Red Bull Racing Designer Adrian Newey Left Unimpressed with F1’s Decisions

Formula 1 is back as the drivers and fans alike are brewing with excitement. This season offers a promising battle between the teams as the FIA have stirred up the regulations. Ferrari are the early pace setters, but Mercedes and Red Bull are not far behind.

The FIA has changed the regulation with an aim of bringing the grid closer. The overtaking ability of a car has also increased with the change in rules, and the drivers will look to utilize it. However, Red Bull’s Technical Chief, Adrian Newey suggested there are better ways to do it.

There Will Not Be a Significant Change, According to Newey

The FIA announced a complete revamp of the regulations to the car ahead of the 2022 season. And we have already seen it on the track with larger side-pods and different front wings.

The concept of dirty air from the car in front is a potential barrier to a healthy race. Teams have designed the 2022 cars in a manner where the dirty air is pushed higher up. It allows the cars behind to stay closer. The cars this year also produce more downforce, which in turn helps in better overtaking.

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Newey believes that the change will help the drivers to keep a close track of the car in front, but feels that this will not result in significant changes in track position.

He said, “I think it’s good to try to facilitate overtaking by reducing the sensitivity of the car that follows compared to the one in front. That will help advance at a certain point, but I don’t think it’s a significant change. It will help, but there were other ways to do it, let’s put it that way,”

Newey Does Not Want Heavier Cars

Adrian Newey also disagreed with the weight of the cars in recent times. He believes that if the car weighs less, it will result in regular overtakes and switch off track positions. And it will make the race far more interesting.

The Red Bull Chief technician also feels that Formula 1 could have chosen a new direction regarding the minimum weight of the cars.

He conveyed, “The reality is that today you have single-seaters that start with a weight of 900 kilograms and that’s too much for what racing cars used to be. In a few years, we have gone from having a weight of 600 kilograms to 880 and now, everyone is working like crazy to be close to the minimum weight of 798 kilos.”

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Newey also revealed that the cars are not aerodynamically well structured because of the weight. He conveyed that they missed the opportunity to do the same.

Many believe the changes will impact the top half of the table. Pre-season favorites, Ferrari are set to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull for the top spot. Will the changes bring the gird closer, or will Mercedes continue to dominate? It remains to be seen.