2022 Regulatory Overhaul (a.k.a. Project Death to Dirty Air/DRS-free Overtaking)

[Penfold]

We're meant to be dropping DRS when these new cars come in, but as yet no cast-iron guarantee that this will be the case. 

[Penfold]

Brawn's 'Project 2021' seems to still be on track.  So that's two more years of this aero nightmare to endure before we awake in the promised land: http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/141394

[Penfold]

Single supplier of gearboxes from 2021: https://www.racefans.net/2019/02/19/fia-planning-standard-gearbox-for-f1-in-2021/

They should scrap any gearbox failure penalties if this comes to pass.

[Chrill]

I'm not so sure about that, I mean the bids must be in less than one month away. That's a tight deadline for coming to such a decision. Feels naive.

[Penfold]

The last thing one would expect from the FIA....

[Chrill]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/kevin-magnussen-new-haas-aero-rules/4344314/

K-Mag says:
"I followed a car today and you know it really really feels a lot better than last year" and "I felt a big difference. You know, it felt completely different. I could actually follow. I was a lot faster than the guy I was following and I passed him..."

[Penfold]

Which is good to hear.  Shame they've simultaneously made DRS even more potent: https://www.racefans.net/2019/02/27/drs-effect-is-much-more-powerful-now-grosjean/

[Chrill]

Which is good to hear.  Shame they've simultaneously made DRS even more potent: https://www.racefans.net/2019/02/27/drs-effect-is-much-more-powerful-now-grosjean/

YAY! DRS, or as I'd like to call it "Dream Racing Scenario".

[Chrill]

Perez and Bottas both agree that it is easier to follow. Ricciardo remains uncertain and says "I think it will be a little bit better, but I am not going to say it is going to be a massive difference".

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/incredible-job-overtaking-changes-perez/4345373/

[Chrill]

And Stroll says it was closer than he is used to, the aerodynamics helped make the midfield race a race.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.stroll-revels-in-'proper-wheel-to-wheel-racing'-of-australia-midfield-fight.2N0bDAt1D7dgxnilKCeJs2.html?fbclid=IwAR2bJhD2tFbPV_UaJPuWwapOM4G1EQeIvsODHmE0eJF-0llJj13RtpzGXI4

[Penfold]

Fortunately, at most other tracks DRS will save us from the torture of watching cars following each other closely for multiple laps as they struggle to get a pass done.

[Chrill]

Lovely. I cannot wait for that!

[Penfold]

Here be a comprehensive technical analysis of the 2021 concept car: https://www.racefans.net/2019/04/02/how-will-f1-revolutionise-the-racing-in-2021-its-new-concept-car-analysed/

Looks promising.

[Chrill]

Judging from the Bahrain GP, the new front wings do produce better racing. Or we were just very lucky. 2021 could be what F1 needs. Does look promising.

[Penfold]

Kimi the latest to give the thumbs up to this year's changes:
   
"I don't know if I overtook anybody in the new DRS, but I think the cars for sure lets you get more closer undisturbed.  I think exits are still tricky when you're really close, but I think the cars are more easy to follow now, getting closer."


New aero for 2021 should be such a leap forward (or backwards to simpler times!) that DRS can finally be consigned to the dustbin of history.  Blimey, to think that cars might soon(ish) be able to follow each other through the twisty bits like they did back in the late-eighties and early-nineties.  Tres exciting.