Drivers will receive grid penalties if they use too many sets of brake discs and pads from the 2021 F1 season.
The new sporting regulations, published for the first time today, sets a limit on how many sets of front and rear pads each driver may use during a season. The limit is equal to the number of races in a season, which would allow drivers to use one new set of brake discs and pads per race.If they exceed that limit, however, they will be given a three-place grid penalty for the first infraction, and a two-place grid penalty for any subsequent infractions in a season.
Front and rear sets of discs and pads are counted separately. Therefore if a driver exceeded the limit for their front and rear brakes at the same race they would incur a six-place grid penalty.
The sport had planned to introduce a standard brakes supplier in 2021, and the FIA had issued a tender for the contract. However this plan has now been postponed until 2023.
Grid penalties for gearbox changes have been revised. Drivers will now have three sets of gearbox cases and cassettes and four sets of gearbox drivelines, gear change components and auxiliary components for a 22-race season. The latter will rise to five races for a 24-race season. If these limits are exceeded, a driver will receive a five-place grid penalty for the first infraction and any subsequent infractions.
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Andy (@andycz)
31st October 2019, 18:05
Sounds bit dangerous… It means that breaks will be much less powerful to meet those prolonged durability? Maybe it would be better for racing – longer braking distances etc. But for sure slower cars.
Dave
31st October 2019, 19:40
It could mean heavier brakes, to make them more durable. But it’s still insane – safety is mandatory, not something we allow teams to compete away.
Juston
31st October 2019, 18:07
Brakes are a safety component – failure of a safety component could result in serious injury or worse to the drivers. Engine and transmission limits are understandable, a failed transmission doesn’t prevent the driver from slowing down and crashing. This seems like a really bad idea, and the risk far outweighs any cost savings.
Proteus (@proteus)
31st October 2019, 18:15
I call this a stupidity by default. Yeah yeah, we want safer racing, we dont want casualties, etc….we penalise those who will change brakes…so this means everyone will use them as long as possible trying to avoid grid penalties. Do they know that when someone gets into a wall, he most likely shatters brakes as well as the wheel rim? What is next? Limited amount of wheel rims per season, maybe mirrors or number of front/rear wings? When you think there is nothing dumber possible to introduce, someone from FIA steps up to the challenge and shows you it is possible.
rpaco
31st October 2019, 20:10
+1
Bottas77
31st October 2019, 18:18
Ridiculous, what next? 3 place grid penalties for exceeding the amount of allowed rip off visors or maybe the driver consuming too much water over the full race distance? How much cost would really be saved or is the reason again to make changes simply for the sake of it?
Salty (@salty)
1st November 2019, 0:43
Totally agree
MrBoerns (@mrboerns)
31st October 2019, 18:26
i am soo glad to see the real issues are finally being adressed
UNeedAFinn2Win (@uneedafinn2win)
31st October 2019, 18:38
Yes, absolutely let’s try and save a pittance on the safety of the drivers. That’ll be the perfect message to send out.
Aapje (@aapje)
31st October 2019, 19:12
F1 last week: penalizes Max for now slowing down enough
F1 this week: let’s penalize drivers for slowing down too much
Chaitanya
1st November 2019, 6:45
Not slowing down when there is a crash with either driver or marshalls or car on track is dangerous with yellow flags being waved(Heidfeld in Brazil 2002). So is driving too slowly on racing line during qualifying or race (remember the Webber crash in Valencia). Both need to be penalized depending on the case. Seems like you certainly an ape.
MacLeod (@macleod)
1st November 2019, 8:11
Max was fine with the penaulty he was focusing on the right side to go as fast possible he didn’t saw the single yellow flag (left side)
Dave
31st October 2019, 19:39
Nope. Nopety nope nope nope. Brakes are for safety. This isn’t just stupid, it’s unlawful or illegal for teams to comply in Europe, the US, and I presume Japan etc as well.
There’s stupid, and then there’s criminally stupid.
Nick (@notacop)
31st October 2019, 20:58
I struggle to understand the reason
Brake pads are really cheap compared to other components.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
31st October 2019, 22:25
At first brush this seems to rank up there as insane but hopefully there’ll be more detail to come.
I’m prepared to wait as the information available seems a little short of substance but admit to being stunned that a safety feature has been targeted for penalties.
Scottie (@scottie)
31st October 2019, 23:13
One crash before the race over a weekend that damages a brake assembly, and the driver will be penalised unless they risk using a used set of brakes.
The great minds in F1 are smarter than me, but they’re not communicating it that well.
Salty (@salty)
1st November 2019, 1:00
It makes no sense. In 2021 F1, not the teams, are introducing a ‘close to new’ formula. Teams will be absolutely green. Drivers even more clueless. Why punish drivers for poor judgement calls by the ‘authority’.
Pushing teams to use a minimum of brake elements during a season have to be, almost by definition, more dangerous.
Watching the fastest drivers driving at 75% to protect tyres, protect fuel, hold boost from the previous lap. These are the things that DETRACT from racing. Key word that RACING.
So now they want to limit their brakes as well? So we will see brakes inadequate to race at every race. What on earth is the benefit of that? If it’s just to save carbon fibre, then cash in and shut down the series.
Every decent F1 hero of the last four decades has been a late braker. If you Ross, haven’t forgotten this, come here and defend this.
Ben (@)
1st November 2019, 1:45
The FIA has the responsibility to police team who are doing something wrong, not to penalize team of every single thing they can possibly think of, no matter how small.
wayne
1st November 2019, 11:16
thats the most stupidest rule i have heard thus far.
PaulK (@paulk)
1st November 2019, 6:52
@dieterrencken How much does a break disc + pad set cost anyway?
socksolid (@socksolid)
1st November 2019, 8:28
All it takes is once crash caused by brake failure and the cost savings disappear in a cloud of car parts.
Rui (@colinmcrui)
1st November 2019, 10:39
Madness…
RaptorHunter
1st November 2019, 13:00
Is not enough drivers can’t push because the must save the tires, save the engine, save the gearbox, now they must save the brakes, some cars barely get to the end of Canada,
Mark (@blueruck)
1st November 2019, 14:56
Are brakes and the cost of brakes really a big enough issue that needs this kind of solution?
ykiki
1st November 2019, 15:18
I had to check the calendar to make sure it’s not April Fools Day.
Rhys Lloyd (@justrhysism)
6th November 2019, 10:20
The Australian Supercars put limits on brakes and pad usage over the season to control costs—they set the figure a few sets above what most teams were already using; preventing the top teams from gaining a slight advantage by chucking on a new set every qualifying and race.
@dieterrencken do you have numbers on how many sets the midfield teams were using?