F1: New Technical Rules for Cars for 2017

[Sanji Himura]

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2016/05/10/side-side-compare-f1-cars-2016-2017/

Way too much information to list in one post here.

 

[TenEightyOne]

The increased contact patch will drastically improve mechanical grip, bolstering low speed performance and allowing the driver to attack high speed corners with even more confidence.

The problem is that Pat Symonds, Pirelli et al say it won't as the tyres will require a completely different pressure profile. Overworking them at low speeds will cause more damage and fast corners will stay at about the same speed. What these rules do is increase the potential for downforce without increasing the potential for lateral grip... I'm with Pat Symonds in thinking that the 2017 regs aren't necessarily a Good Thing.

 

[LeGeNd-1]

I have no doubt that 2017 cars will be the best looking cars since the early 00s, but I doubt it will improve overtaking much. Wider cars + still over reliant on upper body downforce = same old problems following another car.

I might be playing devil's advocate here, but are there any major drawbacks to returning to ground effects? Just leave a vestigial front and rear wing, make the car rely on venturi tunnels and give it massive tyres like in the 80s. Huge amounts of mechanical grip + downforce that doesn't get disturbed following another car = pretty much a 900 HP gokart. I know ground effects were originally banned because it can be unsafe when drivers suddenly lose all their grip over bumps, but most tracks these days are smooth as ice and there are acres of run off if something bad happens. The only problem would be city tracks, since they are quite bumpy and there's not much run off, but average speed is likely low enough not to cause problems.

My 2 cents.

 

[TenEightyOne]

are there any major drawbacks to returning to ground effects?

it can be unsafe when drivers suddenly lose all their grip over bumps, but most tracks these days are smooth as ice and there are acres of run off if something bad happens.

Departures are very dangerous as you note. Not just bumps but departures caused by wheel-to-wheel contact or by running wide.

it can be unsafe when drivers suddenly lose all their grip over bumps, but most tracks these days are smooth as ice

But not all, so what do you do at the tracks that are unsuitable for "safe" ground-effect?

and there are acres of run off if something bad happens.

This must be true - I've never ever seen an F1 car hit a wall.

 

[Tired Tyres]

Underbody aero is banned for more that that. It has a Very Bad side effect. If you lose the car and correct, your steering is pointing in a different direction. You get all the downforce back. At that point you spear off the track and into whoever is going to stop you abruptly.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

At this point, I think F1 should just keep the current regulations for a few more years and let the field close up a bit. 2008 didn't have the most overtaking on track, but it's considered one of the greatest recent seasons due to how close the competition was.

Preferably for me, new regulations would come in to effect in 2020-2022. Perhaps with underbody "ground effects" similar to that of an Indycar (as opposed to the full on ground effects of the late '70s & '80s), smaller wings and gripper tyres. But it seems the people behind the new regulations just want five second faster cars as soon as possible, regardless of the effect it'll have on on-track action.