F1 puts down the idea of technical overhaul being postponed from 2022 to 2023 amid latest COVID-19 restrictions.
The technical overhaul was slated to come in from 2021 F1 season onward in a normal world, but with COVID-19 affecting the 2020 season, it was decided to postpone the changes to 2022 albeit keeping only Cost Cap on its scheduled time.
The push to 2022 came with a development freeze as F1 teams were not allowed to work on those changes until December 31, 2020, and re-start their work from January 1, 2021. But there is a possibility of further extension as per latest reports.
According to one of Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, F1 together with the FIA are discussing whether to postpone the upcoming technical regulation changes from 2022 to 2023, due to businesses being affected by latest round of COVID-19 restrictions. The report notes that they will take stock of the situation by February to see what can be done.
F1 already confirmed the postponement of the 2021 Australian GP to November, whereas a new date for Chinese GP is yet to be ascertained, while Vietnam GP was off even before it could be taken as TBC. As a result, they will be back to Imola and possibly Algarve too.
With COVID-19 restrictions still disrupting the normal work schedule, especially in the UK, which houses seven of the current F1 teams, the work on 2022 cars may be affected hugely. It is not clear if all the factories are back up to full force for 2021/22 work.
Its middle of January and so far none of the F1 teams have shared any update on, if their drivers have been to the factory in person, while virtually they might be in touch already. For drivers who are new to their teams, it will be less time to get familiar with.
The work on 2021 cars is less than the normal season-to-season change but the restrictions make it harder to work. Although, the postponement of pre-season test to March 12-14 helps them a bit, as they have nearly one month extra to prepare.
If the call is taken to extend the changes from 2022 to 2023, it will be interesting to see how it works and if they continue to keep the same car, which by then will be a 3-year old machine. Even on the tyre side, they will have to use a 4-year old construction.
To add to it, F1 is due to take up bio-fuel as well in the coming seasons, which will require more changes on the make of the car. Plus, the engine technology is scheduled to change from 2026, albeit, it will remain hybrid but push is for it to be less complex.
Because some people asked, here is the English translation of the important parts of the Gazzetta article:
Gazzetta says it's just a hypothesis for now and that the teams will understand in February if they can face the economic commitment with the new regulations for 2022. pic.twitter.com/XgCHiYkxyu
— tami. (@Vetteleclerc) January 13, 2021
Following the report, F1 denied of it being even discussed at this stage. The saying is that with Cost Cap already in place, it won’t lead to extra spending as teams will have to adhere to the regulations set for the expenditure, even for the 2022 work.
In response to a report suggesting the 2022 regulations will be delayed (again), an F1 spokesperson says it is “wrong and has not been discussed”. #F1
— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) January 13, 2021
In other news, the FIA updated the 2021 entry list, with the change in Aston Martin’s company name to ‘AMR GP Limited’ – as FormulaRapida.net notified earlier on – and team name to ‘Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team’, after the deal with the American IT company.
Here’s Mario Isola on 2021 F1 tyre changes
Here’s news on Brazil GP deal in question
Here’s revised 2021 F1 calendar
Here’s news on F1 cutting FP1, FP2 time
Here’s news on Cognizant becoming Aston Martin title sponsor
Here’s news of the change from Racing Point to AMR GP