The FIA has decided: total ban on developing the single-seaters of the new regulatory cycle (2026) of F1 before January 1, 2025. Only from then on will it be possible to use the CFD and the wind tunnel for the new generation of single-seaters. It is one of the many decisions taken by the world council which was held in Baku a few days ago.
The first thing that comes to my mind is whether it is technically possible, especially if we are talking about computational calculations, in short that whole area linked to the use of computers to design the single-seater by simulating the variables in play to seek performance, to really enforce this prohibition.
Perhaps in the headquarters of the various stables, to which the owner has free access FIA, obviously the ban will be respected, but no one forbids us (sorry for the pun) from thinking that some technicians could have workstations at home with adequate software to carry on with the work. Why could the decision made be full of contraindications? I’ll try to explain it in a few places.
The heated duel between Sergio Perez (Oracle Red Bull Racing) and Carlos Sainz (Scuderia Ferrari) in the final stages of the 2023 Italian GP
F1: blocking development is a risk
First: risk of Red Bull dominance prolonged for two years. If all the teams have to divert the majority of their resources, due to the expense cap, on the new regulatory cycle, the 2025 single-seaters will be close relatives of the 2024 ones. And if the 2024 ones are conceptually wrong, it will be impossible for Red’s rival teams Bull bridge the technical gap.
Second (direct consequence of the first): ratings, attendance on the circuit. If for over 40 races we have a similar dominance to that of 2023, are we really sure that the show will benefit and, consequently, the audience? Of course not!
“Political” consideration. As you know, there is an ongoing conflict between the FIA and the FOM/F1 chaired by Domenicali. On the one hand the technical and regulatory body, on the other the financial/economic body that collects the TV rights and divides the cake. The clash can also be seen in these details. It is clear that achieving technical convergence would be beneficial for everyone: drivers, teams, F1 and spectators.
Let me be clear: this is not about saying that in Federation they must put in place rules to encourage technical convergence by punishing those who are better. But not even the exact opposite: that is, ballasting those who have worked less well by preventing them from improving.
Someone will tell me: so what McLaren? Yes, but perhaps it is not clear that we are talking about a time space of two seasons, and the first will inevitably block the second. Precisely because of eminently political choices. And it is clear that a choice of this type inevitably conflicts with the (often excessive) attempt to make everything spectacular on the part of Liberty Media.
It had already happened once that we had to essentially freeze the single-seaters. World Cup 2021. In full era Covidand with ground effect single-seaters upon us, it was decided to postpone their advent by a year, and therefore the teams necessarily used the 2020 single-seaters with some improvements.
But then it was a wise choice dictated by the global emergency. Now, however, it is an eminently political choice. Without even a very rational explanation. Unless, a far-fetched hypothesis, it was decided to place this ban also because in fact, the 2026 technical regulations are still at sea.
Carlos Sainz (Scuderia Ferrari) aboard the SF-23 – Fp2 – GP Abu Dhabi 2023
The only fixed points are linked to the fact that half of the total power supplied by the PU will have to be electric, with the disappearance of a motor generator. Everything else, including (active?) aerodynamics is still a source of discussion. Nice mess too, right?
Last side note showing how the Federation is often an elephantine bandwagon and therefore, like all hyper-bureaucratic structures, almost immobile. While the world runs. Go and see how the FIA World Council and how much F1 weighs (which in my opinion would need a separate deliberative council). I don’t want to take away the surprise… Don’t be too upset.
Author: Mariano Froldi – @MarianoFroldi
Images: F1, Scuderia Ferrari
2023-12-10 16:28:15
#development #ban #related #risks #Formula #Technical #Analysis
