Heading into 2017, the new era of Formula one cars are expected to be up to 40 km/h faster through some of the best corners in the world. This data has been simulated by the FIA.
A major rules revamp comes around every few years in F1, this year is the year!! Fat tyres are back, fat cars are back, fat wings… all are expected to deliver a jump in lap time. The expected ‘jump’ is muted to be as big as 5″ per lap at some circuits when compared to 2015.
The increased speed has already prompted safety changes to some circuits ahead of the new season. Season opener Albert Park for example, have already implemented changes to the barriers in preparation for the new, faster, aggressive version of F1.
Deputy race director Laurent Mekies has seen enough in the FIA simulations to think that most circuits will need to make adjustments. Car performance will be on another level.
“Every single team has been asked to provide simulations for their 2017 cars,” he explained at the Autosport International Show. “We used these simulations to feed our simulation software.
“We therefore simulated every single track with the 2017 car, so there is much higher cornering speed. It’s up to 40 km/h faster in high-speed corners.
“Every single track is receiving from the FIA a request to upgrade based on that. That process is ongoing; we are doing it in the order of the championship to be perfectly honest.
“Therefore, not all the tracks have received it yet, but they will. Melbourne is okay.”
Bring forth the new season. Speed is good.
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I guessing that they’ll be going as fast as the lead car wants to go, as no-one will be able to overtake.
I read the reasons for a lower rear wing and making the gap between the front wing and the front tire bigger, was be make cars less prone to bad vortexes created by leading cars. Therefore making slipsteaming (and overtaking) easier
Faster cars do not guarantee better racing.
More speed only in qualifying, because in the race the speed is dictated by the amount of fuel and fuel flow which hasn’t changed. Those 5kg are barely enough to compensate for the heavier car.