2021 vision
You could be mistaken in thinking the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship will be very similar to 2020, with teams carrying over much of their cars’ design for another year – a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic pushing the new era of F1 to 2022.
However, the final 2021 regulations, published by the FIA in late 2020, feature several detailed revisions. These changes were initially penned as calming measures in response to the ever-increasing downforce the cars deliver, which some feared would push the Pirelli tyres beyond safe limits.
Additionally, the cars’ overall pace is thought to have outgrown some tracks, certainly those that have remained unchanged as pace has steadily increased over the years.
The FIA and Formula 1 management hope the changes will force a 10 per cent reduction in overall downforce, enough they believe to cope with the above challenges, while the rule changes coinciding with that 10 per cent reduction have meant some significant challenges for all teams ahead of the 2021 season.
Aerodynamic changes
The largest contributor to the forecast drop in downforce is a new set of floor regulations. These will see a diagonal cut in the floors ahead of the rear tyres, reducing the width at the trailing edge by 100mm on each side.
The largest contributor to the forecast drop in downforce is a new set of floor regulations
Additionally, the rules prevent designers including any fully enclosed holes in the floor, through which to manipulate airflow, be they slots, holes or aerodynamically-shaped furniture.
These changes decrease the floor’s working
