NEW FOR 2018
Not for F1 the year-in, year-out consistency of, say, tennis. Here are but four of this year’s talking points
ALL SEEING GLOVES
These won’t be mandatory until the 2019 season, but we can expect every driver to use them from the start of the season because there are obvious training and safety beneits. Via the gloves a computer inside the left sleeve monitors the driver’s vital signs and general wellbeing. The information, such as heart rate, is relayed back to the on-site medical centre in real time and, in the event of a serious accident, the medical team will be nd aware of the driver’s key signs before arriving at the scene. Clever stu, and just one of a raft of ideas that prove Formula 1 safety is constantly evolving.
LONG LIFE ENGINES
The number of races has gone up this year, yet the number of available power units has gone down – from four to three. That might not sound like much of a change, but each power unit has to cover an additional 600 kilometres this year, or the equivalent of two Grand Prix distances – enough to focus the minds of the engine builders. More than that, this rule change provides the teams with one less opportunity to introduce performance upgrades. These changes are good news if you’re using a reliable Merc (Mercedes GP, Force India, Williams), less so if you’re dragging a testy Honda behind you…
THEY HAVE A HALO
Cockpit head protection has been a long time coming. The FIA started work on it eight years ago, following the death of Henry Surtees in F2, and the only question was the form it would take – a windshield, an aeroscreen or a halo? The halo wasn’t chosen for its aesthetics; it won through because it’s much stronger than anything else. Its carbon-titanium structure can withstand the weight of a double-decker bus, yet it weighs only seven kilos. However, it will penalise the heavier drivers because the mounting points on the chassis have had to be beefed up, making it harder to bring the cars in on the 734kg weight limit.
EXTREME RUBBER
Pirelli – for now still F1’s sole tyre supplier – are introducing two new tyre compounds this year: the super-hard and the hyper-soft. This takes the total number of dry-weather compounds to seven, but there will still be only three compounds available at each race. Don’t expect to see the super-hard tyre in action any time soon, unless car development exceeds expectations and lap times tumble, but the hyper-soft is a welcome addition to the range and will be used at circuits where tyre wear is low, such as tight and twisty Monaco. Anything that forces more pitstops in the race will up the strategic intrigue.