The World Motor Sport Council has approved a small tweak to the Formula 1 technical regulations in a bid to try and increase the noise of the cars’ power units in 2016.
Since the introduction of the new V6 turbo power units in 2014, the lack of noise compared to previous F1 engine eras has been a big concern for many of the sport’s stakeholders.
In 2015, the issue has been discussed less due to more pressing concerns such as the financial stability of the grid and an impending investigation from the European Union.
However, work is still being done to increase and improve the sound of F1, with the latest move being a simple change to the technical regulations that was announced by the FIA following the WMSC’s meeting earlier this week.
“For 2016, all cars must have a separate exhaust wastegate tailpipe through which all and only wastegate exhaust gases must pass,” part of the announcement read.
“This measure has been undertaken to increase the noise of the cars and will not have any significant effect on power or emissions.”
In other WMSC F1 news:
- “Cars must now comply with all cockpit and safety equipment requirements during testing; such as the position of the driver’s head, all headrest padding, cockpit padding and ease of driver egress.”
- “Sporting Regulations regarding track limits have been clarified and specify that drivers ‘must make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not deliberately leave the track without a justifiable reason’. Penalties will still be allocated based on whether a driver is judged to have gained an advantage.”
- “The WMSC approved the proposal of the F1 Commission regarding regulations for power unit and gearbox changes. Such penalties prior to qualifying will be applied based on the time of use. For changes made after qualifying, preference will be given to the driver whose team first informed the technical delegate that a change will occur.”
- “Any driver who causes a start to be aborted, even if he is then able to start the extra formation lap, will be required to start the race from the pit lane. The same process will be applied to a re-start from a race suspension where drivers have been brought to the pit lane.”
- “The WMSC confirmed a number of clarifications were made to aerodynamic testing restrictions for wind tunnel use and CFD, specifically focusing on reporting and inspection processes for these development tools.”
- “For 2017, on board cameras on stalks on the nose of cars will be prohibited.”
The Council meeting also detailed a number of changes in the FIA WEC and Formula E championships, which you can read about here.