final drive - Mundo Motorizado

ILLUSTRATION: GIORGIO PIOLA; PICS: ETHERINGTON, BELLANCA/LAT What’s
new in F1 2013
There aren’t many rules tweaks for F1 teams to get their teeth into this
season, but the devil is in the details. Here is AUTOSPORT’s guide
This year’s Formula 1 cars will
be, by definition, the best of
breed. There have been plenty
of tweaks to the current rule
set, introduced in 2009, over the
years but this is the end of the line
for this family of machinery. The Red
Bull RB9, launched on Sunday, is a
direct descendent, the great-great
grandson, of the machine that earned
the team its first victories four years
ago. While the rules that define the
thoroughbreds breaking cover during
launch season are largely unchanged
from 2012, there are some differences
that could prove very significant.
1. WEIGHT
INCREASE
The minimum weight
(F1 regulations stipulate
that this figure is car and
driver) of an F1 car has been
increased by two kilos. This is
because of the slight increase
in weight of the 2013 Pirelli
rubber. The weight distribution
continues to be regulated, with
292kg/343kg minimum front/rear.
The DRS zones are now
restricted all weekend
Cars will be a fraction heavier
28 autosport.com January 31 2013
343kg
2. DRS ZONES APPLY IN EVERY SESSION
For the first two seasons of the DRS era, deployment of the system was unrestricted
in practice and qualifying with its use in the race restricted to designated zones.
In 2013, the restricted zones will be used throughout the weekend.
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Cars must pass tougher crash tests
3. CRASH TESTS
More stringent crash tests to the roll
structure and the survival cell have been
introduced. However, these should make
no obvious difference to the look of the
cars. As per last year, all crash tests must
be passed before testing starts.
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