Formula One regulations radically overhauled – McLaren director explains changes

Formula One has undergone a radical overhaul of its technical regulations for the new season.

Here, the PA news agency sat down with McLaren’s executive technical director, James Key to dissect the change in rules.

The major reason is to improve the ability to race. Formula One cars generate jet-fighter performance with huge amounts of downforce. But they rely on clean air to create that performance.

When a driver follows another car and gets stuck in the so-called ‘dirty air’, the performance drop-off is massive, they cannot keep up, and that has made racing difficult.

To remove that problem, Formula One, its governing body the FIA, and the teams, have come together to create a machine which is far less susceptible to the car in front.

We have moved from 13-inch Pirelli wheels to 18-inch wheels. We have mud-guards over the front tyres, a simpler front wing design, and a new floor which has been raised a long way above the ground.

The changes have been introduced to generate an air-flow which compliments the car behind, rather than hinder it. As far as aesthetics go, the most striking aspect are the new sidepods. The car is also heavier, up 50 kilograms from last year to almost 800 kilos.

The early signs seem to suggest that it is easier to follow. Hopefully it will also reduce the performance difference between the teams and create a tighter grid. The closer racing will be more fun for the drivers and the sport only benefits from that entertainment.

From a technical perspective, it has been a huge challenge because it is a massive change. This is my 25th season in Formula One and it is certainly the biggest change I have seen during my time in the sport.

We have had hefty changes in the past, but all of those were based