2019 F1 rules – Minimum driver weight; More room for race car sponsors

Driver weight mandated and more sponsorship areas on the cars in 2019

Below are two changes set to come to F1 for the 2019 racing season.

F1 minimum driver weight

The minimum driver weight in F1 has been set at 80kg (176 lbs). That weight includes the driver, the seat and the weight ballast under the seat.

A minimum driver weight hasn’t been in place in F1. In the eyes of the designers, the smaller the better, when it comes to F1 drivers.

With the added weight to the seat, the overall car weight will increase as well. The total minimum weight of the car and driver is now set at 740kg (1631 lbs).

Lewis Hamilton crowdsurfing
Lewis Hamilton crowdsurfing

“It’s been a common topic over many years, actually, it’s not a fresh point,” Williams technical chief Paddy Lowe told Motorsport.com.

“If you go back, many years, actually, the driver weight was not in the car weight at all. And then it became added somewhere in the mid-90s to the total weight.”

“But it’s still left, as some perceive – including many of the drivers – a problem around their management of weight, sometimes that can affect them personally in quite a big way.”

“I think particularly with younger drivers it can even lead to health problems, because of this constant drive to lower the weight, to possibly unhealthy levels.”

“Personally I think it’d be a good thing for the sport, something that many drivers have been asking for for many years, to take that element away, within reason.”

2019 F1 sponsorship placements

With the upcoming 2018 season, the shark fins have been removed. More importantly, the large surface area for sponsor logos has disappeared along with it.

Weights aren’t the only thing to change for the 2019 F1 season. Additionally, teams will be gifted with more room for sponsorship logos on their high dollar, fast moving billboards.

The teams met last week to come up with some solutions. Mutually, they agreed to help themselves.

Williams F1 Team - F1 Bargeboards
Williams F1 Team – F1 Bargeboards

Bargeboards: On the 2019 chassis, new rules will mandate that the bargeboards become smaller. The smaller pieces will allow for more visibility of the sides of the cockpit. Which is one of the primary locations for advertising placements.

F1 Rear Wing endplates
F1 Rear Wing endplates – Red Bull Racing

Rear Wing: Rear wing endplates have also been updated. For all teams, there must be a solid piece at the top. No aerodynamic slots will be allowed in that area. This will also allow for a better view of sponsorship logos.

Links

Williams F1 Team | F1

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