F1 F1 2024 thread

[jabba5114]

How anyone could be a fan of hers I'll never understand

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[DamoESP]

FIA have revealed the new regs for 2026

FIA unveils Formula 1 regulations for 2026 and beyond

Formula 1’s governing body the FIA has unveiled the “agile, competitive, safer and more sustainable” set of regulations that will define the sport from 2026 and beyond.

www.formula1.com

 

[Not Important]

FIA have revealed the new regs for 2026

FIA unveils Formula 1 regulations for 2026 and beyond

Formula 1’s governing body the FIA has unveiled the “agile, competitive, safer and more sustainable” set of regulations that will define the sport from 2026 and beyond.

www.formula1.com

View attachment 2012522

more on this.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

"Manual Override Mode"

F1's version of Push to Pass?

 

[jabba5114]

"Manual Override Mode"

F1's version of Push to Pass?

Yeah it is.

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[Black_White]

Slower?
That’ll suit HAM…
And Ferrari!

 

[darth_timon]

Watching highlights of qualifying for the IndyCar at Road America, looks like a good track, surprised F1 hasn't taken an interest in it, unless there's safety requirements it doesn't meet.

 

[happy_eagle]

Watching highlights of qualifying for the IndyCar at Road America, looks like a good track, surprised F1 hasn't taken an interest in it, unless there's safety requirements it doesn't meet.

Unfortunately from a commercial perspective, Wisconsin doesn't quite have the same ring to it as Miami and Vegas.

But yes it does look like a decent race track. I think it needs to be a certain category level to be F1 eligible.

 

[darth_timon]

Unfortunately from a commercial perspective, Wisconsin doesn't quite have the same ring to it as Miami and Vegas.

But yes it does look like a decent race track. I think it needs to be a certain category level to be F1 eligible.

I checked it out, it's FIA Grade 2, so sadly it doesn't meet the standards F1 wants. It's seen some drama in its time,

2015 CCR Tifosi Challenge red flag wreck​

Google that, it was crazy.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

I checked it out, it's FIA Grade 2, so sadly it doesn't meet the standards F1 wants. It's seen some drama in its time,

2015 CCR Tifosi Challenge red flag wreck​

Google that, it was crazy.

It wouldn't need much to get to FIA Grade 1 you'd think.

I'll admit the one I want to replace is Miami - it just sucks. COTA is actually a pretty good race track and Las Vegas was surprisingly good for a street circuit last year. Would also take Watkins Glen or Laguna Seca on the calendar too but not sure how well the track width on those two shapes up for F1.

 

[gaskin]

Apparently Croatia are planning on having a Grade 1 track in a couple of years with a view to having an F1 race. But, a couple of Croatians on Reddit reckon it will never happen since the Government want private investors to fork out and pay for it all.

 

[happy_eagle]

The glaring hole in the calendar geographically speaking is Africa.

 

[gaskin]

There has been some talk of South Africa for a while now but I can't see how they can fit another race onto the calendar. They'll have a full on revolt from the drivers if they keep adding more.

 

[gaskin]

Horner mentioned in an interview that Checo's contract is 1+1 and not a straight 2 year deal as was reported.

 

[Jatz]

There has been some talk of South Africa for a while now but I can't see how they can fit another race onto the calendar. They'll have a full on revolt from the drivers if they keep adding more.

South Africa doesn't happen without dropping one.

Which always seems like a possibility.

I'd personally love to see Malaysia back but I very much doubt that ever happens.

 

[Vader]

South Africa doesn't happen without dropping one.

Which always seems like a possibility.

I'd personally love to see Malaysia back but I very much doubt that ever happens.

There is scope in the existing Concorde Agreement for adding one more race.

Having said that, Kyalami is currently a Grade 2 track, and would need upgrading (mostly just the installation of safety barriers) to bring it up to Grade 1 standard, making it suitable for F1.

The problem is that there are a LOT of other countries/tracks competing for that last slot, and any further additions would require existing tracks to lose their GP. Monaco should be the first one to go - it pays the lowest license fees, and it's a track which is completely unsuited to modern F1 cars. In reality, Spa (despite being the world's best F1 track) appears to be first in the firing line, due to license fees.

 

[Vader]

Only Grade 1 tracks are allowed to host F1 races. The list of tracks for Grades 1-6 can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...ades issued by the,can host Formula One races.

Of course, there's nothing to stop countries from building new Grade 1 tracks, or upgrading existing tracks, in order to attract an F1 GP.

Just out of interest, here are the track gradings for several Australian tracks on the list:
1 - Albert Park
2 - Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, Sydney Motorsport Park (Eastern Creek), The Bend
3 - Adelaide Street Circuit, Mt Panorama, Hidden Valley, Phillip Island, Queensland Raceway, Sandown, Symmons Plains, Townsville Street Circuit, Wanneroo, Winton

 

[Jatz]

Only Grade 1 tracks are allowed to host F1 races. The list of tracks for Grades 1-6 can be found here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_racing_circuits_by_FIA_grade#:~:text=The grades issued by the,can host Formula One races.

Of course, there's nothing to stop countries from building new Grade 1 tracks, or upgrading existing tracks, in order to attract an F1 GP.

Just out of interest, here are the track gradings for several Australian tracks on the list:
1 - Albert Park
2 - Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, Sydney Motorsport Park (Eastern Creek), The Bend
3 - Adelaide Street Circuit, Mt Panorama, Hidden Valley, Phillip Island, Queensland Raceway, Sandown, Symmons Plains, Townsville Street Circuit, Wanneroo, Winton

I'm curious on how the Surfers Paradise track is considered a higher grade than Mt Panorama/Hidden Valley/PI etc.

That Surfers track would be absolutely terrible with these F1 cars.

 

[Vader]

I'm curious on how the Surfers Paradise track is considered a higher grade than Mt Panorama/Hidden Valley/PI etc.

That Surfers track would be absolutely terrible with these F1 cars.

A lot of the grading has to do with safety - it's all about run-off areas and safety barriers.

Surfers has a full debris fence all the way around the track. Mt Panorama only has it in the spectator areas (e.g. across the top of the mountain, and along the pit straight) - there are no barriers along Conrod Straight, or Mountain Straight, only a low concrete fence. Also, Mt Panorama has gradients which are too steep for a Grade 1 track, most notably through the Dipper.

The Bend doesn't have debris barriers around most of the track - but cars can safely run off for the better part of 5km without hitting anything, so they're (arguably) not needed.

This article discusses how tracks are graded: https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-track-grades-requirements-f1-potential/6508332/

 

[Jatz]

A lot of the grading has to do with safety - it's all about run-off areas and safety barriers.

Surfers has a full debris fence all the way around the track. Mt Panorama only has it in the spectator areas (e.g. across the top of the mountain, and along the pit straight) - there are no barriers along Conrod Straight, or Mountain Straight, only a low concrete fence. Also, Mt Panorama has gradients which are too steep for a Grade 1 track, most notably through the Dipper.

The Bend doesn't have debris barriers around most of the track - but cars can safely run off for the better part of 5km without hitting anything, so they're (arguably) not needed.

That was what I was curious about - the safety fence might go the whole way around but there is almost zero run off area.

Suppose you can say that with most street circuits.

 

[Vader]

This article discusses the track requirements in greater detail, albeit focusing on the requirements for Grade 1:
https://au.motorsport.com/f1/news/fia-track-grades-requirements-f1-potential/6508332/

 

[Vader]

I've been Google Searching, and trolling through the FIA website, trying to find the technical regulations used to determine whether a track is Grade 1/2/3/4/5/6. I keep coming up emptyhanded.

I get that tracks are graded according to the weight/power ratio of the vehicles that are allowed to use them. Vehicles with weight/power ratios < 1 need a Grade 1 track, those with ratios 1-2 require a Grade 2 track, and those with ratios 2-3 require a Grade 3 track. Supercars fall into the 3rd category.

What I can't find is any documentation defining the physical characteristics which differentiate a Grade 1 track from Grade 2 or 3.

Appendix O details a list of regulations, determining if a track is compliant with FIA standards - but there's nothing in there which differentiates between the various track grades. This is the best that I can find.
file:///C:/Users/sladem/Downloads/appendix_o_2024_published_28.02.2024_-_final_v2_0.pdf

Grading is not just dependent upon the track itself - it also concerns the number of garages, medical facilities, access roads. Once again, I can't find anything documenting how these requirements differ between the various track grades.

 

[Forward Press]

There is scope in the existing Concorde Agreement for adding one more race.

Having said that, Kyalami is currently a Grade 2 track, and would need upgrading (mostly just the installation of safety barriers) to bring it up to Grade 1 standard, making it suitable for F1.

The problem is that there are a LOT of other countries/tracks competing for that last slot, and any further additions would require existing tracks to lose their GP. Monaco should be the first one to go - it pays the lowest license fees, and it's a track which is completely unsuited to modern F1 cars. In reality, Spa (despite being the world's best F1 track) appears to be first in the firing line, due to license fees.

Is there any other African track that could conceivably meet the requirements apart from Kyalami?

Monaco will stay just because of the history and prestige, think everyone agrees that it would not meet modern standards if it was a new race being proposed.

Personally, though, I would like a shorter calendar. We will never see a 16 race calendar again, fine, but the current schedule is too packed and devalues a race win imo.

 

[Vader]

Is there any other African track that could conceivably meet the requirements apart from Kyalami?

Monaco will stay just because of the history and prestige, think everyone agrees that it would not meet modern standards if it was a new race being proposed.

Personally, though, I would like a shorter calendar. We will never see a 16 race calendar again, fine, but the current schedule is too packed and devalues a race win imo.

Morocco has a Grade 2 circuit (Circuit Sidi Daoui de Oued Zem), which is the only other Grade 2 circuit in Africa. There are no Grade 1 or 3 tracks listed in Africa, on the Wikipedia page I previously linked.

I agree that a shorter season would be better... but Liberty are determined to maximise their return on investment, and that means as many GPs as possible (subject to the Concorde Agreement), and maximising the fees they charge for the races they are permitted to hold.

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

I wouldn't be surprised if the grading is done reactionary to the cars supposed to be racing on the circuit and some of the parameters of the track itself come down to "the vibe" at the time.