[Scuderia_Turini]

Anyone vaguely interested in F1 knows that new rules are planned for season 2021. Today the rules were published and presented. The link below provides the presentation that was live-streamed on YouTube. Its pretty dry stuff but you can skip to the Q&A session after 1 hour and 3 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bIUZPNyuPc

Leo

[JasonB]

Thanks Leo, I'll check that out later on.

I have to say I have some concerns about what I've read so far.

[woodcote]

Haven't watched the full video, but did read some summaries on the BBC and AutoSport websites. The mock-up 2021 car saw my eyebrows rise... in a good way

   

The key things I got out of what I read were

• 1.6l V6 Turbo hybrid engines to stay
  
• Budget cap of $175m per year with sporting penalties for overspending
  
• Pirelli tyres to be less heat-sensitive so drivers can push harder
  
• Major aerodynamic changes to increase downforce of following car
  

The top teams have opposed the rule change, but Ferrari released this in a statement today: "What has been voted is a good starting point. We'll work together to improve them even further."

The aero package focuses on diffusers to create under-car downforce. It is claimed by the FIA that "in 2019 a car following within one car length of another retained only 55% of its total downforce, in 2021 that number should be 86%. At three car lengths, in 2019 it is 68% and in 2021 95%". Some experts believe the changes will cause problems for front-end grip when following a car. Obviously there's more work to be done.

If the regulations create a situation where 'dirty air' issues are minimised, I'd be all for it. Especially if means DRS might be binned - never been a fan of that.

[GregK]

Looks a bit like one of those EF sewing machines ............

[JasonB]

That car does look fabulous.

I think there are some good ideas in the new regs...

• The hybrid engines are really efficient so sticking with them seems sensible
  
• The budget cap, yes, though there are quite a few areas excluded.
  
• The aero package, moving the emphasis to the rear diffuser in the hopes of moving the dirty air upwards, out of the way of the cars behind sounds good.
  

However, the Tyres are a continiuing concern. Pirelli were asked to provide rubber that couldn't last a whole race, but what they provided were tyres that couldn't be raced hard.

More importantly, I worry that F1 might be heading towards standardised parts, and ridiculously restrictive bodywork restrictions.

Almost every other racing series in the world has a way to standardise everything and make the racing "better".

But for me that's not true racing, it's handicap racing. Nothing wrong with that, but for me F1 should not be going down that road.

I've watched F1 for so long now, I've watched the dominant teams smash the smaller teams, I've seen the dodgy politics play out, I've seen the money involved, and I know it's a harsh, cruel business.

But I love all of that.

Can't we just let one motorsport series stand as it has always been, unfair, unequal, unremittingly cruel, and completely merciless?

[CMOTD]

"The cars will have less downforce than this year and will be about 25kg heavier, and they are expected to be about three seconds a lap slower."

[Scuderia_Turini]

... But I love all of that.

Can't we just let one motorsport series stand as it has always been, unfair, unequal, unremittingly cruel, and completely merciless?

Agreed - F1 needs to be out-and-out competition to keep my interest. F3 cars that just have more powerful engines and larger tyres don't attract me.
I was encouraged by Chase Carey's response to a question about making it easier for new teams to get onboard - he said that their priority was drivability and quality rather than quantity.

However, I personally think that F1 is dinosauric and heading for extinction on several levels - cost, relevance, environment, brand-dilution and access.

Leo

[dvd3500]

I can see both sides.
Maybe a compromise is best. Formula E is interesting because the power train is about all they are allowed to modify.

One could argue the speeds they race at (currently) don't warrant a lot of aero but to my knowledge there is no cap and every race is still a crap shoot.

I do agree though the late 60's and 70's where crazy things were being tried out were very exciting...

The difference though is back then they pulled the thing together and more or less tested at the race.
There were not mullions of dollars and thousands of hours spent testing in advance...