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[Jabberwocky]

I was just reading the sporting regulations on the FIA website, and I think there is more to Gearbox restrictions than you first think. Gear Ratios change is classed as a gearbox change. So that means that teams have to compromise the gear ratios for consecutive 4 races.

So here is an example of something that might happen. I'll use Monaco as an example as it the most extreme case in point. everyone changes gearbox cycle changes the race for Monaco. So all the teams have a shorter gearbox to accomerdate this. During the Monaco weekend a drivers box dies. so for the next race 4 events he now has to use another gear box, which would not have such a short ratio so for the next 3 races he would have an advantage.


http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.ns ... 2-2008.pdf

[McLaren Fan]

Is the following the section you read?

28.6 For the purposes of this Article only, an Event will be deemed to comprise P3, the qualifying practice
session and the race.
a) Each driver may use no more than one gearbox for four consecutive Events in which his team
competes. Should a driver use a replacement gearbox he will drop five places on the starting grid at
that Event and an additional five places each time a further gearbox is used.
Any replacement gearbox must be fitted with the same gear ratios that were declared under d) below
and will only be required to complete the remainder of the Event in question. Any change to the gear
ratios declared under d) below will incur a further five grid place penalty. In either case a new four
race sequence may start at the following Event.
2009 F1 Sporting Regulations 14 of 40 12th December 2008
Unless the driver fails to finish the race (see below) the gearbox fitted to the car at the end of the
Event must remain in it for three further Events. Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first,
second or third of the four Events for reasons which the technical delegate accepts as being beyond
the control of the team or driver, may start the following Event with a different gearbox without a
penalty being incurred.
A gearbox will be deemed to have been used once the car’s timing transponder has shown that it has
left the pit lane.
b) If a driver is replaced after the first, second or third of a four Event period, having finished the first,
second or third Events, the replacement driver must use the gearbox which the original driver had
been using.
c) After consultation with the relevant team the FIA will attach seals to each gearbox in order to ensure
that no moving parts, other than those specifically permitted under d) below, can be rebuilt or
replaced.
d) At each Event seals may be broken once, under supervision and at any time prior to the second day
of practice, for the sole purpose of changing gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or
reduction gears). Competitors must inform the FIA technical delegate which ratios they intend to fit no
later than two hours after the end of P2.
Gear ratios and dog rings (excluding final drives or reduction gears) may also be changed under
supervision for others of identical specification at any time during an Event provided the FIA technical
delegate is satisfied there is evident physical damage to the parts in question and that such changes
are not being carried out on a systematic basis.
e) Other than under d) above, a replacement gearbox will also be deemed to have been used if any of
the FIA seals are damaged or removed from the original gearbox after it has been used for the first
time.