Sigh, another long post. I'm going to bore you to death. Sorry, no pictures this time.
1- FIA mentions these parameters, altough it opens the door for many more checks (it says: "any other matter which affects or may have an effect, however minor, on sporting performance"):
- "Heat rejection, weight, dimensions, centre of gravity, stiffness values" (for helping the chassis designers)
- The engines might have "any capacity or configuration,
with or without forced induction" (all emphasis are mine) "provided that the power output is 500kW (+/- 50kW) and provided that the
power curve is suitable for racing. Engine power degradation should be consistent as between individual units to within +/- 0.75% (or some similar percentage to be specified by the tenderer) at all times in the engine’s expected lifetime."
- "Engines should not exceed 100kg"
- "... all the performance parameters of any team’s engines (must be) within +/- 0.5% of the selected tenderer’s own engines"
- "... FIA will nominate single supplier(s) so that all teams use the
same fuel and oil"
- "The weight of the overall transmission system should not exceed 50 kg (such weight limit to include any adaptor plates)"
- "The gearbox casing must allow for the attachment of an adaptor plate such that a reasonable variety of suspension mounting points can be achieved. Details of required suspension mounting points will be determined by the FIA within six weeks of the award of the tender."
- "Gearboxes... shall accomplish gear-shifts within 50ms"
- "Gearboxes (will have)... no more than fifteen available ratios, with no more than two variants of final drive ratio"
Nowadays engine mappings are variable, the driver can change them.
"There are two switches for engine control on the steering wheel. In particular one allows the driver to change the engine map, allowing him to choose one of several options - each one corresponds to a different fuelling of the engine. Typically number one is the performance fuelling map, and he has then four other possible maps where he can save fuel during the lap."
Of course, regulations state that these maps have to be fixed during the event, that is, when the car is on the track, the ignition and fuel settings (which define the power of the engine) must maintain the same relationship with engine speed and in turn, with throttle position.
There are also exceptions in this area, such as compensation for throttle acceleration, changes in pressure and temperature within the engine, and, as mentioned, driver-altered fuel mixture.
Besides, they
can use lambda regulation. It works "according to a modified PID algorithm practically delay-free over the entire rpm/load spectrum, the reference as derived from a lambda data table / map with additional specific operating corrections. The regulation works adaptively, i.e. from the measured values of the lambda probes, model values are derived, which are stored in an adaptation data table / map.
Through continual updating of engine electronics long-term performance data are held on a constant level."
2- "In the event that there are any disputes between the PROVIDER and any COMPETITOR as to what constitutes reasonable wear and tear and what constitutes unreasonable use, the PROVIDER shall refer the matter to the COORDINATOR for a determination."
"In the event of any ENGINE failure – whether during testing or during an EVENT – the PROVIDER shall submit to the COORDINATOR and the COMPETITOR concerned a detailed report into the reasons for such failure."
Coordinator means FIA, provider means Cosworth.
Of course the fans... well, we, the fans. Sigh.
3- Yes, I know there was no question number 3. I take the opportunity to mention a couple of things that the forum, in its infinite wisdom,
hasn't talked about:
From 2013 on, cars will also be required to have a chassis with many more “common parts” and
will include standard suspension systems, wheels and underbodies.
A second new engine regime will start in 2013 with power trains (engine and gearbox)
incorporating heat and exhaust recovery systems.
FIA asks team principals to propose "standardisation of other parts which are the subject of major expenditure but add nothing to the spectacle or the public interest in Formula One"
Mosley also points to "in future, teams will be able to run on budgets equal to the television rights money distributed to them by Formula One Management (FOM).
If divided equally, this would allocate £40-50million to each team compared with present technical budgets more than three times that amount"
Man, I'd swear this guy is reading this forum and siding with the smart ones around here, like, for example, me...
Well, what the... this post is huge, let's throw a picture,
:
Day of Candles in Colombia: Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad.
), I'd say that I don't like standart suspension idea... Maybe standart sets of springs, damplers etc, but not actual suspension geometry, cause it would fix cars in mechanical grip. You can predict that everybody would use same weight distribution, that would lead to the same aero balance and everything else. 
