New Formula 1 development regulations 'will be interesting' says Horner

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is not in favour if the new Formula 1 regulations surrounding aerodynamic developments.

The changes will see a baseline figure established for the amount of time a team can spend using a wind tunnel. Teams that perform worse across a season will be granted more time the following year, and teams performing more strongly will be granted less.

“We have a budget cap and now we also have this sliding scale on the ATR [aerodynamic testing restrictions],” Horner told The Race.

“Thankfully, while we weren’t able to get rid of it in its entirety, it has been adjusted so that it’s a linear line between first and 10th, rather than isolating the first three, and more time being available from fourth onwards."

For the 2021 season, the first campaign in which the regulations will play a part, the 2020 champions will only be permitted to use 90% of the baseline time figure, with this number rising by 2.5% per team with the team who finishes last in 2020 able to use 112.5%.

The initial impact of this regulation change is expected to be minimal, the difference between wind tunnel time being low owing to the fact that drastically new aerodynamic regulations will come into force for the 2022 season.

Therefore, in 2022, the changes will be larger, with the champion team limited to 70% of the base number, and 5% differences between teams gifting the bottom team 115% of the time.

Horner added: “It’s slightly perverse in that respect, but it does give more development time the further back down the order you are, which as we know in F1 has a significant impact.

“The budget levels, where they’re at now, there’s probably six teams that were operating beyond the [planned cap].

“That means that they should be able to maximise their activity within the cap and development.

“It will be interesting to see how it works.”

Before you go...

McLaren move a second chance for Ricciardo F1 success

British GP talks "heading in the right direction"

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Toto Wolff shares fresh concerns over Kimi Antonelli F1 mistakes after maiden win

• 23 minutes ago

Aston Martin and Adrian Newey set for F1 cost cap boost after FIA twist

• 1 hour ago

Max Verstappen told to speak to F1 rivals after causing storm over new 2026 rules

• 1 hour ago

F1 News Today: Adrian Newey to step down at Aston Martin as legend 'chooses' his own replacement

• 2 hours ago

Max Verstappen ally claims bad Red Bull start has triggered F1 champion's fury

• Yesterday 22:55

Lewis Hamilton out, Oscar Piastri's big mistake and a sliding doors F1 moment

• Yesterday 21:55