racingnews365.com·
Exclusive: FIA seeking 'black and white' solution to put controversial F1 trick 'to bed'
The FIA is seeking a "black and white" solution to firmly end the
growing debate around a controversial alleged F1 engine trick
before the start of the season. Over the winter, reports emerged
that some power unit manufacturers, namely Mercedes High
Performance Powertrains and Red Bull Powertrains, had developed an
engine trick to allow them to run an 18:1 compression ratio limit,
exceeding the 16:1 limit prescribed in the technical regulations.
This would allow teams running those engines to enjoy higher power
levels, with the ratio measured at ambient temperatures whilst the
car is in the pit-lane. Whilst it is on track, the technology does
not exist to measure the limit, meaning that with the potential use
of heat-expanding metals, a compression ratio higher than 16:1
could be accessed. Around Australia's Albert Park, the extra power
has been estimated to be worth around 0.3s per lap, or 17.4s in
race time over the 58 laps. On January 22nd, a meeting took place
between the power unit manufacturers and the FIA, where, according
to a statement, "a discussion on seeking alignment on the
methodology of measurement of compression ratios at hot
temperatures" was discussed. After the meeting, the FIA's
single-seater technical director Nikolas Tombazis spoke exclusively
to RacingNews365 on the debate. "I think to probably disappoint
slightly, but the meeting, as we said on a few occassions was not a
summit meeting where big decisions were made, or intended to be
made," Tombazis exclusively told RacingNews365. "The meeting had a
very clear agenda to discuss the technicalities and methodology of
measuring compression ratio; it was a purely technical meeting on
how it is measured. It was clear before the meeting to all the
participants, and made clear during the meeting to one or two who
wanted to stray from the agenda, that this was not the forum to
discuss exactly what is happening on that topic. "Once this was
made clear, all the participating entities were constructive and
talked like scientists and engineers with a problem at hand, not in
terms of their opinion about the regulation. "Now, of course, it
is a topic that is attracting headlines, and all I can say is that
we absolutely do not want to have a situation where the
championship starts, and people are interpreting regulations in
slightly different ways." When asked if the alleged compression
ratio trick could be considered as a 'loophole', Tombazis replied
that the FIA were seeking a firm solution to put the issue "to bed"
before the first race. "What exactly a loophole is, is a bit of a
discussion," he added. "I don't think there is any discussion of
people specifically breaching, as such. Indeed, we don't even know
what people's solutions are, so I think there is a bit of some
people jumping the gun and making noise. "I would say the word
loophole has quite a few meanings, and I think it is fair to say
that there are areas in which the rules are not clear to everybody.
"The number one objective is to make sure this gets completely put
to bed in a totally absolute black and white way before the first
race, so we don't have any further discussions." The article
continues below. 'None of the FIA's business' As a solution is
still discussed, there is the possibility that a team could launch
a protest if one is not found by the Australian GP. As such,
Tombazis explained that the FIA was looking to provide "clarity"
but had no say in whether a protest was launched by a team. "When
the regulations are new, inevitably, there are different views
about certain parts, and compared to past lives, where, let's say,
things would end up in a protest and an international court of
appeal or something like that. "We aim to provide clarity before,
following all of the governance processes there are, but we clearly
never have any control over anybody on whether they want to protest
or not, but we hope to be able to provide enough clarity so that
hopefully, it is not a necessary step. "But of course, whether a
team decides to do that, that is their business; we are still
working on what the solution will be."
