Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Employment rolls in Formula 1 are shrinking]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/21/employment-rolls-in-formula-1-are-shrinking/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/21/employment-rolls-in-formula-1-are-shrinking/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/21/employment-rolls-in-formula-1-are-shrinking/#commentsFiled under:

The radical rule changes in Formula 1 for 2007 and beyond aren't just affecting the racing - they're having a dramatic impact on the highly specialized industry that supports the most technically advanced racing series in the world. The announcement late last week that legendary British engine manufacturer Cosworth is planning to lay off 40 percent of its staff at the end of the season signalled the beginning of a dramatic restructuring on the engineering side of the sport.

Cosworth commercial director Bernard Ferguson predicts that a wave of layoffs will sweep through Formula 1 as a result of the new rules that have greatly restricted engine development and supply, saying, "Perhaps we've anticipated it and are reacting to it earlier than anyone else, but I'm sure others will follow."

The chief architect of those rule changes, FIA president Max Mosley, defends the changes as necessary to ensure the future viability of Formula 1, which in Mosley's mind means slashing the costs of running a Formula 1 team. And that means that jobs must go, with employment costs (the largest expense category for a team) rumored to be as much as $375 million annually for top-spending teams.

[Source: Crash.net]

Employment rolls in Formula 1 are shrinking originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 rulescosworthengine freezeengine rulesf1formula 1Formula1Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:04:00 EST<![CDATA[The future of Formula 1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/the-future-of-formula-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/the-future-of-formula-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/09/the-future-of-formula-1/#commentsFiled under:

After lengthy and sometimes acrimonious negotiations, the FIA and the Grand Prix Manufacturer's Association have come to an agreement on the contentious issue of Formula 1 engine regulations for the future.

To all intents and purposes, the FIA has won the game, proving once again that the inexorable march of motorsports bureaucracy is more than a match for the world's automakers. Here are the key points:
  • no changes to the current engines will be allowed after this year's Chinese Grand Prix. These will be the engines used in 2007 and beyond
  • 2008 will see the introduction of a 19,000 rpm rev limit
  • starting in 2009, regulations will promote fuel-efficiency, including energy recovery and re-use (i.e., regenerative braking systems)
  • down the road, the GPMA, the FIA and engine suppliers will work to define possible new rules that allow a performance advantage to be gained by means of more efficient use of energy. (Alternative powerplants are a possibility.)
The new rules are intended to keep a lid on the cost of competing in Formula 1, hopefully attracting new teams to the grid, and to increase the relevance of F1 technology to production vehicles. Cynics have pointed out that money saved in engine development will now go towards developing energy recovery systems, and unresolved is the issue of where the smaller teams (which get their engines from the manufacturer-sponsored teams) will obtain competitive energy recovery systems of their own.

The fuel efficiency/energy recovery regulations are to be finalized by the end of the year. One thing's for sure - it will be interesting!

[Source: FIA]

The future of Formula 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engine regulationsengine rulesf1fiaformula 1formula onegpmaWed, 09 Aug 2006 17:28:00 EST