F1’s future cars unveiled as new regulations are announced

FORMULA One bosses have unveiled the first images of the sport’s cars for the future.

Ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, the sporting and technical regulations have been published for the 2021 season onwards.

It is hoped that the new machines will provide closer action and make overtaking easier.

A new budget cap of £150m per team will also be introduced in order to improve competition. Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull currently spend more than £300m per season.

“We are delighted to publish the set of regulations which have been adopted unanimously by the World Motor Sport Council and defines the future of Formula One from 2021 onwards,” said Jean Todt, president of F1’s governing body, the FIA.

“The objective is to offer more sustainable, safer and exciting sport with an innovative set of regulations.

“The cars should be able to race more closely and the action on the track should be more intense, with greater opportunities to attack and overtake.”

F1 bosses also emphasised the aim to stage as many as 25 races each season, but the format of a Grand Prix weekend will change, with two shorter practice sessions on Friday afternoon, abandoning the morning running.

Reflecting on the announcement, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen said: “It doesn’t matter what the cars look like as long as we can race and follow better. Let’s see how it evolves.”

Williams’ George Russell added: “The weight of the 2021 car will be heavier, which is not ideal. But as long as the new regulations improve the racing and bring the field together, that is all I am really bothered about.”

There will be a major change to the way F1 cars produce their performance from aerodynamic downforce.

Under the new rules, cars will generate a far greater proportion of their overall downforce from under the car, and there will be a significant reduction in the number of external shapers around the bodywork.

The idea is to reduce the effect of ‘dirty air’ from a car in front on one trying to follow.

The sanctions for breaching the financial regulations will be sporting penalties.

F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn said: “If you breach these, you will be losing your Championship. There are serious penalties.

“It’s essential for the future of F1 that we control spending. We tried to capture areas that make a difference between teams.”