The controversial shark fins and t-wings on the rear of this year’s Formula 1 cars will be outlawed for 2018, the F1 Strategy Group has revealed today.
The halo head protection device, which was set for introduction next year, has also been scrapped in favour of a transparent safety shield.
This is the first meeting of the strategy group this season – and also the first that Chase Carey has attended after he replaced Bernie Ecclestone as CEO of the sport.
Other rule changes include the return of standing restarts after a red flag period and tighter regulations on the way teams use oil at race meetings.
One change, effective from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards, is to improve the visibility of drivers’ names and numbers on the cars.
The changes, which need ratification from the World Motorsport Council, are likely to be approved. Resentment of the ugly shark fins from fans has been obvious since the first images of 2017 cars were released, whilst the t-wings pose a safety risk with several of them having fallen off already this season. Bringing back standing restarts after a red flag period is the next step following the reintroduction of wet weather standing starts for this year. The current procedure, which sees the race restart behind the safety car, was introduced in 2005.
The strategy group consists of five permanent members – Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Williams and Mercedes – and the best of the rest, which has been Force India for the last few seasons. From the next meeting onwards, however, all teams will be allowed access to the discussions.
The strategy group summary in full:
Sporting and technical changes
There have been some corrections and additions to the technical and sporting regulations for 2018, which will now be passed to the World Motor Sport Council for approval:
- A number of more integrated solutions for additional frontal protection have been studied, and the decision has been taken to give priority to the transparent ‘shield’ family of systems. The FIA aims to carry out track tests of this system during this season in preparation for implementation in 2018
- Changes in the regulation boxes around the engine cover have been made so that designs incorporating the ‘t-wing’ and ‘shark fin’ will be strictly limited
- Measures will be taken to ensure that oil will not be used as fuel. In addition, only one specification of oil may be used for any given power unit during an event
- Pirelli will be allowed to develop 2018 wet weather tyre compounds using previous specifications of cars and wheel dimensions
- In the event of a red flag period during a race, the race will be resumed from a standing start
Driver names and numbers
Information was given to the teams that, from Barcelona (12-14 May 2017) onwards, the sporting regulations will be strictly enforced to ensure that visibility of drivers’ names and numbers on the cars will be clearer.
Strategy Group
Representatives from the non-member teams will now be invited to meetings of the F1 Strategy Group to have access to the discussions, demonstrating the effective commitment of both the FIA and the Commercial Rights Holder to improve transparency in the sport.
