📅 F1 Sprint Schedule Announced

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?

📅 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.

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.

Read more

🟢 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.

Read more

What 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.

History of Active Suspension

Active suspension was developed independently by two different teams.

Lotus was the first team to venture into active suspension, renowned for pioneering ground effect downforce. Back in 1983, they were the trailblazers in experimenting with an early active system on the track.

Their primary goal was to gain precise control over the car's ride height. By doing so, they aimed to optimize and manage the downforce generated by the ground effect. However, Lotus didn't use this active suspension consistently, and it eventually fell out of use by 1987.

Around the same time, Williams worked hard to develop their own active suspension system. Unlike Lotus, Williams' focus wasn’t solely on maintaining a constant ride height. Instead, they had their sights set on enhancing the overall aerodynamic efficiency of their car.

Williams started their journey by experimenting with a reactive hydraulic suspension system in the late 1980s. Later, in the early 1990s, they took a leap forward by introducing a fully active system.

The culmination of their efforts was the 1993 Williams FW15C, which was equipped with an advanced active suspension system. This system allowed each wheel to be independently controlled electronically, enabling the car to adapt to various dynamic forces. Moreover, it could be customized for each circuit.

Notable achievements:

• In 1987, Lotus pioneered active suspension technology in Formula 1.

• In 1992, Williams harnessed active suspension technology to secure victories in both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.

• In 1993, Williams enjoyed a dominant season, clinching 10 out of 16 races due to their advanced active suspension system.

The Benefits of Active Suspension

Improved Grip and Traction

• Active suspension could adapt to changing track conditions, providing optimal grip and traction at all times.

• It reduced wheel-hop and improved tire contact with the road, enhancing cornering speeds.

Enhanced Stability

• Active suspension countered pitch and roll motions, keeping the car stable during acceleration, braking, and cornering.

• This allowed drivers to push their cars to the limits without fear of losing control.

Enhanced Ride Comfort

• Active suspension improved performance and made the cars more comfortable for the drivers, reducing fatigue during races.

The Downside of Active Suspension

While active suspension promised numerous advantages, it faced criticism and concerns, ultimately leading to its ban.

Cost and Complexity

• Developing and maintaining active suspension systems was expensive, making it a technology accessible primarily to the wealthier teams.

• The complexity of the systems required highly skilled engineers and significant research and development resources.

Competitive Imbalance

• Teams with more significant financial resources gained a distinct advantage, as they could afford to invest more in active suspension technology.

• This created a potential imbalance in the competitiveness of the sport.

Lack of Mechanical Challenge

• Some purists argued that active suspension eliminated the mechanical challenge that had been a fundamental aspect of Formula 1.

• Traditional engineering aspects like tuning passive suspensions and aerodynamics were overshadowed by electronic wizardry.

The Ban on Active Suspension

In 1994, after just three years of active suspension use in Formula 1, it was banned by the FIA. The ban resulted from concerns over the increasing costs and the perceived loss of the human element in racing.

Financial Restraints

Smaller teams found it increasingly difficult to compete with the financial might of the, larger teams that could invest more heavily in active suspension technology. FIA sought to level the playing field by eliminating this technology.

A Return to Mechanical Skill

The ban on active suspension was seen as a way to restore the focus on the drivers' skill and expertise and the cars' mechanical aspects. The sport wanted to maintain its identity as a test of human and engineering prowess.

Safety Concerns

The rapid development of active suspension systems raised safety concerns, as accidents resulting from system failures could be catastrophic. The FIA wanted to reduce the risk of potentially dangerous failures.

Can Active Suspension Fix Porpoising?

Porpoising is when the rear of an F1 car bounces up and down, especially on straights. It happens because of the way the car's floor is designed to create downforce.

When the car gets too close to the track, airflow under it stalls and the car jumps up. Once it rises, the airflow starts again, and the car gets pulled down, creating this bouncing effect. It's tough on the car and really uncomfortable for the drivers.

This issue occurred several times, most recently with the 2022 technical regulations, and most drivers advocated for it.

Active suspension could fix it as it would keep the car at a constant height above the track, preventing that bouncing effect. But it's not all good news. Active suspension would add weight to the cars, which are already pretty heavy. Since 2009, F1 cars have been getting heavier, and adding more weight isn't ideal.

📢 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