Mandatory Weight Ratio for F1 Cars in 2011

F-Duct will be banned, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) will return, the minimum weight of an F1 car will be 640kg, 107 qualifying rule will again apply and adjustable bodywork may be permitted in the world of Formula One next season. That much we know. However, another interesting element might make its way into the 2011 technical book, although yet to be confirmed by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, it seems the F1 teams have agreed to introduce a mandatory weight distribution ratio in 2011. It seems the front-to-rear ratio must be 46:54 percent, and the move was triggered by the fact that the series' sole tire supplier will no longer be Bridgestone, but Pirelli.

Consequently, the teams want to avoid situations such as the ones created in 2009, when the Japanese tire maker changed its tires throughout the pre-season period and some of the cars were left with poor weight distribution ratios. This triggered some massive investments from the teams in order to fix the problem.

“If the weight distribution remained free, then some would get it right by accident while others get it totally wrong. That's what we want to avoid,” argued the technical boss of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), Ross Brawn.

However, the new rule is yet to be made official by the FIA. If the members of the FOTA will unanimously agree to this rule – and we don't see why that shouldn't happen, as all outfits will start as equal – it will most likely be voted by the World Motor Sport Council at their next meeting.