Engine mapping regulations set to change for European Grand Prix - The FIA write to teams with news of an engine map change
Published by Christine
Hello and welcome to F1Minute - Engine mapping regulations set to change.
The FIA have written to all the teams on the grid and informed them that from this week’s European Grand Prix onwards, they will not be allowed to change engine mapping settings between qualifying and the race. Speculation has increased that Red Bull’s superior qualifying performance comes from an engine mapping that allows some extra speed over a couple of flying laps, that is then tweaked ahead of the race so as to be optimised for longer distances.
This comes on top of changes that will come into effect at the British Grand Prix, which Renault’s technical director, James Allison, explains well: “The headline changes for the Silverstone GP are as follows: When the driver lifts his foot fully off the throttle pedal, then the ECU maps must be set up so that the engine closes the throttle - previously it was possible to configure the engine maps to leave the throttle open and reduce the engine power by other means.” Allison goes on to say he’s not sure how much these new rules will change things, but they will affect more than just one Red Bull shaped team.
