Pirelli boss, Mario Isola, does not believe the fear that Formula 1 racing will become slower than Formula 2 in 2021 will become a reality.
SportPesa Racing Point are one team who are particularly vocal about the possible ramifications of the regulations overhaul on the horizon which hopes to promote closer on-track racing and level the playing field to bring more excitement and unpredictability to the sport.
SportPesa Racing Point principal Otmar Szafnauer said last year: “My personal worry is that the cars are getting heavier, the downforce is going to be a lot less, so we’re going to be five, six, seven seconds slower than where we are.
“We need to have the ability to differentiate one car from another, otherwise they are all going to look the same and go seven seconds a lap slower.”
But Isola has countered by saying that whilst Formula 1 the cars will be slower, he cannot envisage the pace drop being as drastic as Szafnauer is predicting will happen.
“The regulations were not designed to have quicker cars in Formula 1,” he said.
“[That] was the target in 2017, it’s not the target for 2021.
“The target is completely different, it’s to have cars that are race-able with more overtaking, more action on-track and less effect of the downforce when you follow another car. Those are all positive aspects for Formula 1.
“Probably the cars will be slower for a number of reasons: Less downforce and heavier cars – the plan is to have cars that are heavier than the current ones and the weight has an effect on lap time.
“But that could be a few seconds. Not, for sure, slower than Formula 2. If a Formula 1 car in 2021 is two or three seconds slower than the current one and we have a much better show, I would say who cares?”
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