F1 2021 Regulation changes

[vaud]

BelfastBlack said:

Are the curfew rules new or is there already someone similar in existence? It made me think of all the times we hear that the mechanics are up all night getting a new car rebuilt after a FP/quali crash so they can go racing. For example, under the new rules would Bottas' crash last week have put him out of the race?

Since 2011, IIRC.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

The renderings of the cars look quite good, but those new large wheels with low profile tyres are going to take some getting used to. I think they look awful but I'm sure I'll get used to them.

[TheDeuce]

BelfastBlack said:

Are the curfew rules new or is there already someone similar in existence? It made me think of all the times we hear that the mechanics are up all night getting a new car rebuilt after a FP/quali crash so they can go racing. For example, under the new rules would Bottas' crash last week have put him out of the race?

As I understand it, it would have put him out. Unless I've missed something there isn't a third car option so I guess if you wreck it you're out..

[Krikkit]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

The renderings of the cars look quite good, but those new large wheels with low profile tyres are going to take some getting used to. I think they look awful but I'm sure I'll get used to them.

Some of the renders have the wheel covers with a bit more sidewall and a fake alloy design, maybe they'll go that route?

[markcoznottz]

ajprice said:

rdjohn said:

HustleRussell said:

25kg heavier at 768kg. Nearly as heavy as a Formula E car. Maximum wheel base of 3,600mm.

We seem to have moved from 650kg to 768kg in less than a decade.

Well, it is the age of obesity.

Some of that will be hybrid system motors and batteries. 18 inch wheels will weigh about 4kg each more than 13s, the halo is going to weigh at least 10kg. Other crash protection is going to be more than there was 10 years ago.

There's a maximum wheelbase of 3600mm, the current cars wheelbase are slightly over that, so the cars won't get any longer than they are now.

They couldn't get any longer really, seeing them trying to navigate the first corner at Mexico they are ungainly and like steering a barge. Couple that with huge outwash front wings and you have cars that seem to need a huge no go zone around them to avoid bits of wings flying off. DRS passes at the end of huge straights i.e. China are able to be cleanly executed, but chicanes are very risky now .

[mattikake]

ajprice said:

Announcement being made now at an F1 press conference, there's an official image out too

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/11841866/f...

Oooh!

Well I haven't done that since I was about 14...

I just hope it works as good as it looks.

[Some Guy]

Got to admit, that mock up does look sexy. Hope they end up looking like that.

[Evangelion]

Some Guy said:

Got to admit, that mock up does look sexy. Hope they end up looking like that.

Bet they don't. Teams will pile on as many ugly aerodynamic excrescences as they can get away with, just like now.

Edited by Evangelion on Wednesday 6th November 17:22

[tobinen]

I haven't seen it mentioned, but does Ferrari lose their veto with the new regs?

[M3ax]

I believe they will retain it but there will be a different process for them to use it.

[rdjohn]

It looks like Covid-19 has caused a sudden outbreak of common sense

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-teams-approv...

[budgie smuggler]

rdjohn said:

It looks like Covid-19 has caused a sudden outbreak of common sense

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-teams-approv...

article said:

As well as the budget cap, other rules forming part of the package included a radical aero development handicap system, where the worst performing teams are allowed more wind tunnel and CFD development time compared to the more successful outfits, plus the allowance for the use of open source parts.

Good idea, assuming the worst teams have the budget available to make use of it.

[anonymous-user]

budgie smuggler said:

rdjohn said:

It looks like Covid-19 has caused a sudden outbreak of common sense

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-teams-approv...

article said:

As well as the budget cap, other rules forming part of the package included a radical aero development handicap system, where the worst performing teams are allowed more wind tunnel and CFD development time compared to the more successful outfits, plus the allowance for the use of open source parts.

Good idea, assuming the worst teams have the budget available to make use of it.

Pointless meddling IMO. Some of the teams could have all the time in the world and they’d still not get it right.

Do you think the likes of Williams, Renault and RP will get close to eg Mercedes or RBR in terms of aero by just being given 25% more wind tunnel and computing time?

They still won’t have the facilities to match the big teams, or the people.

It’s OK being given longer to get somewhere but you still need to know where you’re going.

Time will tell.

[cuprabob]

budgie smuggler said:

rdjohn said:

It looks like Covid-19 has caused a sudden outbreak of common sense

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-teams-approv...

article said:

As well as the budget cap, other rules forming part of the package included a radical aero development handicap system, where the worst performing teams are allowed more wind tunnel and CFD development time compared to the more successful outfits, plus the allowance for the use of open source parts.

Good idea, assuming the worst teams have the budget available to make use of it.

Or could the big teams use this opportunity on their "B teams" to accelerate aero development for their "A teams"?

Edited by cuprabob on Saturday 23 May 12:48

[vaud]

cuprabob said:

Or could the big teams use this opportunity on their "B teams" to accelerate aero development forbtheir "A teams"?

I doubt it as the designs will still be different; one piece of aero doesn't translate to another car automatically.

[Fundoreen]

Any rule to hinder bigger teams is never simple. It seems to just be allow small team to work longer/spend more money they dont have.
The easiest option is ballast on the top teams but thats too simple for futuristic space age f1.

[TheDeuce]

It's another new idea that seems contrived enough to complicate the sport further yet not far reaching enough to actually help the struggling teams.

Really, how is 25% more aero dev time going to help the likes of Williams - whose problem is clearly that they don't have anything like a competitive budget for actual car development (because most of it goes on supporting the large operation they run). Williams were retiring cars early and avoiding the fastest lines in order to protect their limited supply of spare parts... How will extra time to refine experimental new wings etc help when they can't even run-off enough copies of their mk1 design?

The top teams giving 10% equivalent of their budget in to a pot to be split between the lower teams could have been a smarter - now THAT would be a neat self regulating system without the need for even budget caps!

[Clockwork Cupcake]

Fundoreen said:

The easiest option is ballast on the top teams but thats too simple for futuristic space age f1.

What's too simple is your analysis of the idea. Unless the cars are specifically designed for success ballast then it would serious affect the balance and handling cars if the ballast is just to be squeezed in wherever there is space in the current design (if, indeed, there is space).

Maybe in future regulations the cars can be designed around varying success ballast, although I can't say I really like the idea of homogenising the field.

[rdjohn]

budgie smuggler said:

Good idea, assuming the worst teams have the budget available to make use of it.

The object of the changes are to close up the field to make it look something like a race of 20 competitors. I doubt Williams will be threatening Mercedes and Ferrari, but they could be on the same lap at the end.

Having 25% more aero time in year-1 will make little difference, but over 5, or so, it could make a massive difference, especially when the big teams are shedding quality staff I to meet their budget cap.

The cap and standardised parts might bring Racing Point, Mercedes and Renault into play. The aero change will only give the others a gentle leg-up.

[Clockwork Cupcake]

TheDeuce said:

The top teams giving 10% equivalent of their budget in to a pot to be split between the lower teams could have been a smarter - now THAT would be a neat self regulating system without the need for even budget caps!

Hmmm. I rather like that idea.