In what appears to be an effort to keep the manufacturers from jumping ship and forming their own race series, FIA
is exploring ways to make Formula One racing more interesting and more relevant. Technology that is becoming quite
common in passenger vehicles (such as stability control) will be banned in an effort to remove technology that directly
helps the driver control the car. Downforce may also be limited, while aerodynamic devices that are configurable
on-the-fly may be allowed. But most significantly is the hint that energy recovery devices may be allowed. You heard
correctly – hybrid technology may soon be coming to the world’s highest level of racing.
With the stunning amount of energy expended during deceleration, a device that?s able to effectively capture and
release it would make for some potentially interesting corner exits. This would once again place F1 racing in a
position to develop technology that?s suitable for use in passenger cars, while maximizing driver involvement.
Hopefully the material restrictions for engine parts get dropped sometime soon, so that we can see things such as
composite blocks that we?ve been promised for so many years. And can we stop talking about ?containing costs?? This is
high-end racing. The teams involved would spend tens of millions on a Pinewood Derby car, so let?s not pretend that a
rule tweak here and there will cause anyone to spend significantly less money.
Ferrari is the only team to sign on to a new ?Concorde agreement?, meaning that the other teams involved would have
the chance to walk away in 2008.