Formula1 just spiced up with no telemetry between driver and team

With the Formula1 season less than two weeks away, there are various changes in effect from the first race in Australia.

With the Formula1 season less than two weeks away, there are various changes in effect from the first race in Australia. Apart from the change in qualifying format, the most important aspect is limiting the communication between driver and the team. Formula1 just spiced up with no telemetry between driver and team.

Charlie Whiting

Charlie Whiting, the F1 race director has sent a very small list of things that the team can tell the driver during a race which is limited to the basic and most important thins from the safety point of view.

Indication of a critical problem with the car, e.g. a puncture warning or damage, indication of a problem with a competitor’s car, instruction to enter the pit lane in order to fix or retire the car, Wet track, oil or debris in certain corners, marshalling information (red flag, yellow flag, race start aborted or other similar instructions or information from race control),instructions to swap positions with other drivers are the only seven things that the team could tell the driver.

Previously, the teams would discuss strategies, various modes to be used, and also make the driver aware of where his rivals are at the moment. But the director has totally banned

Gaps to a competitor during practice session or race, giving the gaps between cars in qualifying so as to better position the car for a clear lap, tyre choice at the next pit stop, number of laps a competitor has done on a set of tyres during a race, tyre specification of a competitor, information concerning a competitor’s likely race strategy, reminders about track limits, information concerning damage to the car, passing on messages from race control, number of laps remaining, weather information, driving breaches by team driver or competitors, e.g. missing chicanes, running off track, time penalty will be applied etc. Notification that DRS is enabled or disabled, dealing with a DRS system failure, when to enter the pits, reminders to check for white lines, bollards, weighbridge lights when entering or leaving the pits will be also not be allowed on the radio.