Drawing the battle lines....

**Hermann** · 3rd February 2011, 23:24

Sources have revealed that the FIA's current plan is for the overtaking zone - where the moveable wing will be made active in races - to be the final 600 metres of a track's main straight.

A driver pursuing a rival will only be able to activate his wing there if he is within one-second of the car ahead of him at a timing zone that will be set-up in the braking area for the corner before that main straight.

The FIA believes that the 600-metre passing zone is the right length to ensure that overtaking is possible – but is also not too easy. Early simulation data suggests that this length of track will result in a speed differential between cars of between 10-12 km/h depending on car design.

Drivers will be also free to use the wing at will during practice and qualifying.

To help Formula 1 fans and television commentators understand the implementation of the rules better, lines will be painted on the track to mark out the overtaking and timing zone.

A single line on the straight will show where the overtaking zone starts, while two lines will be painted at the preceding corner to indicate the one-second time difference distance. This latter line will also serve as a visual back up for the FIA should the official timing transponders fail at any point.

Welcome to World Wrestling Entertainment!

**Ste** · 3rd February 2011, 23:40

That is absolutely ridiculous. It's all so false.

First they introduce tiny engines and stupid regs for 2013 and now this.

**TheProdigalSon** · 3rd February 2011, 23:44

They should install a bus lane on the circuits in 2013 then it won't be any different to driving on the roads.

**laci63** · 3rd February 2011, 23:55

How one sec can be indicated with distance? It depends on V. Difference 300 km/h and 310 km/h is about 3 m. Max speed of the cars are also regulated :) ?

**Tifosi** · 4th February 2011, 00:34

...and the driver has to hold up his left hand and wave at Charlie Whiting if he simultaneously has his KERS deployed and his flaps open!

**vcs316** · 4th February 2011, 03:14

They are turning F1 into a driving school. Straight line for overtaking, two lines for 1 sec gap....

**vcs316** · 4th February 2011, 03:37

Ferrari backs FIA wing evaluation

Ferrari has backed the FIA's plans to begin evaluation of the moveable rear wing with a 600 metre overtaking zone for the first few races of the season - even though it may not prove long enough to allow easy passing.

As AUTOSPORT exclusively revealed earlier today, the FIA has informed teams of its initial plans for the moveable wing rules.

This will primarily involve designating a 600m zone at the end of a track's main straight where the wing can be utilised - as long as a driver is within one second of the car ahead of him at the preceding corner where a timing zone is going to be laid out.

Speaking at Valencia after teams tried out the moveable wings for the first time, Costa reckoned early analysis showed that a longer zone than 600m would be better – but thought it was the right approach to start things that way rather than by making overtaking too easy.

"From the point of view about what we think, we think 600 metres is on the edge, in our opinion," he said when asked by AUTOSPORT about his views on the FIA plans.

"To have an overtake we think you need more, but the FIA wanted to start from a difficult situation - not an easy pass situation, which for the show would have been not so great.

"So we understand and we agree on the concept, but our numbers say it is a bit too small."

The FIA plans to begin evaluating the timing and moveable wing software at the next test in Jerez, before a more extensive test of the timing and overtaking zone implementation in the final pre-season Bahrain test.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/89266

**Rishu** · 4th February 2011, 03:39

Now I will know for which stand to book my tickets for........ where all the action happens

**Ferrari312** · 4th February 2011, 04:14

that is ridiculous, and now costa agreeing it makes me even more confused

**Brakefade** · 4th February 2011, 04:51

Jeez, just bring back the underbody venturi tunnels. This movable rear wing and passing zones is just too gimmicky.

**NJB13** · 4th February 2011, 07:26

This is the most ridiculous, contrived, stupid implementation ever! I hate it with a passion. I don't understand why we are supporting it, other than we think it's going to benefit us more that others. Either way I don't care, I don't like it and don't like that we are supporting it.

So now we have to have a marked out "passing zone' Pfffffttttttttttttt!

**gvsnraju85** · 4th February 2011, 07:47

Originally Posted by NJB13

This is the most ridiculous, contrived, stupid implementation ever! I hate it with a passion. I don't understand why we are supporting it, other than we think it's going to benefit us more that others. Either way I don't care, I don't like it and don't like that we are supporting it.

So now we have to have a marked out "passing zone' Pfffffttttttttttttt!

So now along with pressing all the buttons on the steering wheel, driver also has to look out for a single straight line to know he is in overtaking zone and then look out for a broken line to know he is with in 1 sec distance and then press the button on the steering wheel to engage the movable rear flap then look out for the breaking distance board and then again press a button to disengage the movable flap and then press the break padal and in the meanwhile he also might wnat to adjust the break bias setting and the car balance and also engage kers if he wants and also make sure that he doesnt overshoot the breaking point, keep a look in the rear mirrors to make sure no one is trying a similar (overtaking) move on him and for slower cars keep a look out for blue flags to let faster cars pass buy........and all this on the straights....when the car is in excess of 300km/h speeds

phewwww......its so simple......wow we fans will really enjoy this season........

**Hornet** · 4th February 2011, 09:02

Originally Posted by Ferrari312

that is ridiculous, and now costa agreeing it makes me even more confused

As he mentioned there, we are already in a difficult situation. What they are trying to do now is to improve this difficult situation.

The whole movable rear wing idea was ridiculous to begin with. By giving a temporary advantage to the driver behind, it leaves the driver in front defenseless. Anyone can overtake. I don't think thats what we really want when we say we wants to see more overtaking. Not meaningless overtaking

Right now they really need to find a solution to that problem.

Personally I don't think this whole movable rear wing idea will stay for long. Its time to bring back bottom effect.

**Rishu** · 4th February 2011, 09:14

I think they have to lift the ban on refuelling, & let F1 stay a sport for drivers, teams rather than a sport of calculations

**netlord** · 4th February 2011, 09:40

F1 is dying, and they are pushing the dagger in even further.
Senna wanted safe cars, but this is a joke.

**Greig** · 4th February 2011, 09:48

Sounds a bit like when you add a crossover section to your scalectrix track

**NJB13** · 4th February 2011, 10:04

Honestly, I think the net effect of this stupid rear wing may well be entirely the opposite of what it was intended to do.

Lets just think about the actual rule. What we are saying is that, if at the last corner before the main straight a car can close to within one second of the car in front he will be given an external push of around 12Kph for 600 odd metres down the main straight.

At worst, by the end of the straight, the car behind knows for certain that he can be right on the tail of the car in front. The car in front, knows for certain that, unless he can now go a full second faster in less than a lap that he can never shake off the car behind.

Now, think back over last year. How many cars were lapping a full second a lap faster than the car behind them?

What incentive is there for the car in front to race. Unless you know you have a chance of opening up MORE than a second advantage, in LESS than one lap you are wasting your tyres and fuel. Therefore, the emphasis will be to ensure you rock up to a race at least within a second a lap of your main rival. Stay in touch and make a last lap dash at passing.

What's the value in overtaking if you know you can't shake off the car behind you - remember everything hinges on the car in front being able to pull out over a second in less than a lap.

**Tifosi** · 4th February 2011, 10:12

so the rich people in the Gold Grandstands pay more to see what will become rather predictable overtaking manoeuvres by faster cars. This will obviously help faster cars stuck in traffic for whatever reasons and will also help a slightly faster car overtake a competitor for a key position in the race.

However, largely predictable passing on straight sections of track isn't anywhere near as exciting as the chase between two cars and not knowing where or when or even IF they can pass. Now all drivers need to do is sit back

(like the rest of us) and wait for the FIA sanctioned passing place - how exciting for them and for us!!!!!

All this will do is sanitise what overtaking there already is and make it FIA controlled, predictable and therefore less meaningful as a skill. It will also make Qualifying less critical so given a position like last season with a Red Bull 0.5-1 sec faster than us - where is the incentive or point of us qualifying on pole if the Red Bull's can pass on lap 3 regardless?

**Tobes** · 4th February 2011, 11:27

Didn't this idea come from the Technical Working Overtaking Group (or whatever they're called) which is made up of representives from the teams, I don't think this was an FIA idea...

**Tifosi** · 4th February 2011, 11:34

maybe so Tobes but the FIA will decide the positioning of the zone and all of the parameters of the use of the flaps so the upshot is that they decide when overtaking potential can be "enhanced", not the drivers on the track

**Stormsearcher** · 4th February 2011, 17:51

Sounds to me like its just another loop hole of Ramilton to exploit and Charlie to look the other way when it happens.
"i didnt see the line was 5 kms away..."

**Rob** · 4th February 2011, 20:32

Originally Posted by Tifosi

so the rich people in the Gold Grandstands pay more to see what will become rather predictable overtaking manoeuvres by faster cars. This will obviously help faster cars stuck in traffic for whatever reasons and will also help a slightly faster car overtake a competitor for a key position in the race.

However, largely predictable passing on straight sections of track isn't anywhere near as exciting as the chase between two cars and not knowing where or when or even IF they can pass. Now all drivers need to do is sit back

(like the rest of us) and wait for the FIA sanctioned passing place - how exciting for them and for us!!!!!

All this will do is sanitise what overtaking there already is and make it FIA controlled, predictable and therefore less meaningful as a skill. It will also make Qualifying less critical so given a position like last season with a Red Bull 0.5-1 sec faster than us - where is the incentive or point of us qualifying on pole if the Red Bull's can pass on lap 3 regardless?

+1

this is just absolute nonsense. So we may not see any drivers try to make daring overtakes round outside of other cars in corners or late braking into corners, they will just wait to the FIA overtake zone and press 2 buttons to help them overtake the car in front. They are taking 1 of the great skills away from the driver. Sitting back watching the drive rin front waiting for the time to make your move and overtake.

never have liked this adjustable rear wing or KERS.

**Atic Atac** · 4th February 2011, 21:12

I think i am alone, but i actually like the idea of the ARW.

I know it´s fake, but it´s just a way of simulating the "tow" effect you have in almost any racing series. All over the history the car or the bike at the back is benefited and can get extra speed to make a pass.

In actual F1 the combination of rev limiters and over sensitive aero packages has got to a point were overtaking is just an exception. To defend position you just have to drive without making a mistake and 90% of the times that´s job done.

This is an easy and cheap solution. In real racing we will still see little overtaking but it will go from "impossible" to "plausible". Even with the ARW you will have to take a huge risk to overtake a fast car.

Someone in Autosport gave a good example: F1 right now is like a football match were, if you score a goal, you also earn the right to get an extra guy to defend the result.

In 2013 we will have new aero rules that hopefully will solve the problem, but we needed urgently a fast solution and this can one.

With a little bit of luck races like barcelona wont be a borefest anymore with the result decided after the firs corner.

An extra bonus is that playing conservative won´t work as before. In many circuits you could go "cruising" knowing that the guy behind couldn´t attack. Now if you let the driver behind get close you will get in trouble so no more racing in safe mode ;)

**Tony** · 4th February 2011, 21:48

Is the car in front also allowed to activate the rear wing or will it be just the car behind

**Tifosi** · 4th February 2011, 22:19

Originally Posted by Tony

Is the car in front also allowed to activate the rear wing or will it be just the car behind

The car in front cannot defend using the wing but if they are also within 1 second of the car in front of them they can activate the wing too, which is clearly why they cant use it on the first 2 laps. What I want to know is can KERS play a part in defending?

**Tifosi** · 4th February 2011, 22:29

Originally Posted by Atic Atac

I think i am alone, but i actually like the idea of the ARW.

With a little bit of luck races like barcelona wont be a borefest anymore with the result decided after the firs corner.

An extra bonus is that playing conservative won´t work as before. In many circuits you could go "cruising" knowing that the guy behind couldn´t attack. Now if you let the driver behind get close you will get in trouble so no more racing in safe mode ;)

Just because faster cars car progress through the ranks "falsely" does not mean it wont be a borefest!

If one team has a significantly faster car it will ensure that nothing will stand in its way so quali will be less important, racing in the non AWR sections of the track will be even less likely to happen and the predictability of the race will actually be worse once qualifying has finished.

That's a borefest

I agree that conservatism of defense will be less likely to a degree but tbh, when someone's on another car's tail it is more exciting to see them try to defend than be inevitably passed on the pitstraight after the FIA sanctioned and painted white lines!!!