With a view to reducing porpoising, safeguarding driver health, but also generally improving the new 2022 aero regulations, the FIA has asked teams to test potential CFD solutions for 2023.
Reducing porpoising, while preserving the achievements of the regulations (i.e. the ease for F1 cars to follow each other), the equation is perhaps not so simple because it includes the ground effect in the balance.
At Mercedes, is Mike Elliott frustrated to see that this new regulation, which does not benefit Mercedes at all, would also be deemed imperfect?
“I don’t think it’s frustration. When you look at the position we’re in, the riders say it’s uncomfortable. It’s not safe for them to drive the cars, when there’s a lot of twists and turns. And sport has to deal with that and sport has to adapt and change accordingly. The difficulty is that these cars were designed around ground effect, they were designed to try to improve overtaking. »
“The question is whether we can retain some of this effect and avoid rebounds. The devil is in the details and it will be up to the aerodynamicists of the different teams to try to work out, together with the FIA, how to change the rules in the right direction, but getting the teams to agree will also be a challenge. »
The first change to come into force will not wait until 2023; but will be present from the French Grand Prix.
Rather than a sign of failure, Andreas Seidl, the director of the McLaren team in F1, is delighted with the process of communication with the FIA, after a few misses in Montreal.
“From my point of view, what I have been very happy with in the last two weeks after all the emotions in the Montreal paddock is that we have had a good process in place for the last two weeks, led by the FIA. , we had a technical advisory committee where the experts came together and discussed the way forward under the clear guidance of the FIA, which was important. They made it clear that for security reasons they will be implementing changes and a technical directive, but I was very happy that every team was able to contribute and can still contribute to this directive which comes into effect from the France. »
“And at the same time, regarding the direction to take for the next year, it’s the right process. That’s what I would like to see too. Formula 1 works and I’m pretty happy with it. »
Too late to change the rules according to Christian Horner
Günther Steiner reveals a disagreement in this famous technical group: some teams (Red Bull, one might think) do not want to change the rules, others do.
“In the technical advisory group there was talk of changing the rules, which the majority of the team don’t want to do. They are trying to find a solution without drastically changing the rules. Because if you change the rules in July, it’s a bit late, so I don’t think that’s the right way to go. »
“Obviously, if there are security issues, we have to address them. I completely agree with this point, which we are currently working on. And as we said before, in France, there will be work, to see where we are with these things. »
“But we are against a drastic change in the rules or something like that, because it’s quite late in the year. And, of course, on the other hand, you could say that some people have already worked on the new rules, which are proposed, and then they will be ahead. So we have to be careful not to do the wrong thing. And I’m sure the FIA will look into this issue and listen to everyone. »
Like Günther Steiner, Otmar Szafnauer for Alpine believes that it is already almost too late to change the rules for next year.
“For me, it’s always better to have a vision of the rules from the start and not change them during the season. That said, there has been a precedent: if it’s a safety issue, then the FIA makes changes. But I’m always in favor of knowing the rules well in advance and letting everyone find their own solution. So the sooner we know, the better. »
Unsurprisingly, Christian Horner for Red Bull is against any rule changes during the year. He also brandishes the argument of capped budgets.
“Yes, it is too late to introduce changes for next year. We have governance for that, and the costs involved are so great that…sometimes the unintended consequences of changing complete philosophies are such that it will affect what you transpose your car to next year, it will affect your design and development . »
“And the most important thing and the way to get a stable cost, budget stability. The cars will converge; you can already see that the cars certainly look… some look more familiar. This is going to continue for the next six to nine months, so the most important thing is not to mess up, just let it happen and the teams will be fine. »