F1 Cars to Undergo Further Radical Redesigns

In an attempt to make the sport more efficient and exciting, Formula One cars could undergo further dramatic redesigns ahead of the 2013 season.

The changes will include:

* Downsizing of the cars wings;

* Specially-designed underfloors to generate downward force differently (the underfloor of the cars will be shaped along its length to generate downforce for the first time since the 1982 season – currently cars have bottoms that are flat between the wheels);

* A major reduction in the total amount of downward force;

* The average proportion of a lap that a driver is able to spend on full throttle to be cut from 70% in 2010 to 50% in 2013;

* Tyres will remain large and chunky to ensure cornering speeds remain high.

The adaptations will make the cars slightly slower meaning passing may be easier though the general driving should be more challenging. The cars are set to use 35 per cent less fuel in a bid to promote environmentally friendly changes.

Patrick Head and Rory Byrne have produced the redesign plans which, if implemented, would highlight the biggest design changes since 1983. The draft regulations requested by the FIA will be submitted to the F1 teams this week ahead of the Technical Working Group’s (TWG) meeting in January which scopes out rule changes.

The fundamental philosophy of the changes is set to remain intact though the design heads of each team represented by the TWG will suggest any necessary changes to the proposal.

Head, director of engineering for Williams, and Byrne, a former chief designer for Ferrari, have been partly responsible for the design of 17 constructors’ title winning cars for Williams, Benetton and Ferrari.