FIA set to ban FRIC suspension from Hockenheim...?

[Sodemo]

I read on Autosport that FRIC suspension could be banned from Germany onwards. This system is thought to be used by a few teams, most notably Mercedes...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114881

[P38 in workshop]

So a system which most of the teams use,and have used for years,is now deemed to be questionable?I wonder who has been whining to the FIA?Has to be an under achieving team.It is after all an evolution of the system that Citroen introduced almost sixty years ago and which Mercedes have licensed for use in their larger road cars.

It gets more confusing when one reads that the FIA are contemplating the return of active suspension on the not too distant future.I am racking my brain to remember which outfit has a history of seeking clarifications that might make their cars more competitive.

[Knowlesy]

I'm not saying it was Ferrari. But it was probably Ferrari.

Well, however this came about, ludicrous. Reminds me of the mass damper furore.

[Sodemo]

It does seem strange to ban something which could potentially benefit road users. This is where I think F1 is going wrong, the manufacturers are moaning that F1 isn't road relevant anymore, yet they go and potentially ban something which has legs to develop and so forth. But hey, who needs suspension innovation when the teams can just pour another 20 million pound into aero research, of which pretty much none of it will benefit road users.

This very much reminds me of 2006 when Renault was just ahead of Ferrari and then the fia (again at hockenheim rather bizarrely) banned the use of the mass damper system. Again, another innovation banned...

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I'm not saying it was Ferrari. But it was probably Ferrari.

Well, however this came about, ludicrous. Reminds me of the mass damper furore.

I put post in on the rule changes thread but in my view this looks like a manipulation of the championship. If it is (and it doesn't look to be much else) its a disgrace. The rules should be fixed and in place for the duration of the championship and preceded with 6-12 months notice on such issues.
Ban it, if you must, for 2015, but tell them now.

[Sodemo]

Often these components are integral to the packaging of the car. Could a team just simply "remove" such a system without any additional testing or car modifications?

[Greem]

All these years Lewis has used the word "frickin'", we completely misunderstood him...

[NaBUru38]

I can;t understand how FIA can change car regulations mid-season. Except for safety reasons, teams should never allow that.

[smellysocks]

I knew the Mercedes must have been illegal!

[Tucky]

Next up, the FIA announce a 10 second stop go penalty for any car that's not red

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

I put post in on the rule changes thread but in my view this looks like a manipulation of the championship. If it is (and it doesn't look to be much else) its a disgrace. The rules should be fixed and in place for the duration of the championship and preceded with 6-12 months notice on such issues.
Ban it, if you must, for 2015, but tell them now.

If true, it does smell like manipulation.

Richard

[Casper]

I wonder if this is a story with no substance? They may as well unfreeze the motor development at the same time, remove Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier, allow whatever fuel the teams want to use etc. There could of course be a Bernie story they want to distract attention away from??

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

I put post in on the rule changes thread but in my view this looks like a manipulation of the championship. If it is (and it doesn't look to be much else) its a disgrace. The rules should be fixed and in place for the duration of the championship and preceded with 6-12 months notice on such issues.
Ban it, if you must, for 2015, but tell them now.

Yup, Plus 1, changing the game like this is just manipulation.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Casper

I wonder if this is a story with no substance? They may as well unfreeze the motor development at the same time, remove Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier, allow whatever fuel the teams want to use etc. There could of course be a Bernie story they want to distract attention away from??

This would be better than just banning something out of hand!

[Tucky]

Eric Boullier has done an interview (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...4/7/16069.html) and from what I understand, the idea of FRIC suspension isn't the issue, but some teams may have pushed the development of FRIC so far that it ended up contravening some other rule. If this is so, then why ban FRIC, why not just penalise the teams that have gone extreme and possibly broken the regulation?

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Tucky

Eric Boullier has done an interview (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlin...4/7/16069.html) and from what I understand, the idea of FRIC suspension isn't the issue, but some teams may have pushed the development of FRIC so far that it ended up contravening some other rule. If this is so, then why ban FRIC, why not just penalise the teams that have gone extreme and possibly broken the regulation?

FRIC uses hydraulic oil to determine a stable (lack of roll and yaw) platform with consistent ride height. Its passive, not active so that seemed to mean that it was legal.
It was first used in 2008 and has been developed particularly over the last 3 years.
Whiting now says he believes it may contravene the rules about moveable aerodynamic devices. nothing definitive just a 'may' contravene....

'But if all the teams agree unanimously' the FIA will not penalise anyone and then ban it from 2015... ...knowing that getting all the teams to agree on some teams having a better system is never going to fly...

[fourWheelDrift]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

FRIC uses hydraulic oil to determine a stable (lack of roll and yaw) platform with consistent ride height. Its passive, not active so that seemed to mean that it was legal.
It was first used in 2008 and has been developed particularly over the last 3 years.
Whiting now says he believes it may contravene the rules about moveable aerodynamic devices. nothing definitive just a 'may' contravene....

'But if all the teams agree unanimously' the FIA will not penalise anyone and then ban it from 2015... ...knowing that getting all the teams to agree on some teams having a better system is never going to fly...

The entire suspension system affects the aerodynamics so all the moving suspension parts are illegal aren't they?

Anyway isn't FRIC basically the same effect as an anti roll bar, just front to rear rather than side to side. Maybe not but if not perhaps someone can explain.

This action from the FIA is disgraceful. And if they think people won't smell a rat they are kidding themselves.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by fourWheelDrift

The entire suspension system affects the aerodynamics so all the moving suspension parts are illegal aren't they?

Anyway isn't FRIC basically the same effect as an anti roll bar, just front to rear rather than side to side. Maybe not but if not perhaps someone can explain.

This action from the FIA is disgraceful. And if they think people won't smell a rat they are kidding themselves.

Does any team not use it, or have struggled to get it working?

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Teretonga

'But if all the teams agree unanimously' the FIA will not penalise anyone and then ban it from 2015... ...knowing that getting all the teams to agree on some teams having a better system is never going to fly...

Grasping for ideas as to why (other than outright stick a finger in someones eye)...

I know getting the teams to unanimously approve something has been impossible recently. Could this be a manufactured tool to get someone to vote a particular way? You scratch my back, I will scratch yours?

I would assume this would impact someone like Mercedes the most. Has Mercedes been a particular hold out on something recently? Potentially allowing some engine development for Renault/Ferrari?

Richard

[Articus]

Mercedes is rumoured to have the most advanced FRIC system. Not only a front to rear fluid connection but also a left to right wheel interconnection. It virtually eliminates roll bars.

[Adam43]

Magic body control

[Nicholosophy]

Originally Posted by Articus

Mercedes is rumoured to have the most advanced FRIC system. Not only a front to rear fluid connection but also a left to right wheel interconnection. It virtually eliminates roll bars.

Surely this sort of engineering is perfect for use in road cars? Why not let F1 teams develop such technologies? BAFFLING

[BootsOntheSide]

Changing technical rules mid-season always seems wrong to me. Unless there's a safety issue, why would something which passed scrutineering in the first place now not be acceptable. Particularly with something with such road car relevance, why punish innovation and creativity?

[JeremySmith]

This was my very question, why in heavens name are they doing this mid season...

[JHamilton]

I could rant for a while about this, but everyone here already knows... It seems every other week I read an article that I think is a joke. I seriously thought the standing restart proposal was a hoax for a few days.