The FIA has clarified its position on halo-mounted mirrors in Formula 1 after accepting the wording of the current rules is “not perfect”.
Formula 1 teams were informed in the wake of the Chinese Grand Prix that rear-view mirrors could be mounted onto the halo for better visibility, and Ferrari was the first team to introduce a revised approach in Spain.
However, it was deemed during the course of the weekend that the mirrors had been mounted in such a way for aerodynamic purposes, rather than for visibility, which contravenes the rules.
Formula 1 Race Director Charlie Whiting explained on Sunday that a Technical Directive would be sent out to clarify the situation, and that he did not expect to see the mirrors in such a way in Monaco.
“If we do we're probably going to see the stewards about it,” said Whiting. “The technical directive will make it clear.”
On Thursday, the FIA issued a lengthy statement to explain the situation and to ensure that there are no loopholes.
“The FIA would like to clarify its position with regard to rear view mirror mountings,” read the statement.
“Whilst the FIA accepts that teams will legitimately design the mirrors, housings and mountings to minimise any negative aerodynamic effects they may cause, we believe that any aerodynamic benefits should be incidental, or at least minimal. In order to ensure this is the case all mountings must:
a) Provide a meaningful structural contribution to the mounting system. If you use more than one mounting you may be asked to satisfy us, by way of a physical test, to demonstrate this.
b) Be mounted to the lower and/or inboard surface(s) of the mirror housing.
As the criteria for determining the eligibility of a mounting are to some extent subjective, the FIA would be available to discuss the legality of a new design before you introduce it in a race, to avoid wasting resource, time or money. For the sake of clarity, the various provisions made in TD/014-18 still apply for halo-mounted mirrors. The FIA expect to have full compliance with the present technical directive by the next race.
“The FIA do acknowledge that the rules currently in force with regard to mirrors are not perfect, and will strive to propose a more complete set of rules in terms of mirror position, mountings, visibility, etc. in the near future, with the aim to get a unanimous support for such changes for 2019.”
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