Formula One’s Future or Maranello Madness?

This week the constructors are debating as to whether to change the sport’s regulations for the 2016 season. However a meeting of the F1 commission has delayed the regulation overhaul until 2017 at the earliest.

The most prominent changes to the rules include increasing the cars’ horsepower to 1000 bhp up from the current output of 850 bhp. Futhermore, the wish to revert back to the width limit last used in the 1997 season of 2 metres up from the current 1.8 metres. Also, for the 2009 season the cars’ rear wings were confined to a narrower and taller set up. Once again, this would be undone and a lower rear wing would return. 

The difference in rear wing width and height from 2008 to 2009

Wider tyres would make a return too. Although unlike the aforementioned, not explicitly outlined was the need to improve the sounds of new generation of 1.6 litre turbocharged engines to appease the large proportion of Formula 1 fans to whom the new engines simply cannot come close to the last 20 or so years of naturally aspirated song. Something that is also affecting the road car market as manufactures are seeking forced induction in order to meet increasingly strict emission regulations. On a small side note, having been to the Silverstone Young Drivers Test over the last couple of seasons this would, for me, be a welcome improvement as the move to turbocharging has removed a considerable feature of the experience. Formula 1 represents a pinnacle in technology and development and I feel that the screaming V8s better captured this as it actually sounded as though every single engine component was engineered and running to the peak of what was possible. Now I fully appreciate that this is still the case with the new V6s, but it does not sound as such. Even if it did mean a day of wearing ear plugs, it was well worth the feeling of the 2013 Williams going past and playing my rib cage like a glockenspiel. By only increasing the volume of the engine I feel that much of what I stated could be appeased.

Whatsmore, the overall trend of Formula 1 viewing figures and race goers is on the way down having dropped from 515 million in 2011 to an estimated 450 million. In short, changing the regulations may be highly advisable because if this can bolster the viewing figures by providing a greater spectacle on track, then I think all the proposed changes would be welcome, and as a result you would be hard pressed to find a fanatical F1 fan that would reject these adjustments.

However, despite these apparent strengths in the propositions case, there still remains opposition. Chief among which is offered by Mercedes who argue that changing the regulations would hinder the development of the 2015 season. Furthermore, the proposition is mainly made up of Ferrari and Red Bull who could see this reform as a potential route to closing the gap to the dominance of Mercedes which is expected to continue into the forthcoming season. By once again changing the engine regulations then Red Bull and Ferrari, who have fallen far behind their German rival and are in the clutches of their customer teams, will undoubtedly hope to rectify this. Likewise, Mercedes are well within their rights to try and preserve their superiority. A phenomenon that continuously occurs in F1 as designers find a niche interpretation in the rules to exploit for a performance advantage. This can be seen by the appeals in seasons gone by against exhaust blown and double diffusers. Nevertheless, the verdict of the commission is to withhold the above until 2017 at the earliest.

In Maranello at the same time as these talks were taking place, Ferrari released renderings of a concept F1 car which is how they envisaged the future of F1 cars. First of all, beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder and I have seen many salivating over the prospect that this could be the direction of F1 design with the cars more closely resembling road cars. However, I for one think that whilst the design is undeniably striking, I would hesitate in deeming it a good looking piece of design let alone better than the current field of cars, even with the questionable nose designs last season. But I accept that this is probably a minority view as Ferrari stated on their website that their design brief was, “to create something that was – to put it short – better looking."

The Ferrari F1 Concept- Striking yes, but good looking?

However, I still appreciate both the relevance and timing of the release. The concept works well to amend many of the problems that I hold with F1. Ferrari have created an emotional design that appeals to a great many people. This would seemingly address the decline in viewing figures if the cars were more appealing to more spectators. Moreover, it also represents the views of many designers in the sport. They feel, as do many pundits and the more knowledgeable F1 fan that the FIA’s regulations are so intense and extensive that the designers are like a caged animal unable to express themselves or roam to their full potential, but must instead conform to the fiercely narrow regulations that exist at present. So the Ferrari concept seems to act like a two fingered salute to the FIA as it gives a glimpse of what cars would be allowed to become should the FIA's all-consuming nature be diluted. So, despite my reservations in the looks department, I most certainly appreciate Ferrari in their attempt at pressuring the FIA and aims of appealing to a wider audience. In the past the FIA has been mockingly referred to as ‘Ferrari International Assistance’. For example look back at the 2011 seasons and blown diffusers. For the Silverstone Grand Prix their effect was limited and who benefitted most from this and won the race? Ferrari. Jean Todt, the president of the FIA was former chief executive officer for which team? Yep, Ferrari. So although a major concern of the sport is the politics which plague it, perhaps for once they could be used for good and Ferrari could use their position of power to place pressure on the FIA.

Perhaps Ferrari can grow the seed of change for the FIA regulations to increase the appeal and sustainability of the sport for the benefit of both the general viewer and the fanatic in the near future.