Radical changes for F1 from 2021
$175m-per-season budget cap Closer competition promised
FORMULA One has announced a radically overhauled set of regulations for the 2021 season, aimed at making the sport more competitive, entertaining and cost-effective in the coming years.
Details of the revamp were unveiled ahead of last weekend’s United States Grand Prix. F1 chiefs are promising it will allow the cars to battle closer on track and reduce the current gap between the top teams and the midfield.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the package is the addition of a budget cap – of US$175million per season – for the first time in the history of F1. The intended effect is that success will be determined “more by how well a team spends its money, not how much it spends”. It covers everything related to on-track performance, except marketing costs, driver salaries and the top three non-driver salaries.
Speaking about the announcement, F1 CEO Chase Carey said: “We deeply respect the DNA of F1, which is a combination of great sporting competition, talented and courageous drivers, dedicated teams and cutting-edge technology. [These rules] will help deliver more exciting wheelto-wheel racing for all our fans.”
FIA President Jean Todt added: “[This] is a major change in how the pinnacle of motorsport will be run, and for the first time we have addressed the technical, sporting and financial aspects all at once.” Key technical changes to be implemented on the cars include sweeping bodywork, simplified front wings, larger rear wings, more underbody aerodynamics, wheel wake control devices, simplified suspension and 18-inch wheels with low-profile tyres.
F1 says the tweaks have been made both to improve aesthetics and allow the cars to run closer together on track without losing grip and downforce. Just a five to 10 per cent loss of downforce is expected, compared to an estimated 40 per cent for current cars.
“Key changes include sweeping bodywork, simplified front wings and 18-inch wheels”