Renault Sport boss Cyril Abiteboul has suggested Formula 1 could improve the racing by changing the circuits, not the cars.
The sport is set to reintroduce ground effect as part of a design overhaul in 2021 to try and solve the issue of turbulent air which has made racing difficult in F1 for the past two decades.
However, teams are already having to plan their budgets to accommodate the changes and after a recent streak of exciting races, Abiteboul ponders if the problem could be solved differently.
“One thing I think we need to do a bit more is engineer the tracks,” he said this week.
Also Read:
- Grosjean reveals four areas the GPDA wants F1 to address in 2021
- Raikkonen: FIA can learn from old tracks to improve racing
- Renault: Top teams will use 2020 to create 2021 advantage
“I would prefer a bit less over-engineering of the technical regulations, and a bit more engineering of the track layout, rather than investing in 20 cars that should be different every year.
“I would maybe change one or two corners, at each track. it would be much more cost-efficient, and much better for the sport.
“I know that they have put a lot of engineering effort into Vietnam, but it’s something where we could all collectively think ‘what would be good for F1?'”
The street circuit in Hanoi that Abiteboul refers to has been designed with what Ross Brawn has called an overtaking simulator, with the aim of encouraging closer racing.
And a similar approach is being taken at Paul Ricard, with efforts underway to avoid a repeat of the procession this year.
“So what we’ve done is some simulations of alternative configurations of how to make it more interesting,” Abiteboul explained.
“I would like to see more getting together from the teams in engineering some solutions and some improvements for the tracks.
“If 10 teams were to collaborate on improving tracks I’m sure we could come up with some fantastic results, and we don’t need to wait for 2021 for that. That would be next year already.”
