General
Szafnauer: "We won't really upgrade until the second half of the season"
- GPblog.com
Due to the compulsory break in the factories of the Formula 1 teams, the development of new parts has also come to a complete standstill. As a result, the cars in Spielberg will be at about the same level as they were in preparation for Australia. Otmar Szafnauer, team boss at Racing Point, also sees this.
In an interview with Motorsport-total.com Szafnauer states that there will be little development of new parts in the first races. "It is really difficult to restart now and get everything on the car. We won't upgrade until the second half of the season when we get eight more races, which I hope".
Using Tokens Correctly
For 2021 several parts are fixed, where no development may take place. According to Szafnauer, this results in different situations. "If you have the freedom to make a completely new car, you will find much more time. Now we're stuck with the current car". Still, he thinks that the brakes on development are going to cause a lot of problems.
"It's July when we start and normally you're going to start with the chassis for the next year. So it will be compressed enormously, which in turn will affect the things we are going to do next season". To still improve, teams can use 'tokens' to improve forbidden parts. Szafnauer indicates that his team will use this tactically. "We'll have to use the tokens properly and optimize the car."