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F1 could bring back active suspension to cut costs

  • Published on 16 Apr 2014 15:51
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
F1 could bring back highly-sophisticated 'active suspension' to cut costs. Reporting from Shanghai, Telegraph correspondent Daniel Johnson said the idea is among a draft proposal by the FIA after teams blocked Jean Todt's plans for a budget cap.

Active suspension was banned after Williams utterly dominated in 1993, but bringing it back could cut costs by making it easier and cheaper to set up today's complex cars. Johnson said every car would by 2017 be fitted with 'FIA standard active suspension', and along with other benefits it could mean teams could function without as many staff at grands prix.

Among some of the other cost-cutting ideas - part of a three-year plan - are proposals to further extend gearbox life and paddock curfews, and simplify front wing designs. The changes might not be popular with Adrian Newey, however, as F1's best designer recently questioned the direction the sport is taking.

Ahead of the Bahrain grand prix, he hit out at F1's new 'green' credentials, arguing that if the batteries collecting hybrid power to feed the smaller turbo V6 engines are produced "from a coal-fired power station, then clearly it's not green at all". "This concept that a hybrid car is automatically green is a gross simplification," said the Briton. "So I think technically, to be perfectly honest, it's slightly questionable."

Newey also said the 'new' F1 is more like sports car racing than traditional F1. "Formula one should be about excitement," he said. "It should be about man and machine performing at its maximum every single lap."

Asked on Wednesday if Newey's commitment to the new and 'questionable' F1 is still as high as ever, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner insisted: "Absolutely."Adrian is one of the most driven people, if not the most driven person, I've ever met," he is quoted by Sporting Life. "He's passionate about formula one, a purist, and he speaks from the heart," Horner added. (GMM)
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
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Bahrain International Circuit
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Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
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Albert Park
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26 - Jul 28
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23 - Aug 25
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Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
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United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
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Yas Marina Circuit
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29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
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Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
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24 - May 26
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21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
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Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
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23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
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18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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