The Formula 1 teams are putting the finishing touches to their cars for 2021, debutants and relocated drivers show themselves for the first time at their new racing stable and the premier class comes back to life. Four important things to keep in mind for the new season.
1. The teams really can’t afford a mistake (1)
2021 is the last season with the current generation of cars. In 2022, the technical regulations will be overhauled. Anticipating that change will consume a lot of time from the teams in the coming season. That is why the car that takes to the track during the first race in Bahrain at the end of March should actually be right.
Ferrari had to pull out all the stops last season to make something of the SF1000. Max Verstappen’s Red Bull also faced a catch-up race, when in June in Austria it turned out that the Mercedes was much faster.
The racing stables cannot really have such a focus on the development of the current car next season. That is likely to be at the expense of the completely new car for 2022.
An animation of what Formula 1 should look like in 2022. A large part of the coming season will be devoted to the development of these new cars.
An animation of what Formula 1 should look like in 2022. A large part of the coming season will be devoted to the development of these new cars. Photo: Formula 1
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2. Cars are the same as last year, but not quite
The chance of a misstep is smaller than normal. All cars starting in Bahrain are roughly 60 percent the same as their 2020 predecessors. Yet Mercedes technical director James Allison said last week that the seemingly minor changes to the regulations should not be underestimated.
Because the downward force was mainly taken off the cars, they are back to the speed level of 2019. The question now is which teams have succeeded best in achieving that. downforce win back in another way.
The technicians have limited space to improve the cars, although a lot is still possible in the aerodynamic area – within the rules. In theory, for example, new wings may be screwed onto the cars every race.
More fundamental matters, such as the front wheel and rear suspension, can be changed to a limited extent this winter. The FIA uses a token system for this. Teams therefore also have to make choices.
3. The teams really can’t afford a slip (2)
Ferrari experienced a dramatic season because the engine was badly disappointed. During the year, nothing could be done about this in Maranello, because engine development was frozen. The engine may not be developed next season either. In short: this winter is the only chance for the engine builders to improve their power source.
Ferrari will – of course – come with a new engine and Honda will do the same for the last contract year with Red Bull. But if in Bahrain it turns out that the Mercedes engine is still by far the best, that’s a shame for the competition.
They can only do something about it next winter. So it also applies to the engine that it should be right in one go.
Ferrari cannot afford a miss like in 2020 and worked on a new engine all year round.
Ferrari cannot afford a miss like in 2020 and worked on a new engine all year round.
Photo: ANP
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4. Expenditure and development have been restricted
In 2021, the budget limit of 145 million dollars (120 million euros) will also come into effect, which only applies to spending on performance of the car. It does mean that a large portion of the expenditure on the all-new car by 2022 is already under this limit. The hope is that this will make the sport more accessible and that the field will come closer together in terms of performance.
In addition, the best performing teams of 2020 will be allowed to spend less time on development. In 2021, Mercedes will only be allowed to do an aerodynamic test in the wind tunnel 36 times a week, which is almost half of what the racing stable did in 2020.
Williams who finished last last year is allowed to do 45 tests per week. Ferrari finished sixth in 2020 and can therefore now enter the wind tunnel more often than Mercedes and Red Bull. Every disadvantage has it’s advantage. Again, the teams have to choose how much time they spend on this season’s car and how much on the 2022 car.
The pre-season test days will be held in Bahrain on 12, 13 and 14 March. The opening race of 2021 will also be held on the same circuit on March 28.
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