18 July 2019, by:  Carl Lewis

FORMULA 1 TO BRING BACK ‘WOW’ FACTOR WITH 4 BIG CHANGES

The FIA and Formula 1 have a groundbreaking vision for the sport in 2021. They are looking at various regulations designed to fundamentally reshape the make-up of Formula 1.

So ahead of their new proposed revealing at the end of October 2019, Ross Brawn and Pat Symonds – Formula 1’s Managing Director of Motorsports and Chief Technical Officer respectively – along with Nicholas Tombazis, the FIA’s Head of Single Seater Technical Matters, touched the four key pillars of the proposed new regulations and what they mean in a practical sense.

The aerodynamic regulations instituted in 2019 were designed to try to remedy the problems caused by the 2017 rule changes, which saw cars’ complicated aerodynamic designs reduce downforce for the following car by an estimated 50%.

But according to Tombazis, any improvements achieved in 2019 are nothing compared to what we’ll see in two years when ‘ground effect’ (downforce produced by the shaped underside of cars) will play a much bigger role in the generation of downforce.

But this change has further knock-on effects too, they can compound tyre erosion on the following cars’ tyres. Ths, tyres will also change in 2021, as Formula 1 shifts from 13-inch to 18-inch rubber.

With this in mind, Pirelli have been asked not to produce Le Mans type tyres which are durable because pit stops remains an important feature of Formula 1. It’s also been proposed that tyre blankets be outlawed for 2021.

Formula 1 remains popular but the sport has suffered from a lack of genuine competition. This is a huge issue for Formula 1 who want to see the gaps between cars tighten up significantly in 2021. Brawn was frank about the state of Formula competition:

“We have three teams that can win races at the moment, that’s all. Over the next couple of years, Formula 1 will be on a much better path… where a really good, moderately-funded team, can cause a lot of trouble. That’s what we want. If you get a Charles Leclerc or a Max Verstappen in a midfield team, it can make a difference. It won’t matter at the moment.”

They are looking to remove some driver aids on the cars as well as a reduction of car-to-pit telemetry is being investigated. It’s also been proposed that a driver has a much more salient role in managing car issues like overheating and tyre wear during the race, instead of having his team principal/race engineers instruct them through the problems encountered.

Formula 1 wants its cars to be sexy! Making the 2021 car worthy of a place in a fan’s bedroom is now just as important as its speed, Tombazis explains:

“We do aim for the final product to be aesthetically pleasing. To be a car that promotes a certain amount of passion and a certain ‘wow factor’, so we want that to be part of the new Formula 1.”

The FIA and Formula 1, with input from fans, will work with an automotive stylist to interpret key design characteristics on the car into the actual technical regulations.

Along with the cars, the nature of of circuits/tracks of F1 will be examined. The new race on the calendar, in Vietnam, will be the first test of “a new philosophy of where we should take Formula 1,” according to Brawn.

The FIA and Formula 1 are looking to impose budget caps and tighter financial regulations for 2021. Added to this, they want teams to go racing for less money, with several potential cost-reducing details identified.

They include:

• Standardised wheel rims

• A standardised brake system

• A ban on hydraulic suspension systems

• A restriction on the use of certain exotic materials

• Standardised radiators

• A frozen specification of gearbox parameters

• Standardised pit equipment for all teams

It’s been suggested that that drivers’ wages and the wages of a small number of key team personnel wouldn’t be included in the cost control.

However, marketing activities will not be restricted under the proposed cost control measures.