FIA reveal F1 plans for 2021

After months of speculation, the heads of Formula 1 announced their revolutionary plans for the 2021 season. The changes were announced at a press conference in Austin ahead of the US Grand Prix.

Regulations changes include: technical, sporting and financial, ranging from the smallest parts on the car to the chassis.

Jean Todt, FIA President, said the announcement was: “a very special day for our sport” and continued to outline the goal: “the goal is to have a closer championship and more unpredictable [racing] on track.”

The new cars are designed to reduce the dirty air left in the wake of cars in front. F1 tests suggest that the changes reduce downforce by only 14% when following my one car length. This has a lot to do with the rear wing aiming air upwards as it passes over the car.

The FIA have decided to set a cost cap to shorten the gap between top and bottom teams. $175 million is the figure proposed by the governing body, with a few exceptions. Exempt from the cap are driver salaries, salaries of the top 3 executives and all marketing costs.

These changes are supported by McLaren Team Principal Andreas Seidl, speaking to Sky Sports he said: “we are really, absolutely convinced that this is the right step for Formula 1.” Teams like McLaren are supportive of the regulation change as it chips away at the oligopoly of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red-Bull, and allows them to push for race wins and maybe even championships.

Despite obvious confidence over the regulations, there was an air of caution. Ross Braun repeatedly saying that they are “good but not perfect.” It will be interesting to see how the cost cap will be policed and how regulation parts will be checked and enforced.