FIA tender for standard F1 gearboxes

[factory_p]

https://www.f1technical.net/news/21960

So what do we know about it?

I read X-Trac was preparing an offer. Now that the deadline is passed, has the list of candidates been unveiled?

[jjn9128]

Final decision will be made between 15-30 April. I expect Xtrac to get the deal though, almost like Pirelli getting the tyre deal.

[Maplesoup]

Quite possible one of the existing teams gets it as well. Williams McLaren and Red Bull would all be in the running as they all have secondary companies separate from their race teams that can produce the gear cassettes.

McLaren already have the tender for supplying the ECU and provide most teams with complex electronics for their steering wheels.

[DiogoBrand]

I think it's a good decision. F1 gearbox designs don't translate to road cars, they are relatively not very interesting, and standardizing them will also allow for more compatibility between power units. The fact that the teams will be able to develop their own external casings is also good.

[NL_Fer]

Pretty shitty for Williams, if they would restructure their outdated gearbox facility to a more modern development level and than all would be obsolete in 2021 with a standard box.

[roy928tt]

You'd have to suspect that Williams were confident enough that such a move was imminent, That they stopped development on the gearbox side of things. Also it is only the gearbox "cassette" that is being standardised the actual housing will still be created by the teams and is where Williams "lag behind" the others. Sure Cast Aluminium might not be as sexy as Carbon Fibre but it is very much fit for purpose. I'd be VERY surprised if the Cast Aluminium gearbox housing is in any way responsible for the poor position Williams find themselves in.

[Chubbs]

Have there been any updates on this?

[saviour stivala]

One question, does teams have a say, does teams have to agree to this frenzy trend to standardize the F1 car?.

[saviour stivala]

The first batch out for tender so far:- gearbox cassette. Brake-by-wire system. Brake friction material (disc and pads). Master cylinders. The second batch to tender is expected to go out soon.

[jjn9128]

The first batch out for tender so far:- gearbox cassette. Brake-by-wire system. Brake friction material (disc and pads). Master cylinders. The second batch to tender is expected to go out soon.

You're forgetting wheel rims and tyres. Also last night they started the tender process for fuel system parts - the pumps and pipes inside the fuel cell.

[saviour stivala]

The first batch out for tender so far:- gearbox cassette. Brake-by-wire system. Brake friction material (disc and pads). Master cylinders. The second batch to tender is expected to go out soon.

You're forgetting wheel rims and tyres. Also last night they started the tender process for fuel system parts - the pumps and pipes inside the fuel cell.

Yes you are correct, I left out wheel rims, but tyres no because they were already tendered for many years now. the tender they started last night is what I said is the one next in-line. I believe that there will be a lot more, till they render the car as a one make kit-car, but we will have to wait and see what the present four manufacturers will except or not, in short we will have to wait and see which way this power struggle push will end.

[jjn9128]

It's not a power struggle. It's coming out of F1 strategy group meetings which is the teams, FOM and the FIA. All parties are in agreement to standardize non-performance differentiating parts.

[saviour stivala]

It is nothing other than a power struggle, F1 has been there before. But now the commercial rights holders through their poacher turned game keeper are hell bend to rendering the formula one car into a buy, assemble and go racing car. As to all agreeing to standardize, we will have to wait for the results of the outcome.

[factory_p]

It's not a power struggle. It's coming out of F1 strategy group meetings which is the teams, FOM and the FIA. All parties are in agreement to standardize non-performance differentiating parts.

Or it's a political move from the FIA to pressurize teams on some other topics. Like "see guys? We are ready to proceed with it. We have a manufacturer and all. So either you agree to ban this or that technology to reduce cost, or we impose a standard gearbox"

[roon]

I think it's a good decision. F1 gearbox designs don't translate to road cars, they are relatively not very interesting...

Some of the seamless shift mechanisms are quite elegant.

It's not a power struggle. It's coming out of F1 strategy group meetings which is the teams, FOM and the FIA. All parties are in agreement to standardize non-performance differentiating parts.

Or it's a political move from the FIA to pressurize teams on some other topics. Like "see guys? We are ready to proceed with it. We have a manufacturer and all. So either you agree to ban this or that technology to reduce cost, or we impose a standard gearbox"

Banning tech doesn't affect a team's expenditures. What is saved in manufacturing cost finds its way to R&D. Look at the current engine formula. Yes, far fewer engines are used per year, but their development cost is likely comparable to the price of buying forty or so NA V10s per year.

Another example is bodywork. Simplifying it via regulations has no effect on an R&D budget which intends to make a fast car.