McLaren boss Zak Brown says he is not expecting any one team to hold a sizeable advantage when new regulations are introduced in Formula 1.
Formula 1 will this year introduce overhauled technical regulations, designed at enhancing the racing and producing a more level playing field, with senior figures having worked on the rules for several years.
In previous regulatory resets a team has gained a competitive advantage, most notably in 2014, when Mercedes mastered the new turbo hybrid power units.
But Brown does not expect such a repeat – even if one team does find a minor advantage.
“I’d be very surprised if next year was a boring campaign with the new cars,” he said.
“I think we’ll get some winners and losers, some surprises. I’d be surprised if there was dominance.
“You could get a team that is maybe dominant for a small period of time like Brawn was when they figured out something in 2009.
“But I think with the cost cap in place, you can feel the tension that’s put on the teams of, when you stop developing the car at the expense of [2022].”
Brown is optimistic that the framework in place means several teams can fight for the title all the way through to the end of the season in November.
“I’d be surprised if the field didn’t continue to get closer,” he said.
“My hopes are we go to Abu Dhabi with 3-4 cars that compete for the championship, I think that’s the ultimate goal.
“I think the year’s been spectacular up and down the grid and I hope what’s been put in place with the new car designs, new aero package, that what we’ve seen now is just a taste of the future.”
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