Home - The Official Formula 1 Website Skip to content

Suspension and steering systems

Published with permission from the Federation Internationale de l' Automobile.

ARTICLE 10: SUSPENSION AND STEERING SYSTEMS
10.1 Sprung suspension:
10.1.1
Cars must be fitted with sprung suspension.
10.1.2 The suspension system must be so arranged that its response results only from changes in load applied to the wheels.
10.2 Suspension geometry:
10.2.1
With the steering wheel fixed, the position of each wheel centre and the orientation of its rotation axis must be completely and uniquely defined by a function of its principally vertical suspension travel, save only for the effects of reasonable compliance which does not intentionally provide further degrees of freedom.
10.2.2 Any powered device which is capable of altering the configuration or affecting the performance of any part of the suspension system is forbidden.
10.2.3 No adjustment may be made to the suspension system while the car is in motion.
10.3 Suspension members:
10.3.1
The cross-sections of each member of every suspension component must have an aspect ratio no greater than 3.5:1 and be symmetrical about its major axis. All suspension components may however have sections with an aspect ratio greater than 3.5:1, and be nonsymmetrical, provided these are adjacent to their inner and outer attachments and form no more than 25% of the total distance between the attachments of the relevant member.
All measurements will be made perpendicular to a line drawn between the inner and outer attachments of the relevant member.
10.3.2 No major axis of a cross section of a suspension member may subtend an angle greater than 5° to the reference plane when measured parallel to the centre line of the car.
10.3.3 Non-structural parts of suspension members are considered bodywork.
10.3.4 In order to help prevent a wheel becoming separated in the event of all suspension members connecting it to the car failing provision must be made to accommodate flexible cables, each with a cross sectional area greater than 110mm², the purpose of which is to connect each wheel/upright assembly to the main structure of the car. The cables and their attachments must also be designed in order to help prevent a wheel making contact with the driver's head during an accident.
Each cable must have its own separate attachment which:
- is able to withstand a tensile force of 70kN;
- is able to accommodate a cable end fitting with a minimum inside diameter of 15mm.
Each wheel may be fitted with one or two cables, dependent upon their performance when tested under FIA Test Procedure 03/07. If one cable is fitted it must exceed the requirements of 3.1.1 of Test Procedure 03/07 and if two are fitted each must exceed the requirements of 3.1.2.
Each cable must exceed 450mm in length and must utilise end fittings which result in a tether bend radius greater than 7.5mm.
10.4 Steering:
10.4.1
Any steering system which permits the re-alignment of more than two wheels is not permitted.
10.4.2 Power assisted steering systems may not be electronically controlled or electrically powered. No such system may carry out any function other than reduce the physical effort required to steer the car.
10.4.3 No part of the steering wheel or column, nor any part fitted to them, may be closer to the driver than a plane formed by the entire rear edge of the steering wheel rim. All parts fixed to the steering wheel must be fitted in such a way as to minimise the risk of injury in the event of a driver's head making contact with any part of the wheel assembly.
10.4.4 The steering wheel, steering column and steering rack assembly must pass an impact test, details of the test procedure may be found in Article 16.5.