Formula 1 Changes For 2011 Season

August 19th, 2010

All the news and updates are slowly starting to build up for the formula one 2011 season.

We have been giving you guys updates with the changes for 2011 season but I thought of combining all these updates in detail in a single post. This post will be updated regularly as the changes are revealed by the FIA.

Tyres

Pirelli has been nominated as the sole tyres provider for the Formula 1 2011 season. Pirelli will be replacing Bridgeston for the next 3 years. Read all the details about the Pirelli tyres here. Pirelli will begin testing their tyres with Nick Heidfield, the Mercedes reserve driver who is reported to have been released by Mercedes from his contract to begin testing with Pirelli.

Safety Car

No car will overtake until the P1 car has crossed the start/finish line after the safety car goes into the pit lane.

If the safety is deployed in the last lap, it will enter the pit lane and the race will finish under the same grid positions without overtaking.

This rule has been put to immediate effect.

General Safety

If a car driving slowly, erratically or is potentially dangerous to other drivers, on the track, pit lane or pit entry, will be reported to the stewards and will be handed a penalty according to the degree of violation.

107% rule

From 2011, if any driver whose best qualifying lap exceeds 107% of the fastest set time in Qualifying session 1 will not be allowed to start the race.

Which means if any driver sets the fastest lap time of 1.23.262, so if any driver who is slower than the 107% of the this lap time will not start the race.

However if the failing driver has set suitable time in the free practice, stewards may permit him to start.

Adjustable Rear Wing

For the purpose of improving overtaking opportunities, adjustable rear wing is included in the formula 1 changes for 2011 season. This adjustment is allowed after completing 2 laps of the race which will also be notified by the control electronics that the feature is enabled.

This feature will be disabled when the driver uses the brakes after the activation. The FIA is still to reveal the approximate time for the activation after consulting all the teams.

F-duct is banned

The F-duct is banned from 2011.

FIA said:

With the exception of the parts necessary for the driver adjustable bodywork, any car system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited from 2011.

Weight
The minimum weight of the car must not be less than 640 kilograms through the weekend.

Fuel drainage

After the incident of Hamilton pushing his car to the pit lane after the Canadian qualifying session FIA has directed all the teams to save fuel for testing at the end of all the sessions and the car must be driven under its own power.

Other changes for 2011 Season

- Ferrari has revealed its latest logo for the next season. Details Here

- There is a strong rumor of Raikkonen returning to Formula 1. Details Here

- Rober Kubica has signed with Renault for 2011 Season. Details Here

- The second seat at Renault is wide open with mutiple replacements for Petrov. Details Here

- Formula 1 2011 calender has been announced. Details Here

- No new teams for 2011 season. Details Here