New Rules For 2006 Formula One Season

Summary: 2006 Formula One drivers will experience new rules for the 2006 season opening race in Bahrain next weekend.

2006 Formula One drivers will experience new rules for the 2006 season opening race in Bahrain next weekend. The F1 season will start on Sunday with the Grand Prix in Bahrain which will have different rules compared to previous competitions. The Fédération Internationale de l' Automobile (FIA) which is the governing body for motor racing events, has changed the format of the qualifying round. This time a three period knockout system will replace the single-lap system that was used last year. The last six cars from the two fifteen minute races will be eliminated. The car starting in pole position will be known at the end of the 3rd leg, which is a twenty minute battle against time and opponents. For the first two qualifying periods, the session will end when the checkered flag comes out, meaning if a driver is on a flying lap and the session ends, his time will not count when he crosses the finish line. That restriction will not apply for the final session. Regarding fuel limits, the three liter ten-cylinder V motors will be replaced by the 2.4 liter eight-cylinder V motors for safety reasons except in the cast of Scuderia Toro Rosso, who have been allowed to use rev-limited V10 engines under a previous agreement signed by the Minardi team. FIA estimates that due to this modification, cars will lose 200 horse power and the time for a lap will drop with 3-5 seconds. Unlike the first two qualifying sessions, teams in the final phase will have to decide on their fuel strategy for the race - whatever amount of fuel teams elect to start the final session with is the amount of fuel they will have to start the race. The FIA has also mandated that a driver must set a lap within 110-percent of his previous fast lap or he will have that time eliminated. This is to guard against anyone "sandbagging" or attempting a fuel-economy run to somehow squeeze a liter or two more of fuel into the tank. This year there will be eleven teams competing in the F1 Grand Prix instead of the usual ten. FIA representatives affirmed that the new regulations were created to diminish costs and increase safety. The qualifications are scheduled for Saturday March 11th, at 2 p.m. local time.