Formula 1’s motorsport chief, Ross Brawn claims simulations with next year’s aerodynamic setup have produced noticeable benefits in improving racing.
2019 will see the front wing widened and simplified with the bargeboards also being modified to try and reduce the impact of turbulent air, while, at the rear, DRS is to be made more powerful to help on circuits with shorter straights.
There has been widespread scepticism from teams, however, about whether the alterations will have any impact but Brawn insists all indications have been positive.
“Once again we saw in Brazil that when the performance level of two cars are more or less the same, then overtaking is almost impossible,” the veteran engineer and team boss stated.
“That raises the question as to how to make it easier to make a move on the car in front.
“During 2018, we have made significant progress in defining next year’s technical regulations, especially regarding the key area that is the front wing and in the last few weeks, we have worked out the fine details.
“Our simulation work and from what the teams with which we have worked closely on this tell us is the effects are tangible, even though we are well aware that the real proof will only come next March in the Australian Grand Prix.”
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It was a dull race in Melbourne to start this season that led to the changes being surprising agreed by the Strategy Group in a narrow vote, alterations which are just the start towards a bigger overhaul in car design for 2021.
“The changes introduced are a first important step, but not necessarily an exhaustive one, towards defining the new technical and sporting regulations that will shape the long-term future of F1,” Brawn continued.
“It’s a foretaste of what we are defining for 2021 and we are pleased with what we have already achieved for 2019, but clearly we have high hopes, even in the short term.
“This year, Formula 1 produced some really exciting racing, I’m thinking immediately of Baku, Shanghai, Silverstone and Mexico City and there is every sign that there will be more of the same next year,” he predicted.
