Formula 1 cars will be slower in 2021 - Green
Formula 1 cars will be slower in 2021 - Green
Racing Point technical director Andrew Green believes Formula 1 cars will be slower next season, even though they will fundamentally be an evolution of this season's machinery.
The sport has delayed the introduction of new aerodynamic regulations until 2022 - which will see an overhaul of car design aimed at promoting more exciting racing - due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But with this seasons Pirelli tyres rolling over into next year, a new rule set has been drafted aimed at cancelling out the usual year-on-year increase in performance and thus ensuring the tyres will be suitable at the tail end of 2021.
"We've taken a slice of real estate out of the floor in front of the rear tyre," Green explained.
"It takes a really large hit aerodynamically to a point where I would be surprised if anybody was able to develop their way out of it in the time we have available for 2021.
"So I fully expect 2021 cars to be slower than 2020 cars. It's a huge change. A small change relatively speaking to the floor has had quite a significant impact on the performance of the car.
"It's not just a redevelopment of the floor, unfortunately, it's a redevelopment almost of the front to back aerodynamics of the car to try and recover it.
"So it became quite clear that our focus has to turn quite quickly onto 2021 because of that. There isn't going to be a significant amount of aerodynamic carry over from '20 to '21. Mechanically yes, but aerodynamically probably not."
Green continued by explaining teams had hoped to agree a change to the cars that would require minimal work to negate. Initially pleased with the agreement, things changed when Racing Point returned to the factory recently.
Green added: "It wasn't until we got back from the break and started to look at it we realised how big a change it was."
"We didn't want a change that was going to significantly change the flow structure on the car. Unfortunately, the change that's come through does do that.
"We understand the reasons why, we understand that we do need to peg back the performance of the car, and for sure this is going to peg back the performance of the car in 2021.
"It's the same for everybody, I don't think anybody's got an advantage or disadvantage relatively speaking compared to other teams because of this change, I think we're all in the same boat.
"It's just never nice when you do a change to a car and get a very large hit, and you realise that it's not a small development."
Before you go...
Former F1 driver Alex Zanardi in intensive care after surgery for a serious head injury
In pictures: Leclerc takes the SF1000 for a spin around Maranello
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
FIA stewards ROB Hamilton pole after bizarre U-turn
- 51 minutes ago
F1 Sprint Qualifying Results: Chinese Grand Prix 2024 times as Verstappen stunned in rainy CHAOS
- 1 hour ago
Another bizarre fire STOPS action at Chinese Grand Prix
- 1 hour ago
EXCLUSIVE: Hamilton and Ferrari chief had meals together years before 2025 signing
- 2 hours ago
F1 Chinese Grand Prix weather forecast - latest today from Shanghai
- 2 hours ago
Young F1 star set to make McLaren debut in injury replacement
- 2 hours ago
Related news
F1 reveals viewing figure drop for European based 2020 season
Pirelli boss hails "miracle" despite "nightmare" 2020
Survival the only positive for Haas from dismal 2020 - Steiner
Ricciardo reveals internal pressure for podiums during time with Renault
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860