The FIA has confirmed major reduction in radio communications for next season as it also seeks severe clampdown on telemetry.
In a bid to put the emphasis back on the driver, rather than the engineers and boffins on the pit-wall, garage and team HQ, from this weekend drivers will have to make their starts without outside assistance.
From the moment they leave the pitlane on Sunday and head to the grid the driver will need to fend for himself, with no assistance from his crew in relation to clutch bite points and the rest. Indeed, in the wake of two successive disastrous starts from the Mercedes duo, some are wondering whether this might be the turning point in the German outfit's fortunes.
Next season however, driver assistance will be even more limited, the FIA having written to all the teams advising not only the tough restrictions on radio traffic but even the desire to ban teletry that aids performance.
"Methods to limit the telemetry channels sent in real-time from the car to the pits will be investigated," said the sport's governing body in a letter sent to all the teams.
"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."
The teams have also been advised of the radio communications that will be allowed from next season, any others likely to be considered a breach of Article 20.1 of the Sporting Regulations which states that "the driver must drive the car alone and unaided".
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.
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