Formula 1 proposes two mandatory pitstops for 2014

[Hornet]

The best way to encourage more pit stop is still allow refueling. We can do away with all the artificial rules and fragile tires, teams will use the pit stop just because it's the faster way.

But sadly that's not going to happen with the fuel limit thing.

[Kingdom Hearts]

If the tyres are rocks to the point that 1 stop races are possible, I agree with this. I have the feeling that next season will be manipulated again because the tyres. They need to pick the rules before the first race and stickwith them.

[Ken]

If the tyres are rocks to the point that 1 stop races are possible, I agree with this. I have the feeling that next season will be manipulated again because the tyres. They need to pick the rules before the first race and stickwith them.

Agreed. Plus all teams get to test the new tyres not just the chosen few

[Lucky Dodo]

It would make the tyre Management less important, So it is good.

and

Getting heat to the Tyres would be crucial as usual. Hope it is solved for Ferrari.

You do realize that 2014 Ferrari will have the 2 best drivers on tire management, and you apploud lessening their value on that? :)

[NickEice]

What happens with the 50/30 rule if we have a Spain/Malaysia type 4 stop race and the prime can't make half distance?

I hate adding anything artificial to the racing. Pirelli should have the data needed to make tires with equal incremental steps between compounds to ensure they can supply a 2 or 3 stop race for strategy at each circuit. Tires that do not grain, or blow up or need to be driven off the pace to make them last more than 2/3 a lap. It just seems that we need to have more of these tire tests so that Pirelli can produce a good product. Everyone is guessing what next year's cars will be like. How does Pirelli make a tire suited to that car? We need more testing!!

[Rob]

Formula 1 teams reject proposal to enforce two pit stops

By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Formula 1 teams have rejected a proposal to force drivers to make at least two pit stops in each grand prix. The idea was put forward as a way of preventing a repeat of 2013's tyre problems amid uncertainty about car performance following rule changes. But the proposal received no support from the teams at Monday's meeting of F1's rules strategy group.

An attempt to raise the minimum weight limit to prevent taller drivers being unfairly penalised was also rejected.
Play media series of other rule changes were approved and announced by the strategy group and FIA, however. Double points will now be on offer for the final race of the season to heighten interest in the championship finale from 2014, while the idea of a cap on teams' budgets from 2015 was also approved.

The plan to introduce a minimum of two pit stops for tyres was hatched at a meeting between FIA president Jean Todt, F1 commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone and tyre supplier Pirelli at November's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Pirelli made it clear it could not afford, in terms of public relations, a repeat of the multiple tyre failures seen in 2013.
These reached their nadir at the British Grand Prix, when six major failures during the race forced Pirelli to change the design of the tyres for the rest of the season.

But the plan for two mandatory pit stops met with severe resistance from the teams, who felt interfering in the race strategies they could run to such an extent would be unnecessarily artificial and risk most races being almost identical in their format. Pirelli has been granted an extra test this winter to conduct further evaluation in an attempt to ensure it does not run into problems in 2014. This will take place in Bahrain from 15-17 December, using 2013 cars from Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Force India and Toro Rosso.

The decision by the Formula 1 teams to reject plans to force them to make at least two pit stops in a grand prix will be met with relief by both the sport's insiders and fans. It was cooked up between tyre supplier Pirelli and F1 bosses Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt at a meeting in Abu Dhabi in November, in response to Pirelli's desire to avoid the public relations disasters of 2013. Pirelli understandably wanted to do everything it could to avoid that happening again, but others felt that imposing two pit stops on the teams was, however well meaning, fiddling with the format of races in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. One senior figure went as far as to say privately he thought it was a "completely rubbish" idea. Except he used ruder words than that. As one insider put it, if there are problems because the cars make more demands of the tyres than expected, "Pirelli can always change the tyres, can't they?"

Pirelli's concerns are rooted in its belief that the new 1.6-litre turbo engines that will be introduced next season will be much more demanding of tyres because they generate significantly greater torque than the 2.4-litre V8s used in F1 from 2006-13.
Meanwhile, governing body the FIA had wanted to raise the weight limit by 10kg to prevent heavier drivers being unfairly penalised.
The idea was rejected by Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus - three of the six teams on the strategy group, which also comprises Todt and Ecclestone. The other teams are McLaren, Williams and Red Bull.

The minimum weight limit has already been raised from 642kg for the driver and car together to 690kg for next year to take into account the fact that the engines will be heavier as a result of the switch to 1.6-litre turbos with extensive energy recovery systems.
But the engines are turning out to be heavier than anticipated and teams are still struggling to meet the minimum weight limit as a result.
So having a taller - and therefore heavier - driver can put a team at a disadvantage because it means his car is likely to be over the weight limit.
The issue matters because 1kg of weight equates to about 0.035secs a lap on an average circuit.

That means a smaller driver such as Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who weighs 68kg, is at an advantage over a taller one such as Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, who weighs nearly 80kg, to the tune of 0.42secs a lap if the team cannot reduce the car by the amount of their weight difference.
And even if they can, the taller driver is at a disadvantage because his weight is higher up in the car, which also affects performance.
The weight limit is likely to be raised for 2015, but because of the short time before the start of the 2014 season in Australia on 16 March, unanimous agreement is needed for the rules to be changed for next year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25310485