The all-new formula for F1 is almost certain to see reliability issues... which makes it just the right time to introduce a grid penalty system that will have the best of us baffled.

Ignore the double points in Abu Dhabi, put aside the new five-second penalty for "minor infringements", forget about the FIA's desire to encourage more teams to F1 using the same carrot (budget capping) that gave us Virgin, Hispania Lotus... and almost US F1. No, the section of the 2014 Sporting Regulations that really warrants discussion is the new grid penalty system in terms of engines and gearboxes.

Remember the good old days when straightforward grid penalties were meted out should one change one's gearbox or exceed one's engine ration? Well for 2014 and beyond the powers-that-be have taken the idea a little further.

Whereas drivers were previously allowed 8 engines before being penalised, in 2014 this is reduced to 5. However, to further complicate matters, units are now broken down into "key elements" (of which there are 6) which means that drivers are allowed 5 sets... however, should any of these fail...

Article 28.4 states:

a) Unless he drives for more than one team (see 28.4(d) below), each driver may use no more than five power units during a Championship season.

b) For the purposes of this Article 28.4 the power unit will be deemed to comprise six separate elements, the engine (ICE), the motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K), the motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H), the energy store (ES), turbocharger (TC) and control electronics (CE). Each driver will therefore be permitted to use five of each of the above six components during a Championship season and any combination of them may be fitted to a car at any one time.

c) Should a driver use more than five of any one of the elements a grid place penalty will be imposed upon him at the first Event during which each additional element is used.
Penalties will be applied according to the following table and will be cumulative:

Replacement of a complete power unit - The driver concerned must start the race from the pit lane.

The first time a 6th of any of the elements is used - Ten grid place penalty.

The first time a 6th of any of the remaining elements is used - Five grid place penalty.

The first time a 7th of any of the elements is used - Ten grid place penalty.

The first time a 7th of any of the remaining elements is used, and so on - Five grid place penalty.

A power unit or any of the six components will be deemed to have been used once the car’s timing transponder has shown that it has left the pit lane.

If a grid place penalty is imposed, and the driver’s grid position is such that the full penalty cannot be applied, the remainder of the penalty will be applied at the driver’s next Event. However, no such remaining penalties will be carried forward for more than one Event.

Confused... you will be.

by Chris Balfe

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Kate in California, 20/12/2013 18:30

"I thought F1 was about racing . . . you know, build a fast car, get a talented driver, go out and show the rest of them "the short way around the track." Are they seriously trying to make lawyers a part of the race results? Sure seems like it to me.

All these so-called "cost-saving measures" will ruin the sport. Saving money is all well and good for most of us, but in the world of racing, if you can't afford to win, get out of the sport."

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2. Posted by ragged_edge, 20/12/2013 2:54

"And people laugh when I say Bernie intends, like the Pharoahs of old, to have F1 buried with him ..."

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3. Posted by Spindoctor, 17/12/2013 20:34

"Stupid beyond belief.
The key characteristic of sports that are successful in both sporting AND financial terms is simplicity.
The competition should be immediate, in the literal sense: the result is always settled in real-time on the field of play, by reference to clear and simple rules.

These proposals interpose layers of impenetrable complication & bureaucracy between the spectator and the spectacle. They have the potential to rob us of the immediacy which fuels the excitement of the sport."

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4. Posted by F One, 14/12/2013 19:36

"Maddness."

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5. Posted by GoodPublicity, 14/12/2013 14:21

"The last par of this article, which paraphrases the closing line of the introduction to each episode of the iconic 1970s-'80s TV comedy 'Soap' (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSaNWYHmUvI), is highly appropriate. "

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6. Posted by Steve W, 14/12/2013 10:15

"Hmmmm... I guess I'll have to look up the definition of "sport". Again.
"

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7. Posted by Pooch, 13/12/2013 19:22

"After reading the above - "WTF" - too many times, only one word comes to my alleged mind - "MEETINGS" - a phase of 'big business' that seems to diminish the corporate world every time they have one. Meetings are more often than not, the cause of a down-fall. The above "WTF" is only one of the reasons I no longer follow the "CIURCUS" called Formula-0ne (racing..?) Nope, 'tis now a.)..F-1; Litigation b.)..F-1 "new Rules (EVERY SINGLE YEAR and, throuhout the year); c.)..Races won by arbitration; d.)..e.)..f.)... and so on. I enjoy reading the Pitpass News Letter and, the likes of Mike L, et al (WTF really caught me eyes) BUT, I draw the line to following the race .. ANY race - when they are more than likely involved with "a" above, thru "most" of the alphabet and, I've been around since the 1950 Race whiich was given a "Couple Paragraphs" in Road & Track magazine here in the Colonies....no rules; no regulations; just "Lets go racing with fast open-wheel cars...." YUP, F-1 has come a long way, baaaayBeeee. I hope all "The Powers" are proud of it's immenant down-fall...."Pooch" "

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8. Posted by Imsa, 13/12/2013 18:02

"Well, here's some more "advanced redundancy and red tape".

It seems that so-called people in power in many cases allow this power go to their heads; and to justify their positions come up more and more stupid stuff such as this.

Folks, check your ego's at the door and get on with the business of making F1 what it should be - racing !!!!"

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9. Posted by imejl99, 13/12/2013 15:29

"1. There already exists endurance racing series, quite popular and recognised in racing world.

2. The crap about cutting costs is excuse for all kind of stupid moves - it could turn out to be more expensive to produce 6 reliable units than 20 with shorter lifespan.

3. It is enough of a curse already trying to explain to my wife and family why for God sake our every other Sunday is home based time, in the spring and in the summer, why we can not enjoy outdoors... it seems now it would be enough just to look for the result after a day or two, when it is all sorted out after the actual race. Actual Q1,2,3 and the race is of no importance any more except for the base for calculation applied after.

4. Sanity on probe, Max Mosley looks quite good now.

"

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10. Posted by Skidmarks, 13/12/2013 14:43

"So, if a driver has the chalice from the palace he has starts from the back, but (to misquote) the vettel with the pestle will have the brew that is true?"

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11. Posted by ratchet69, 13/12/2013 13:59

"The way that these rules are being structured I can see the entire 2014 championship settled in the courts. The full result of each race may not be known for days after the event, as teams appeal dodgy penalties from confused stewards."

WTF?

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