Formula 1 chiefs believe that the new-for-2021 regulations will result in cars lapping around 3-3.5 seconds slower than their current speeds.
Formula 1 published its long-awaited sporting, technical and financial regulations for 2021 on Thursday, aimed at addressing several key issues in order to improve the sport.
One fundamental aspect is a revision of aerodynamic regulations in order to enhance the quantity and quality of the racing, ensuring that drivers can follow each other for sustained periods.
During a press conference at the Circuit of Americas it was revealed that technical chiefs hope a 2021 car will lose just 14 per cent of its aero performance – at one car length behind – compared to 45 per cent at present.
“We are expecting cars to be approximately between three and three-and-a-half seconds slower per lap,” said FIA technical guru Nikolas Tombazis.
“We don’t think that is the key parameter of the spectacle, we think the raceability is the main target.
Formula 1’s Managing Director of Motorsports Ross Brawn was quick to point out that it will merely mean a return to 2016-level speeds, reckoning F1 got it wrong with its 2017 overhaul.
“Just to put that into perspective, that’s the performance of a 2016 car,” Brawn said.
“These cars from 2016 to 2017 had a huge increase in downforce.
“It’s worth thinking back on that experience because it was done for reasons I don’t understand.
"The huge increase of downforce was [with the idea of] ‘Let’s make the cars go faster [and] that must make Formula 1 better.’ All we’ve done is we’ve actually made it worse because the cars can’t race each other.
“It’s an example of an un-thought-through programme. So the cars are very quick now but they’re not raceable.
“The reality is the performance of the new cars is going to be about where we were in 2016, and I don’t think anyone was ever complaining about the cars being slow.”
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