Formula One could be set for a major shake-up in 2013 as the governing body is looking to introduce radical changes.
Not only will the new engine formula change the face of the sport with the introduction of ‘green’ 1.6 litre turbo engines, but the BBC reports that bosses will look to increase the spectacle and efficieny further.
A meeting of FOTA’s Technical Working Group (TWG) in January will review new technical regulations drawn up by Patrick Head and Rory Byrne – both respected engineers.
The TWG is made up of engineers from all of the teams on the grid. They will analyse the new regulations and suggest changes before the final results are handed over to the FIA for ratification.
Among the expected changes are:
– Much smaller front and rear-wings;
– The return of ground-effect which will use the underfloor of the car to produce aerodynamical grip, rather than the wings;
– Total downforce reduced making the cars harder to drive, but easier to overtake;
– The average proportion of a lap spent on full-throttle will be cut. It currently stands at around 70% in 2010, but it will be reduced to 50% in 2013;
– Tyres will remain chunky and could even be increased in width to ensure cornering speeds remain high.
Overall, these effects will slow the car down by an average of five seconds per lap, however, the changes are expected to improve the ‘spectacle’ and produce much more passing whilst reducing costs.
Talking to the BBC, Head explained he and Byrne were given a figure to work to and, the document which the two have been working on since March, is the result of that figure.
“We are only going to have roughly 65% of the amount of fuel and a [limited] fuel [flow] rate – that was a given,” he said.
“We were just told ‘That’s what it will be, you’ve got to come up with a car spec that is not going to be more than five seconds a lap slower than a current F1 car’.
“So some circuit simulation was done by Rory at Ferrari and when we’d come up with some numbers in terms of drag and downforce it was then to try to come up with a geometry of a car that could try to achieve that.”
These could be the biggest changes to the sport since 1983.
