F1 poised for telemetry clampdown in 2016

Off the back of efforts to improve the spectacle and put more control back in the hands of drivers, the FIA has begun moves to limit input that can be made from the pit wall.

From this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, new controls are coming in to force that will ban teams from advising drivers about how best to approach the clutch settings for the starts.

And now, motor racing's governing body has revealed that, as part of wider restrictions for 2016, especially in limiting radio traffic, efforts are being made to look at outlawing telemetry that helps improve performance.

In a document sent to teams, the FIA said: “Methods to limit the telemetry channels sent in real-time from the car to the pits will be investigated.

“The objective will be to restrict real-time data flow to signals essential to run the car. Any ‘monitoring’ or non-essential channels should only be logged to on-car memory.”

Radio clampdown for 2016

Although a planned radio clampdown for 2014 was abandoned following concerns from teams, the FIA is pushing ahead with restrictions for next year.

It has sent a note to team advising them of the only messages that will be allowed.

The full list is:

1.       Indication of a critical problem with the car, e.g. puncture warning or damage.

2.       Indication of a problem with a competitor’s car.

3.       Instruction to enter the pit lane in order to fix or retire the car.

4.       Marshalling information (yellow flag, red flag, race start aborted or other similar instructions or information from race control).

5.       Wet track, oil or debris in certain corners.

6.       Instructions to swap position with other drivers.

7.       Acknowledgement that a driver message has been heard.

8.       Lap or sector time detail.

9.       Lap time detail of a competitor.

10.     Gaps to a competitor during a practice session or race.

11.     “Push hard”, “push now”, “you will be racing xx” or similar.

12.     Helping with warning of traffic during a practice session or race.

13.     Giving the gaps between cars in qualifying so as to better position the car for a clear lap.

14.     Tyre choice at the next pit stop.

15.     Number of laps a competitor has done on a set of tyres during a race.

16.     Tyre specification of a competitor.

17.     Information concerning a competitor’s likely race strategy.

18.     Safety Car window.

19.     Driving breaches by team driver or competitor, e.g. missing chicanes, running off track, time penalty will be applied etc.

20.     Notification that DRS is enabled or disabled.

21.     Dealing with a DRS system failure.

22.     Change of front wing position at the next pit stop.

23.     Oil transfer.

24.     When to enter the pits.

25.     Reminders to check for white lines, bollards, weighbridge lights when entering or leaving the pits.

26.     Reminders about track limits.

27.     Passing on messages from race control.

28.     Information concerning damage to the car.

29.     Number of laps remaining.

30.     Test sequence information during practice sessions, e.g. aero-mapping.

31.     Weather information.