Page 73 - Bespoke Issue
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with the continuation of ERS-h. The Prancing Horse has been very vocal in dismissing the idea of losing this technology. Saying “ Its a dumbing down” and not what Ferrari and its brand do, and it looks like Mercedes agree in principle to this view.
New things this year include losing the ‘Shark Fin’ engine covers and ‘T-Wings’ which has resulted in the cars looking sleeker, also the suspension system which let the teams adjust the cars height during a race which could enhance the aerodynamic performance has been banned. Another cost reducing rule is the reduction from four to three engines the drivers can use throughout the season before a grid penalty is incurred. With an extra race on the calendar this could potentially see more teams racking up penalties.
Pirelli have given even more tyre choice this year up from ve to seven, with the new pink ‘Hypersoft’ and orange ‘Superhard’. Three of the seven will be available to the teams to use on a race weekend. The tyres have been made with softer compounds, with the thinking that this will reduce lap times and increase pit stops. The grid penalties have been changed so that anybody receiving more than 15 points starts at the back of the grid, unlike before where you could receive more points than grid spaces. Other clari cations are that races will resume from a standing start (SS) or if conditions dictate, a rolling start (RS).
We have lost Malaysia, but gained Hockinheim and a welcomed return of the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard circuit which was last run ten years
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