0
Two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen believes that the 2021 regulations will allow more teams to win races.
Last week in Austin, F1 revealed its vision for the future, introducing cars that are easier to follow, which will allow for closer racing on the circuit.
It is also hoped that the new rules will bring more teams into contention for podiums and race wins, which Hakkinen believes will be a successful outcome.
Since the start of the turbo hybrid era in 2014, only three teams (Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull) have won races, pulling out a large gap to the midfield outfits.
While Hakkinen holds that the bigger teams will continue to win the world championships, he predicts the $175 million budget cap that will be enforced alongside the regulations will mean more race wins for smaller teams.
"It is sometimes hard for fans to imagine how difficult it is to follow another Formula 1 car due to the turbulence created by its airflow," he wrote in his Unibet column.
"In my time in racing the aerodynamics were already quite sensitive, and you could really feel the loss of downforce when the air in front of you was disturbed.
"These days the aerodynamics are even more sophisticated and sensitive, so running close to the car in front causes a drop in aero performance which means you also generate more tyre wear. At a time when tyre wear can be so critical, this is not a good situation.
"If Formula 1 has solved that problem with its futuristic design, simpler front wing, and body profile designed to enabling much more efficient slipstreaming, we should see much closer racing and more changes of position.
"The new cars will feature very low profile tyres mounted on much taller wheels, and this should help the smaller teams because the complexity of the current tyres, and how they work under load, is a major area of development," Hakkinen continued.
"There is also a budget cap of $175 million per team, which means the very biggest teams will have to spend less. The smaller teams already struggle to reach that level of expenditure, so we will have to wait to see how well this works at making the racing more equal.
"I fully expect the larger teams will continue to win the races and World Championships, but perhaps we will see three or four teams winning more regularly which will be a good step forward for the sport."
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
2,793 comments on McLaren
10 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Mika Häkkinen
Replies (0)
Login to reply