The Formula 1 Commission gathered today in London, for its second meeting of the year.

The following is an overview of the key discussion points and decisions.

Sprint

With the first of three Sprint events of the 2022 season popular with fans and stakeholders last weekend at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Formula 1 and the teams were supportive of an extension to six Sprint events for the 2023 season, running with the same format as in 2022.

While supporting the principle of an increased number of Sprint events, the FIA is still evaluating the impact of this proposal on its trackside operations and personnel, and will provide its feedback to the Commission.

2026 Power Unit

The key objectives of the next generation Formula 1 Power Unit, set to be introduced from 2026, have previously been presented and centre around four key pillars:

• Maintaining the spectacle - the 2026 Power Unit will have similar performance to the current designs, utilising high-power, high-revving V6 internal combustion engines and avoiding excessive performance differentiation to allow for improved raceability.

• Environmental sustainability - the 2026 Power Unit will include an increase in the deployment of electrical power to up to 50%, and utilise a 100% sustainable fuel.

• Financial Sustainability - work is ongoing to define, consolidate and improve Financial Regulations regarding the Power Units, and the aim is to reduce the overall costs for competitors whilst retaining the cutting-edge technological showcase that is at the core of Formula 1.

• Attractive to new Power Unit Manufacturers - the regulations are intended to make it possible and attractive for newcomers to join the sport at a competitive level.

As the development of the regulatory framework for the 2026 Power Unit continues, the FIA set out a number of key targets relating to performance parameters, sustainability, and financial regulations to the Commission, which offered positive feedback for this framework which does not require approval under the current governance structure.

Objectives relating to the Power Unit will result in concurrent updates to the aerodynamic regulations, and the FIA has therefore set the following preliminary targets following simulation work by its aerodynamic department. These targets were well received by the Commission:

• Significantly reduced drag to improve sustainability and efficiency and complement the Power Unit characteristics.

• Maintain and improve on recent lessons learned about close racing and cars being able to follow each other.

• Reduce car dimensions.

• Reduce or contain car mass.

• Sustainability: Continue path towards the standardisation or simplification of strategically-selected components for cost-cutting purposes. Expand the usage of sustainable materials or technologies and focus on recyclability.

• Continued innovation in terms of car safety, moving towards active and connected safety systems.

Helmet Cameras

Following the trialling of the latest generation of helmet cameras over recent events, they have proved to be a great success, generating significant positive feedback from fans as a valuable addition to the broadcast of Grands Prix.

Therefore, it was proposed and unanimously approved to update the 2023 Technical Regulations, mandating the use of these helmet cameras for all drivers from 2023 onwards.

Reduction in tyre usage

The Commission unanimously agreed to trial a reduction in the tyre allocation from 13 sets to 11 at two events in the 2023 season. This will be done to evaluate the impact of the reduction in tyre allocation on track-running, with the overall intention to move to more sustainable use of tyres in the future.

All regulatory changes are subject to approval by the World Motor Sport Council.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Superbird70, 27/04/2022 22:32

"I was thinking of Horner voicing Muttley."

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2. Posted by Mad Matt, 27/04/2022 16:37

"Stop that pigeon..... but who lands the role of Dick Dasterdly :-)"

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3. Posted by Superbird70, 27/04/2022 13:11

"So Bernie's idea of water cannons at track to spice things up doesn't look so bad now, does it? Every race will be ane pisode of Wacky Races, that Saturday morning staple of my youth. "

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 27/04/2022 13:03

"@Max Noble - cynic! & anyway, it beats the alternative "Apocalyptic" odour....

I really like the Mario Kart circus idea & hopefully someone will convince Liberty to invest in it & flog F1 to someone who gives a damn.
I'd like to include an idea hatched during all those years of Mercedes dominance (remember them?). It would mean that at arbitrary points in the race, the leading driver(s) should have to pit & don clown suits, before proceeding - McDonald's sponsorship seems assured.
This would:
--- fulfil all Liberty's Fiduciary responsibilities - by raking in the cash
--- produce a great spectacle - how we'd laugh at Lewis trying to get his clown feet into the cockpit!
--- ensure "close" racing & prevent any team, no matter how good, from spoiling the fun by winning too often
--- add to the "Netflix" interest.

I'm prepared to allow Liberty & FIA to use these ideas for free under a Creative Commons Licence."

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5. Posted by Max Noble, 27/04/2022 12:03

"@Spindoctor - Hope to look at all that quality stuff in a future article. You’ve highlighted a series of genuine issues. Good Thinking Agent 86 as one might of said long ago… :-)"

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6. Posted by Max Noble, 27/04/2022 12:00

"@Mad Matt - Quite! Let’s combine with @Superbird70 thinking, and get Netflix to sponsor a “F1 Mega-City Mario Karts” series around the planet. Each race the guy on pole position would have to take Kim Kardashian on his lap for the race as a penalty for getting pole. Plus all the Mario Kart items of my previous post. Naturally Dwayne “The Rock” would get to drop boulders out the sky as directed by the Haas team, sorry I mean the guys in last place, to throw those ahead off their lines… "

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7. Posted by Mad Matt, 27/04/2022 10:12

"@Max Noble: Mario indeed :-) I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I prefer classic F1 and would prefer to get rid of the sprint races.

If, on the other hand, sprint races are to stay then they need to offer something different. Currently they seem to me to be a boring cut down version of the main race. Probably because no-one wants to take risks because they don't want to scupper the next day's race where the big points are scored.

Hence my Mario Kart suggestions..... :-)"

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8. Posted by Superbird70, 27/04/2022 9:57

"All this is fine talk for now. What happens when Netflix, in a bid to increase subscribers, purchases F1 and starts setting its own rules?"

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9. Posted by Max Noble, 27/04/2022 9:42

"@Spindoctor - Nothing like the smell of fresh optimism in the Dawn light… :-)"

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10. Posted by Spindoctor, 27/04/2022 9:32

"Some revealing takeaways regarding "Environmental sustainablity".

1. The "sustainable" (Liberty\FIA's fave new word!) fuel they refer to requires the input of very large amounts of energy & I'm doubtful that it'll produce zero pollutants at the tailpipe.
2. I thought the VAG deal was done, so they've already attracted "new" PU Manufacturers. Being a tad cynical I'll be interested to see what the precise fruits of this will be....
3. Pleased to see they've finally come around to understanding Colin Chapman\John Cooper's mantra of (building in or adding) lightness as a means of making faster more driveable cars.
4. Who can argue with the desire to reduce drag, though how this can be achieved while maintaining downforce exudes something of the philosopher's stone.
5. Tyres: Let's hope we see tyres that not only last for a decent distance but are a lot less fussy about being "switched on". Followers of MotoGP can attest that it's possible to have tyres which are quite unfussy, balance durability with grip & still require pilots to manage them intelligently. Copy please.

Overall, and assuming they're sincere and not completing some banal "environmental" tick-box exercise, there is the possibility that 2026 could see a big improvement on today's overweight behemoths. Fingers crossed."

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11. Posted by Max Noble, 27/04/2022 8:00

"@Mad Matt - I think you are describing “Mario Karts” - which I personally love to play with a few friends and a couple of coldies (beers). If Liberty want to create real world Mario Karts I’m all for it, it is a blast! …but (you knew the but was coming…) but, is that “Classic Formula One”…? That’s why the intelligent driver’s, which is about 95% of them, always say you cannot compare driver’s between eras because the cars, rules, and points change so much.

You want F1 sprint races, with loads of overtaking aids? Form a new sprint series! All around city centre tracks, with press to pass, vote to pass, oil slicks, banana skins, and jump ramps. Heck, I’d pay to watch that! In the meantime leave F1 as a touch more sport than entertainment…. :-)
"

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12. Posted by Mad Matt, 27/04/2022 7:18

"I used to think that no-one liked the sprint races, as I've said before I find them a little boring and they lack the frenetic edge that such a race should provide.... but I have to acknowledge there are those like @kenji who seem to enjoy them. It looks to me like the majority don't like them but I've only got the evidence of friends and comments on sites like this.

Perhaps the solution is to look at ways of making them more spicy... reverse grids... weight penalty... DRS disabled for the top 10... something... anything :-)"

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13. Posted by Max Noble, 27/04/2022 3:16

"With Range Rover going fully electric by 2025, and the Porsche Taycan selling faster than they can build them, plus the all electric Ford F-150 pick-up now available in the US… I wonder who in the manufacturer world is keen to be developing new internal combustion engines after 2026…? Anyway - excellent intent behind these recommendations, just a touch mis-guided in some areas. And a rule that is likely to make the tyres harder to last longer too if we are lucky…! :-)
"

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14. Posted by kenji, 27/04/2022 2:54

"Wow...more racing. In such a depressing global period where negativity is the 'cause de jour' we now have some joy to look out for.Let's go sprint racing."

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15. Posted by Defiant, 26/04/2022 21:21

"I'm beginning to think they're actually trying to kill the sport off so they can push the E formula even harder.

"

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