win automatically, even if Michael Schumacher makes it look like it!
But boy oh boy?Formula 1 will now have three very interesting events: The Qualifying, The Trade, and, The Race.
We?ll get to see so much more of the have-nots. Their sponsors and fans will love it. The competition?all three phases?will make Formula 1 that much more intense, exciting, and unpredictable!
? 2004. All rights reserved by Ian Becker of San Diego, California.
Note: No publication, in whole or part, nor adoption of the ideas contained herein may be made without express written permission by Ian Becker.
Ian Becker may be contacted at ISB@ClubAIR.info
or, PO Box 370831, San Diego, CA 92137, USA,
or, phone: 619-423-9484