New sprints, FIA changes, and Alonso’s Aston Martin buzz in one turbocharged update
Hey there, speed aficionados! 👋
Gear up for another edition of your favorite Formula 1 newsletter, where we bring you the latest and greatest from the world of high-speed racing.
🏎️ 2024 Sprint Schedule Unveiled: The 2024 season is revving up with a fresh sprint schedule! Curious about the new hosts? We’ve got the inside track on the circuits that will be setting the stage for these thrilling races.
🚦 FIA’s Fresh Changes for 2024: Big news from the FIA! Get ready for some groundbreaking changes approved for the 2024 season.
🗣️ Aston Martin and Alonso: The F1 is abuzz with whispers that Aston Martin wants to extend Fernando Alonso’s contract. Is it just hearsay, or is there more to the story?
In today’s email:
- Pit Stop Talks – Stay updated with the latest paddock gossip and news
- In-depth education- F1 Banned: Active Suspension
- Fast Lane News – Stay ahead in F1 with your quick racing roundup
- F1 2024 Calendar
Lights out, and away we go!
Pit Stop Talks
Pit Stop Talks📅 2024 F1 Sprint Schedule
Formula 1 has just announced that there will be six Sprint races next season. One of the big news is that the Shanghai International Circuit is back after a break since 2019. It’s going to host the first Sprint race on April 20th.
Other than Shanghai, four other locations from 2023 are keeping their Sprints – these are Austria, The United States, São Paulo, and Qatar.
Miami is hosting its very first Sprint, while Azerbaijan goes back to just having the Grand Prix.
They’re still figuring out the exact format for these Sprint races, especially after some less exciting ones in 2023. There’s talk about changing when the qualifying rounds happen and maybe even introducing reversed grids for the Sprint.
☔ F1’s Wheel Cover Tests in Spring
Formula 1 is planning to test new wet-weather wheel covers early next year. They had to delay these tests, originally set for the end of this season, because of costs.
Why It Matters
- These wheel covers are being developed to reduce the spray from the wheels when it’s raining, which can really block a driver’s view.
- Earlier this year, they tried out a first version at Silverstone, but it didn’t work as well as they hoped.
- The main issue was that these covers didn’t cover enough of the wheel. Since then, they’ve been working on a bigger and better design.
Nikolas Tombazis from the FIA said they’re okay with this delay. The tests were supposed to happen in November, but the teams would have had to outsource much of the work, making it really expensive. So, they all agreed to push it to spring to save some money.
We know there will still be visibility issues, but we have got to see what percentage we can cure by a very complete cover of the wheels. If we see that’s actually a tangible step forward, then we’ll optimise that.
If the May tests go well and show a good way to deal with wet weather, these covers might be used in the 2025 season. But if they need more work, it’ll probably be 2026 before we see them on the cars. – Read more
✅ F1 2024 Season: New Rule Changes Approved
In a move to enhance safety and race dynamics, the FIA has approved a series of significant changes for the F1 2024 season. From technical tweaks to pre-race procedures, these updates mark a notable shift in the sport’s regulations.
Why this matters:
- The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council has approved various changes for the F1 2024 season.
- Key updates include the introduction of a ‘cooling scoop’ for cars in extremely hot conditions, a response to the issues at the Qatar Grand Prix.
- A limit on the number and mass of metallic components in car floors has been set, addressing safety concerns.
- Pre-race grid assembly time is reduced back to 40 minutes, reversing the increase to 50 minutes for driver presentation trials.
- Mandatory removal of all personnel and equipment from the fast lane of pits 90 seconds after the start of the formation lap for cars starting from the pitlane.
Go Deeper
The FIA’s decision, made during a meeting chaired by Deputy President for Sport Robert Reid in Baku, reflects a balance between addressing safety concerns and enhancing the racing experience. The introduction of a cooling scoop is a direct response to the overheating challenges faced by cars, notably seen in the Qatar Grand Prix.
The decision to limit certain metallic components in car floors stems from their potential hazard when dislodged during races. Reducing the pre-race grid assembly time aims to streamline race preparations, reverting to the traditional 40-minute setup. The new regulation for pitlane starts ensures safer and more organized race beginnings, a change that fills a previously unaddressed gap in race procedures.
These changes, while yet to be detailed in the published rulebooks, indicate the FIA’s ongoing efforts to evolve the sport, ensuring safety and improving the racing spectacle. – Read more
🔍 FIA Notes Tougher Racing Due to Loopholes
The FIA’s Nikolas Tombazis, who oversees single-seater racing, recently pointed out that some clever tricks used by Formula 1 teams have made it harder for cars to race closely this year.
Why It Matters
- In 2022, Formula 1 changed its rules to make cars rely more on ground effect, which was great for overtaking.
- But, as teams got smarter with their designs, they increased the amount of air being pushed out from the car’s front wing.
- This made the air at the back of the car more turbulent, making it tougher for drivers to stay close and overtake.
- Some parts of the car, like the front wing ends and parts around the front wheels, weren’t regulated tightly enough.
This has made the problem worse than last year, although it’s still better than in 2021.
This turbulence also affects tire temperatures and wear, as Tombazis explained. It’s a big issue because the slower air behind a car doesn’t just reduce grip; it also makes it harder to cool the tires, leading to overheating and wear. This was a major challenge for teams like Ferrari earlier in the season.
The FIA and Formula 1 aren’t planning to fix this issue until 2026 when new rules come into play. But Tombazis doesn’t think the problem will get much worse next year.
I don’t think there’s any other loopholes to scrape though – the front wing area, and so on. I expect it’s going to stay very similar. I also don’t think it’s got worse during the year, I think it was just this year versus last year.
🟢 Aston Martin Eager to Keep Alonso
Aston Martin is really keen on keeping Fernando Alonso around past next year’s F1 season. He’s 42 now, and by the end of his current contract, he’ll be 43. But age doesn’t seem to bother the team at all.
Mike Krack, the Team Principal at Aston Martin, is super impressed with Alonso. He joined them after leaving Alpine and made a big splash in his first season, landing eight podiums. Next year, he’ll be racing alongside Lance Stroll, marking his 21st season in F1.
Despite being the oldest driver out there, Alonso’s still seen as one of the best. He had some great races in his first year with Aston Martin. The team doesn’t worry about his age; they think he’s still top-notch.
As a team, we were blown away from the first day – until today actually. To be honest with you, I always thought it was a bit honeymoon months in the beginning but I’m quite happy that we have managed to extend the honeymoon. I think we have received a remarkable team player, constructive at all times, especially when it was difficult.
F1 Banned: Active Suspension
F1 Banned: Active SuspensionWhat is Active Suspension?
Active suspension, in the context of Formula 1, is a technology that aims to enhance the performance and handling of race cars by actively controlling the suspension system. Unlike conventional passive suspension systems, which rely on fixed components like springs and dampers, the active suspension uses sensors and computer-controlled actuators to continuously adjust the car’s ride height and damping rates in real-time.
Fast Lane News
Fast Lane News📢 Christian Horner is adamant that the F1 Sprint format should change for 2024, emphasizing the need for a long-term plan that reflects what fans want. – Read more
🚷Toto Wolff stated he wouldn’t want Michael Masi to return as FIA race director, labeling him an “idiot” for his decision in the 2021 Abu Dhabi race. – Read more
🚧 Alex Albon talks about his challenges during his stint with Red Bull. – Read more
🕵️♂️ The FIA is looking into Toto and Susie Wolff to see if there’s a conflict of interest. – Read more
🍀The new boss at AlphaTauri really lucked out with a part of Formula 1 that usually gets a lot of flak. – Read more
🎂 McLaren Spills the Beans During 60th Birthday Bash. – Read more
✋ Doohan declines IndyCar for F1 focus. – Read more
👨🎓 Sergio Perez aims to learn from Verstappen for the 2024 F1 title. – Read more
🪧 Multiple team principals allegedly complained to FIA regarding Toto Wolff. – Read more
THE 2024 F1 CALENDAR
MEME OF THE DAY
