Formula 1 and the FIA's World Motor Sport Council have voted in favour of introducing certain aerodynamic changes for the 2019 season, with the aim of boosting overtaking.
Teams were initially presented with the changes at the Bahrain Grand Prix in April, but ultimately rejected the proposals. This caused a headache for F1 bosses to try and push through the proposals ahead of the April 30 deadline, after which would have required the unanimous agreement from all 10 teams.
The changes made to the 2019 regulations include a more simplified front-wing with a larger span and low outwash potential, simplified front-brake ducts with no winglets and a wider and deeper rear-wing which will likely increase the slot for the Drag Reduction System (DRS) and therefore further reduce the drag.
These solutions came from a team led by F1's Chief Technical Officer of Motorsports Pat Symonds, which included input from the teams themselves, and are therefore separate to the ongoing work being undertaken by Ross Brawn and his team in regard to defining the sport's regulations for 2021 and beyond.
The idea behind an 'inwash' front-wing is to try and minimise the air which flows from the front-wing around the front tyres as the current wings disturb the air heavily after being utilised by the cars other aerodynamic devices.
This in turn leaves a very large wake of disturbed air for the car behind which cannot therefore utilise the air in the same fashion, causing understeer and potentially heavier tyre wear which is where the drivers have often complained about how hard it is to follow another car.
The FIA also hinted at further changes prior to 2021, adding "the FIA is continuing to evaluate a range of other measures aimed at encouraging closer racing and boosting overtaking in F1," though it's not clear what these might be.
The news was welcomed by Grand Prix Drivers' Association chairman Alex Wurz: "This is a success for F1 and the GPDA! The drivers' body has been lobbing this direction since years! Thanks Ross (Brawn) and co for listening and getting this moving!"
Discussion about this post