FIA president Sulayem adamant his rule change is the ‘right thing’ for F1

Follow us on Google Discover

FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem is adamant that changing the rules in Formula One’s technical regulations about the minimum car weight is the ‘right thing’ for F1.

The last few years have seen Formula One cars pile on the pounds and are now heavier than ever before. F1’s rule book for the 2023 season dictates that the cars must carry a minimum weight of 798kg. The FIA records the weight with a driver onboard and with dry tyres fitted.

But the weight measurement does not include the 110kgs of fuel that drivers must carry at the start of races. So, they are effectively handling a combined weight of 908kg as the lights go out. A giant increase from the 600kg minimum car weight the FIA stipulated 20 years ago.

Recent F1 rule changes have increased the cars’ minimum weight

An overhaul of the F1 technical regulations to design ground-effect cars for the 2022 season had a costly side effect. The rule changes also took the minimum car weight up to 795kg at first. But the FIA agreed to up the limit to 798kg to help to reduce the porpoising problems.

Further changes were intended for the 2023 season to reduce the limit to 796kg. But the FIA dropped those plans after a meeting of its technical advisory committee. The introduction of the Halo driver protection device during 2018 also added 7kg to a Formula One cars’ weight.

Sulayem does not want Domenicali to decide on his proposed plans

Now, FIA president Sulayem has explained his intentions to change F1’s technical regulations for the better by tweaking the car weight limit rules. He is adamant that a positive change to the regulations is the ‘right thing’. The FIA has even already begun starting early discussions.

The Emirati former rally driver also knows all too well the consequences of racing with a car carrying further weight. So, Sulayem does not want Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula One Group, to decide on the introduction of any rule changes that the FIA wants to bring in.

“I’ve driven rallies myself,” Sulayem explained to Motorsport Total. “Give me everything but, please, no heavy car! That always bothered me. Lighter cars are better and I know what I’m talking about.

“If the weight of the car is heavier, the suspension is compromised, the brakes don’t work as well, the tyres wear out more quickly and more weight is more dangerous in a crash. I’ve already spoken to my team at the FIA. We want lighter cars and we want a better sound.

“That’s ultimately up to the FIA. If Stefano wants that too, fine, then we agree on that point. But the FIA ​​has to decide, we’ll implement it. Not because the FOM or a team wants it that way, it’s because it’s the right thing for the sport.”