With regard to Technical regulations, three objectives have been kept in mind. These include, making overtaking easier, keeping lap times in check and reducing the role of aerodynamic in the car’s performance. Some important sub-categories are:
Tyres
Formula One racing now returns to slicks, after 10 seasons on grooved tyres. Aimed at increasing the emphasis on mechanical rather than aerodynamic grip, slicks will increase the grip by about 20%, increasing performance gain. This gain though, will be countered by the much reduced downforce levels of the revised aerodynamic regulations, which are mentioned below. The overall effect will be reduced performance, especially through high-speed corners. But drivers still have the choice of two dry tyre compounds, and will be required to use both compounds during a race.
Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)
Teams have the sanction to employ KERS to boost car performance, from 2009. This system utilizes the earlier wasted kinetic energy that was produced by the car’s braking process. How that works is, the energy produced is stored using a mechanical flywheel, or an electric battery. This energy is then made available to the driver, though in set amounts per lap. This energy is accessible to the driver through a boost button, which is located on the steering wheel. Even though the power gain, under current regulations, comes out to nearly 80 hp, which will be available to the driver just under seven seconds per lap, you have to take into account the impact of the weight and the packaging of the system on the car’s weight distribution system as well.
Engines
Drivers are now required to use the same engine in three instead of two consecutive events. Aimed at increasing reliability, further changes, which are on the horizon, include measures to equalize performance between teams. On how these measures will be implemented, has not yet been decided.
Aerodynamics
New dimensional regulations, which outlaw extraneous items, including turning vanes, chimneys, barge boards and winglets, have been introduced for 2009. Drastically reducing downforce, these regulations will result in cleaner looking car bodies. Apart from reducing overall aero performance, these revisions will also make the car less susceptible to turbulence, when driving close behind another driver, making overtaking easier.
The front and the rear wings have been subjected to the most visible changes. While the rear wing has become taller, up by 150 mm, bringing it up till the top of the engine cover, and narrower, now at 750 mm from 1000 mm, the front wing has become lower, to 75mm from 150mm, and wider, to 1800 mm from 1400mm, making it the same width as the car, complete with driver-adjustable flaps. Now drivers can make two wing adjustments per lap, thus altering the wing angle over a six-degree range.
Another change in this section is at the back of the car, where the diffuser has been shifted back, and now its leading edge is level with the rear-wheel axle line. The diffuser has also been made higher and longer, with all these changes aimed at reducing downforce.
Testing
Testing allowance if 30,000 kilo-meters is to be slashed to 20,000, to reduce development costs.