F1 reveals radical rule changes for 2021

F1 as we know it will cease to exist in 2021 after powerbrokers announced a revolutionary overhaul to usher in a new era for the sport.

F1 has revealed its new rules and car for 2021 aimed at making the sport more competitive and thrilling on track.

After two years of discussions and negotiations between officials and teams, F1 and the FIA revealed the revolutionary regulations at the US GP on Friday (AEDT) after the package of technical, sporting and financial rules received “unanimous” approval by the World Motor Sport Council earlier in the day.

The changes are headlined by what will be striking new-look cars, featuring dramatic bodywork, simplified front wings and larger wheels, with F1 confident the changes will improve overtaking and on-track battles.

“I think it’s a turning point in Formula 1,” declared F1 managing director Ross Brawn.

Live stream the 2019 FIA Formula One World Championship on KAYO SPORTS. Every practice, qualifying & race live & anytime in HD. Get your 14 day free trial

HEADLINES CHANGES FOR 2021

— Revised aerodynamics aimed at improving overtaking and the ability of cars to race wheel-to-wheel

— An $AUD255m cost cap for teams

— Reduction in grands prix weekends from four to three days

— A maximum of 25 races per season

— Limits on the number of car upgrades teams can introduce and more standard parts

— 18-inch (45cm) wheels and lower-profile tyres

“It’s to change the foundation of Formula 1 via the cost control, the governance, and bring the teams closer together and provide sustainable competition,” Brawn said.

“And when they get closer together we need cars that can race each other, because the cars we have now are terrible in that respect. We get constant reminders of the difficulties that drivers have of competing with another car when the performance difference is not here.

“So we set up with those objectives.”

Mock-ups of what the cars may look like in 2021, released by both the F1 and various teams, show the four-wheelers looking vastly different to what they do now.

F1 cars will get an overhaul in 2021 (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images).

An impression of what cars will look like in two seasons (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images).

Say hello to the future of F1

The countdown to 2021 starts now...#F12021 pic.twitter.com/zpBznBzpyx

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 31, 2019

A first look at the future of @F1 🙌#F12021 pic.twitter.com/SKFi0PL9kU

— ROKiT WILLIAMS RACING (@WilliamsRacing) October 31, 2019

#RSspirit #F12021
*Images for illustrative purpose only pic.twitter.com/y4LqfD3zdc

— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) October 31, 2019

So, what do you think? Let us know! 💭#F12021 pic.twitter.com/8Hz9wJN2Gb

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 31, 2019

A $255m budget cap will be introduced on teams for the first time, although certain costs such a drivers’ salaries and marketing will remain outside the limit. F1’s leading teams currently spend in excess of $435m per season, although the budgets of many of the smaller teams are below $145m.

F1 has introduced the new package of rules with the following intentions:

— Cars that are better able to battle on the track

— A more balanced competition on the track

— A sport where success is determined more by how well a team spends its money not how much it spends — including, for the first time, a fully enforceable cost cap ($255m per season) in the FIA rules

— A sport that is a better business for those participating and more attractive to potential new entrants

— A sport that continues to be the world’s premier motor racing competition and the perfect showcase of cutting-edge technology

F1 2021: KEY CHANGES EXPLAINED

Daniel Ricciardo will be hoping the new changes get him closer to a world championship.

Cars that allow drivers to race closer

Although aesthetics were a major consideration, F1 and the FIA’s main desire was to design cars that can race more closely. They say that when running behind another car, a 2019 car could lose more than 40 per cent downforce. With the 2021 design, focused on improving airflow with simplified front and rear wings, that drops to around 5-10 per cent. They say the cars could be around three seconds-per-lap slower than now once first introduced, but speed was not their main priority. “The cars are very quick now — but they’re not raceable,” said Brawn.

Cost cap

For the first time ever, F1 will introduce spending restrictions. A cost cap will be set at $255m per team, per year, and applies to anything that covers on-track performance.

Fewer upgrades, more standard parts

Rules have been put in place to limit car upgrades over race weekends and over the season, while there will also be certain standardised parts for the teams. This, along with the cost cap, should mean it becomes harder for one team to simply out-develop the competition.

Race weekend changes

The race weekend structure will be condensed. The pre-race drivers’ press conference will be on a Friday, ahead of Practice One, instead of Thursday. Cars will be in parc ferme conditions from the start of Practice Three.

Number of maximum races increased

Because of the condensed Grand Prix weekend format above, there is scope to increase the amount of races to 25-a-season. But no more than that.

This article originally appeared on Sky Sports and was reproduced with permission