History of Formula One Regulations - 1980s: Taming The Turbos

1980s: Taming The Turbos

See also: 1980 Formula One season, 1981 Formula One season, 1982 Formula One season, 1983 Formula One season, 1984 Formula One season, 1985 Formula One season, 1986 Formula One season, 1987 Formula One season, 1988 Formula One season, and 1989 Formula One season

With the raft of safety improvements as a result of Peterson's fatal crash being implemented during the late 70s and early 80s Formula One overall became much safer despite the deaths of Patrick Depailler in 1980 and Gilles Villeneuve & Riccardo Paletti in 1982. The huge amounts of downforce created by ground effect became increasingly dangerous as years went on, and aside from the fatal accidents mentioned above, a number of drivers crashed heavily enough for their careers to be brought to an end, and the technology was banned outright at the start of the 1983 season. These safety changes coupled with the much stronger carbon fibre replacing aluminium as the material of choice for chassis construction meant there was not a single driver fatality at a race meeting for the rest of the decade. However one factor threatening to undo all this progress was the almost exponential power increases being extracted from turbocharged engines. Renault proved in 1980 that turbocharging was the way to go to success, with their very dominant performances in qualifying in almost every race, especially on fast and high-altitude circuits, where the thinner air did not affect the turbocharged engines. With power output doubling in less than 10 years and figures in excess of 1,400 bhp (1,000 kW; 1,400 PS) talked about by engine manufacturers, from 1986 onwards the FIA's primary goal was to rein in the turbo engines before finally banning them altogether at the end of the 1988 season.

1980

Permanent medical facility required at all tracks, these facilities must be staffed by FIA approved medics, fast response car mandatory at all races, minimum weight for F1 car set at 575 kg.

1981

Private entries of other makes of car disallowed. All teams entering any Formula One race must enter their own cars, but they are still allowed to purchase the engine and the gearbox from independent manufacturers. Flexible side skirts banned to reduce downforce created by ground effect, mandatory ground clearance of 6 cm required to limit ground effect further, Lotus twin chassis type 88 outlawed, pit lane minimum width set at 10 metres, survival cell extending to the front of the drivers feet introduced to improve driver survivability in the event of an accident, minimum weight of car set at 585 kg.

1982

Rotary engines, diesel engines, gas turbine engines and sarich orbital engines all banned as part of the Concorde Agreement, rigid skirts legalised and ride height restrictions removed as FIA admit that policing a ban is not possible whilst many teams are using hydraulic suspension systems to alter ride heights and circumvent the rules, minimum weight of car set at 580 kg.

1983

Ground effect outlawed completely for the beginning of the 1983 season. all cars return to a flat undertray, four wheel drive banned along with cars with more than four wheels, minimum weight set at 540 kg.

1984

In race refuelling outlawed, fuel tank required to be in centre of car, between driver and engine, maximum fuel capacity allowed on cars set at 220 litres per race to try and reduce the output of turbo engines, drivers required to have FIA super licence before they can compete in F1, concrete retaining walls permitted alongside guard rails.

1985

Rear-wing size limits set in place, catch fencing banned at the end of this season. All cars now subject to a frontal crash test to be deemed race worthy.

1986

Permanent FIA medical service inspector and medevac helicopter mandatory at race meetings, after needless death of Elio de Angelis in testing. All F1 test sessions to be completed under full race meeting safety conditions, engine capacity 1500 cc with compressor (i.e. normally aspirated engines prohibited), maximum fuel consumption reduced to 195 litres per race.

1987

Boost pressure capped at 4.0 bars to limit turbo power, minimum weight of cars set at 500 kg. Normally aspirated engines are permitted again, with a maximum capacity of 3500 cc and no fuel limit. Grid slots allocated 16 metres per car. FIA announce that from 1989 onwards turbos will be banned and to encourage teams to switch, two additional championships are introduced, which are open to non turbo teams only: the Jim Clark Cup for drivers, and the Colin Chapman Trophy for constructors. These one-off championships are won by Jonathan Palmer and by Tyrrell-Ford respectively.

1988

Boost pressure further reduced to a maximum of 2.5 bars to limit the power output of the turbo engines in their final year, maximum fuel consumption of turbo cars reduced to 155 litres per race. In any design the drivers feet must not extend beyond the front wheel axle, static crash test of survival cell and fuel cell mandatory, minimum weight of cars increased to 540 kg.

1989

Turbocharged engines banned completely, normally aspirated engines of 3500 cc in size and 8 to 12 cylinders the only engines permitted, fuel restrictions removed, all track side guard rails must be a minimum of 1 metre in height and the pit wall must be a minimum of 1 m 35 cm in height, all drivers subject to anti doping testing as per IOC guidelines.