LONDON: The FIA has approved a new, reduced cost cap for F1 teams and a new sliding scale rule for aerodynamic testing after a vote of the World Motor Sport Council on Wednesday.
A cost cap had already been agreed by the teams and the sport’s governing body, but after Wednesday’s vote the cap for 2021 will be lowered from the original figure of $175m per year to $145m, with further reductions in the following years.
The new, reduced cap has been brought in as a response to the coronvirus pandemic that has delayed the start of the 2020 F1 season, which has in turn had a serious effect on the finances of the teams.
F1’s new 2021 rule changes:
The other big announcement from Wednesday’s vote concerns a brand new sliding scale for aerodynamic development, which is also set to be brought in for 2021.
Under the agreement, the lower a team finishes in the constructors’ championship, the more wind tunnel time it will be allowed to use to develop the car the following year.
It is hoped the move will allow the field to close up and prevent the bigger teams from gaining too much of an advantage over those with less resources.
Wind tunnel testing will be managed on a sliding scale from next year
The FIA has also approved a measure to limit downforce on the 2021 cars. With key parts of the cars – such as the chassis and suspension – staying fixed from 2020 to 2021 the new rule means teams will have to trim part of the floor to reduce the downforce created, largely so a new tyre compound will not be needed for next season, before a switch to 18 inch tyres in 2022.
There were also a number of other tweaks in the pursuit of cutting costs and promoting sustainability. These include:
A number of components including the chassis and gearbox have been frozen between 2020 and 2021. A token system will be used to allow a very limited number of modifications, such as McLaren needing to make changes to accomodate a switch to Mercedes power.
From next season, there will be a limitation on the number of upgrades a power unit manufacturer can do over the course of a season.
For 2021, the minimum weight increases 3kg to 749kg.
Provisions can be made for “open” and “closed” events in 2020, in response to the coronavirus pandemic which makes holding mass gatherings challenging.
Dutch GP will not be held in 2020
The Dutch Grand Prix, set to be held at the newly-reconfigured Zandvoort circuit, won’t be taking place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
With early races in the delayed 2020 season set to be held behind closed doors, the Dutch organisers took the decision that, rather than pursuing a fan-less Grand Prix, they would prefer to delay Zandvoort’s return to the calendar – for the first time since 1985 – until next year.
“We were completely ready for this first race and we still are,” said former F1 driver and Dutch Grand Prix sports director Jan Lammers in a statement.
“We and Formula 1 have investigated the potential to hold a rescheduled race this year without spectators, but we would like to celebrate this moment, the return of Formula 1 in Zandvoort, together with our racing fans in the Netherlands. We ask everyone to be patient. I had to look forward to it for 35 years, so I can wait another year.”
Organisers made clear that anyone who’d bought tickets for the 2020 race would be able to use them when the Grand Prix takes place in 2021 – while refunds would also be available.
The tight, winding Zandvoort track had been extensively re-worked ahead of its return to the Formula 1 calendar, with a number of corners having been banked to better accommodate the speeds of modern F1 machinery.
But although the news means that the drivers will have to wait another year before being let loose on the iconic circuit, they can at least get their eye in on Codemasters’ F1 2020 game, which the track features in.
