2021 F1 cars to solve 'dirty air' problem when chasing a car in front?
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
F1 reigning champion Lewis Hamilton has said the data for the new cars in 2021 looks "great", as the 34-year-old was shown by the FIA how the 'dirty air' problem when following a car should be significantly better in two years' time.
Currently, the large amount of dirty air produced by an F1 car makes it incredibly difficult for a car to follow closely behind, as the airflow the chasing car is in is so disrupted that a significant loss in downforce is caused, combined with more wear on the tyres.
This is one of the main reasons why overtaking in one on one duels has decreased in the turbo-hybrid era, with the bulk of overtakes coming under DRS.
Hamilton, however, has seen the data on the new cars for 2021, and it looks promising.
“There’s lots of things that can be improved but the thing they did show us the other day is that the amount that you lose behind a car today and what their simulations say that we will lose in terms of downforce behind the new car," he told Motorsport.com.
“I think it looks great, so I’m working as hard as I can to make sure I can stay around for then and get to drive those newer cars.”
The FIA involving drivers more in the process of the new regulations is also a positive sign according to the Mercedes driver, who says this normally wasn't the case.
“It’s been a huge step for us to be involved, it’s a big step for all the drivers to be united.
“We’re building a new and better relationship with the FIA, and I think they’ve been quite open.
“There are things that we ask about and they are like ‘we can’t change it now’…but there’s no such thing as ‘can’t’ for an engineer.