Student and F1 enthusiast Nikolai Attard writes about the new rules and regulations that are changing the thrill of racing.
The first official race of the 2012 Formula 1 grand prix starts today in Melbourne with great drivers battling it out for the chequered flag on some amazing tracks around the world.
Every new season leads to new teams, new drivers, new locations and the one-thing F1 enthusiasts don’t look forward to, new rules and regulations. This year is no different to the last with the FIA seemingly doing its utmost to squeeze even more fun out of this beloved sport.
Where is the joy and excitement of the 1980s? I wasn’t old enough then to understand and respect the sport but I’m young enough to enjoy those glorious moments over again on Youtube – the sound of the engines roaring and cars dancing around the bends.
Has the FIA banned ride height stability systems to make it harder for the established teams to compete or does the FIA simply want back the 1990s era when the system was originally banned and Williams was the only car using it?
Exhaust blown diffusers have also been banned this year. This is basically the final 10 cm of exhaust pipe that releases the gases from the engine and can be passed over the rear diffuser to add down force. The governing body saw fit to move the placement of the exhaust blown diffuser along with laying down certain specifications.
Nose height has also been altered so that the nose sits lower to avoid spearing of other cars and to stop it from flipping over. But now cars look like they have a crooked nose known as the ‘platypus’.
Pirelli have released a new softer compound of tyres for the new season which brings more excitement to the viewers. Pirelli have also manufactured tyres with different coloured ‘Pirelli’ brand names on the tyre walls maybe to match the respective car livery.
After an absence of two years, we will be seeing the return of Kimi Raikkonen behind the wheel of the newly named Caterham team (former Team Lotus). This means that 2012 will see a total of six former world champions battling it out.
During testing in Spain, Raikonnen has shown that even after a two-year absence he hasn’t lost the touch that made him a world champion posting the fastest lap at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya. Most people would think that it is another winning year for the Red Bull team, but testing has shown otherwise.
Ferrari still do not have a car up to standard. Fernando Alonso admitted that in the first races he will suffer because the car is not 100 per cent ready.
Lotus Renault have changed their name to Lotus F1 while Virgin Racing have been renamed Marussia F1.