FIA details restrictions on driver aids from 2016
http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/...iver-aids-2016
The FIA has explained how it will clamp down on pit-to-car radio next season as well as further restrictions on start procedures over the next two years.
The changes are part of a plan to put racing back in the hands of the drivers and eliminate the perception that engineers are simply controlling the performance of the car and its functions through the driver. Engineers will still be able to talk to their drivers about certain aspects of the race (listed below), but "driver coaching" as it has become known will effectively be outlawed. Messages relating to the degradation of tyres and fuel saving via lifting and coasting, for example, are not on the list of permitted messages and will therefore be banned.
The clampdown has been enforced via an FIA technical directive issued to the teams and seen by ESPN. The technical directive takes a stricter view of Article 20.1 of the sporting regulations, which states "the driver must drive the car alone and unaided".
The first phase of the FIA's plans will be introduced at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, with new rules regarding the start procedure. These will be followed up in 2016 by limiting the operation of the clutch at the start to a single paddle rather than the dual paddle system currently used by all teams. The FIA is then planning to bring in a standard clutch in 2017 to further simplify the process and put more onus on the driver.
Finally, the FIA is investigating methods to limit the telemetry channels sent in real-time from the car to the pits. Any 'monitoring' or non-essential channels will not be reported back to the pit wall, but will still be allowed to be logged to on-car memory.
The following is a list of the permitted radio messages next year, any other message is likely to be considered a breach of Article 20.1
1. Indication of a critical problem with the car, e.g. puncture warning or damage.*
2. Indication of a problem with a competitor's car.*
3. Instruction to enter the pit lane in order to fix or retire the car.*
4. Marshalling information (yellow flag, red flag, race start aborted or other similar instructions or information from race control).*
5. Wet track, oil or debris in certain corners.*
6. Instructions to swap position with other drivers.*
7. Acknowledgement that a driver message has been heard.
8. Lap or sector time detail.
9. Lap time detail of a competitor.
10. Gaps to a competitor during a practice session or race.
11. "Push hard", "push now", "you will be racing xx" or similar.
12. Helping with warning of traffic during a practice session or race.
13. Giving the gaps between cars in qualifying so as to better position the car for a clear lap.
14. Tyre choice at the next pit stop.
15. Number of laps a competitor has done on a set of tyres during a race.
16. Tyre specification of a competitor.
17. Information concerning a competitor's likely race strategy.
18. Safety Car window.
19. Driving breaches by team driver or competitor, e.g. missing chicanes, running off track, time penalty will be applied etc.
20. Notification that DRS is enabled or disabled.
21. Dealing with a DRS system failure.
22. Change of front wing position at the next pit stop.
23. Oil transfer.
24. When to enter the pits.
25. Reminders to check for white lines, bollards, weighbridge lights when entering or leaving the pits.
26. Reminders about track limits.
27. Passing on messages from race control.
28. Information concerning damage to the car.
29. Number of laps remaining.
30. Test sequence information during practice sessions, e.g. aero-mapping.
31. Weather information.
* These are the only messages that may be passed to the driver, whilst he is in the car and on the track, from the time the car leaves the garage for the first time after the pit lane is open on the day of the race until the start of the race.