Formula 1 and the FIA are sticking by their plans to introduce new technical regulations in 2022, having resisted a bid by some teams to delay them further.
The new rules, which were originally due for introduction next year, are intended to drastically change the design of F1 cars in order to promote closer racing and more overtaking. They have already been delayed by one year due to the disruption and financial problems caused by the global pandemic.The possibility of pushing the new rules further back was raised during a video conference between the teams and F1 representatives yesterday. RaceFans understands the idea received short shrift from the powers-that-be, though they left the door open to review the proposal later in the year in the event of prolonged disruption to the calendar.
F1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media are understood to be reluctant to further delay the new technical rules, which are the brainchild of motorsport director Ross Brawn. They have been under development since it took over the sport in 2017, and are a key part of its plan to attract new viewers to the sport by improving the spectacle.
Some teams also oppose a further delay to the new technical regulations as they fear it would create the possibility for further changes to the rulebook. That would risk rendering obsolete development work they have already committed resources to.
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ColdFly (@)
7th April 2020, 16:54
As Ross’ people have done loads of work designing and aero testing the 2021/2 car, maybe FOM can provide the designs and drawings to all teams*.
Low budget teams can start with that and adjust as far as their budget allows them to go.
The big teams can start from scratch if they want to.
* of course they should leave a small part blank to make sure each car is still its own IP/design.
socksolid (@socksolid)
7th April 2020, 17:56
I doubt Ross’ people have designed much anything apart from the outer shape and the aero surfaces for their models. I’m sure all the teams have already done a lot more than that already. But it takes a lot more than that to make f1 car.
Phylyp (@phylyp)
7th April 2020, 20:43
@coldfly – I like the idea. It provides a common starting point, and ensures that there isn’t an unlucky team that stumbles badly in aero and turns up for 2022 testing with a car two or more seconds off the pace.
I know it sounds like the start of a spec series, but I’m sure no team will just use the baseline design as is, they will try to evolve that design at least in some small manner to try and steal a march on their competitors, not to mention adhering to PU packaging requirements and constraints. As long as they aren’t too ambitious and mess something up in this process, they should be fine (and if they do mess up, they can always revert back towards – but not to – the proven baseline).
Teams will still have a challenge in sorting out the suspension, as the change in wheel size will have a significant impact on the dynamics of the car. So reducing some of the other variables in designing the car sounds like a good idea.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
7th April 2020, 22:01
…that is not f1.
Aleš Norský (@gpfacts)
7th April 2020, 23:40
Maybe they should have gone the other way by giving up on this year and letting the teams prepare the new cars for 2021 full steam ahead.
GT Racer (@gt-racer)
8th April 2020, 0:16
@gpfacts Getting new cars ready for 2021 wouldn’t be possible due to countries been on lockdown & likely to be in some form of lockdown for another month or 2.
Additionally remember that the only reason some teams have people in the factories right now are because they are helping health services by building things like ventilators & most teams couldn’t easily do that on top of building a whole new car. They you also have the supply train been affected by the lockdowns as well as been focused on supporting the health services so that wouldn’t be geared up to get totally new cars ready either.
Usually the next year designs are well under way by now & they tend to start production by August/September. And that’s when going for more of an evolutionary design with a more stable ruleset. The planned 2021 regulation changes were so big that teams will likely want to start things earlier than normal, That point has already passed to be ready for 2021, Especially given how nobody is currently able to really do anything.
Finally also consider how much was spent on the 2020 cars which so far have only done 6 days of testing. Would be a complete waste of teams time/money to never race them or only run them for a partial season. Above anything else at this point sticking with the 2020 cars for 2021 makes the most sense & is the only viable option to ensure all the teams are not only ready but also somewhat financially stable.
Been perfectly honest they may not want to postpone the changes another year to 2023 but they will very likely be forced to because I don’t see how half the grid are going to be ready even for 2022 given the financial impact alone & i’m not sure anything F1 will try & do to help that next year will be enough given just how bad things are likely going to be for at least half the grid.