Formula 1 in 2018: New rules, drivers and tracks

The introduction of the halo cockpit protector in 2018 ushers in a new era in Formula 1. But that’s not all. Here are all the main changes affecting the regulations, calendar, drivers and teams.

With a new year come new rules. Hardly any other sport goes in for quite as many changes to its regulations as Formula 1. The 2018 season will be no exception, as the rule book is amended once again. There has been a gradual accumulation of minor sporting and technical details that required updating. In the area of logistics, however, continuity prevails: DHL will carry on in its role as Official Logistics Partner, delivering Formula 1 to Grand Prix venues around the world in 2018. We summarize all the innovations for the new season here.

The technical regulations

Halo cockpit protector: The halo bracket is mandatory for all teams as of 2018 and is intended to protect the driver’s head in the event of an accident. The component itself can be sourced from various approved manufacturers but has standardized dimensions. The teams are permitted to attach only small aero elements in a radius of 20 millimeters to compensate for the aerodynamic loss arising from the bracket.

Escape time for the drivers has been adjusted accordingly, with seven seconds instead of the previous five being allowed for the driver to exit the cockpit. The time limit for getting out of the car and replacing the steering wheel has been extended from ten to twelve seconds.

Minimum weight: The introduction of the halo has necessarily increased the minimum weight. Not only the titanium bracket weighs more (approximately seven kilos) but also the associated adjustments to the monocoque. The survival cell has had to be reinforced to take the weight of the halo. The net result is that the minimum weight of car and driver rises from 728 to 733 kilos. Never before have Formula 1 cars weighed so much.

Aerodynamics: After the revolutionary changes of 2017, those approved for 2018 are more a matter of detail. The T-wings, which entered Formula 1 last season, are now banned for aesthetic reasons. The same applies to shark fins, also referred to as airbox sails. They made a brief comeback in 2017 and are now likewise excluded on visual grounds.

The so-called ‘monkey seat’ is no longer permissible for other reasons: there was a suspicion that the small wing on the rear crash structure around the exhaust pipes was being abused by some of the teams. Although the exhaust gases are not specifically directed towards the monkey seat, its flow pattern changes depending on the exhaust gases. In order to prevent engine mappings being optimized with only this in mind, the monkey seat is banned as of 2018.

FORMULA 1: WE COMPARE TIMES OF THE 2017 GENERATION OF CARS WITH THOSE OF 2016

Safety: The work to improve safety in Formula 1 never stops. In addition to the halo, there are some additional optimizations: there must now be triple instead of double wheel mountings, and the locations for these have been specified in greater detail; the wheel nuts must also be better secured against working loose.

Motor oil: After controversy over the past season surrounding oil consumption, this area will be more stringently regulated in 2018. It has been alleged that some manufacturers were deliberately allowing engine oil to enter the combustion chambers, thereby extracting extra performance on top of the strictly controlled fuel allowance.

Although this ruse was already prohibited, it was difficult to detect. Consequently, a catalogue of measures has been introduced to prevent the deliberate combustion of oil for performance purposes. The teams may now use only a single-specification engine oil on race weekends.

Furthermore, the level in the main oil tank will in future be monitored in real time and the data transmitted directly to the FIA. All other oil levels must be reported to the FIA ​​one hour before the start of the race. In addition, the use of active control valves between oil tank and internal combustion engine is prohibited.

The sporting regulations

Tire compounds: Pirelli will be supplying two additional tire compounds for the 2018 season. The range, which previously spanned Ultrasoft, Supersoft, Soft, Medium and Hard, has now been extended at the soft end with the introduction of the Hypersoft which has been primarily designed for use on street circuits. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, there is now a Superhard tire which is intended only as a backup if the other compounds prove to be too soft. The rules for tire selection and use remain unchanged.

Engine quota: As decided some time ago, the trend towards reduction in the number of permissible power units per season continues in 2018. In 2017, each driver had four full sets of engine components at his disposal. In the forthcoming campaign, there will be only three engines (internal combustion), turbochargers and MGU-Hs. As regards MGU-K, battery and control units, the permissible number is reduced even further to two per season.

Engine penalties: Any contestant using more than the permissible quota of power unit components will be penalized as before. For the first component of a new power unit, there will be a ten-place grid penalty, with each further infringement incurring five more. A new rule stipulates that, if a driver is demoted by more than 15 places in a grand prix race, he must automatically start from the back of the grid. If multiple drivers fall foul of this rule, they will line up at the rear of the field in order of transgression.

Test restrictions: The regulations for 2018 incorporate an additional exception to the test restrictions. In the case of promotional events hosted by the commercial rightsholder, the teams are allowed to use the current car subject to certain conditions. In 2017, Liberty Media hosted an event in central London for the first time in the run-up to the British Grand Prix.

Other restrictions: Certain restrictions will apply at the racetracks during the coming season. Teams will no longer be allowed to check out the tires assigned to them on test benches. In order to keep costs in reasonable check, stricter conditions have been imposed on CFD simulations in the team factories.

Super license: As part of the reorganization of the junior series, the FIA ​​has also made adjustments to the scoring system for the super license. For this purpose, the racing series already in the scheme have been reassessed and other race series have been included in the scoring. At the same time, the requirements for Friday test drivers have also changed. To take part in future test sessions, drivers will need to have 25 super license points or alternatively have made at least six Formula 2 race starts.