The FIA ​​(the governing body of motorsports) has made quite a few changes to the technical regulations for F1 cars. Some of these will go into effect as soon as the 2006 season begins and the rest will only come into play in 2008.

Here are some of the more interesting specs that have changed:

It was decided last night (Monday 24 October) at a meeting of the Formula One Commission in London that the qualifying format for Formula One changes for next season and tire changes will again be allowed during races. They are also considering a radical change in rear wing design that could be introduced in 2007.

The new rating will work as follows:

A 3-phase qualifying tie with the 5 slowest cars after 15 minutes of abandonment. 5 more cars will drop out in the next 15 minutes and the remaining cars will compete in a 20-minute session for the top positions on the grid.

The qualifying has changed a lot in recent years to try to get better exposure for the smaller teams and at the same time mix up the grid to allow for more overtaking during a race.

The new split rear wing (called the Center Downwash Generating Wing) has been designed to allow for closer following and therefore more overtaking opportunities as well. A step in the right direction as recent changes to cars and especially to aerodynamics have been primarily to slow down cars rather than increase entertainment.

The weight of the entire vehicle, including the driver, must not be less than 550 kg. This has been reduced from 605 kg.

Engines have been downsized to 2.4-liter V8s with 4 valves per cylinder. The minimum number of gears for these cars is 4 and the maximum is 7. The width of the wheel at the front of all cars should be between 390mm and 450mm and the width at the rear between 490mm and 505mm . The total weight of the motor must be at least 95 kg.

The FIA ​​has given a concession to manufacturers and teams that are not ready with their new engines saying that they will allow them to use other engines (such as the V10 engines currently in use) with diminished performance; obviously this will be controlled by the FIA ​​and no one else.

All cars must now be equipped with a starter motor that the driver must be able to use to start the engine from a seated position. This should eliminate some of those embarrassing failed GP starts for some drivers.

Since 2008 the FIA will choose 1 tire manufacturer to supply all teams. This is a dramatic change and should increase the value of emotion by leveling the playing field a bit; It’s a real shame they could only get this as of 2008.

Pit-to-car telemetry will be banned, so the team will not be able to repair any pit-wall gremlins and all voice radio communications must be open and accessible to both the FIA ​​and broadcasters.

No competitor can perform more than 30,000 km of tests in one year.

Some interesting changes here, I sincerely hope it increases the competitiveness and excitement of this sport because it needs it.