New regs had been slated to go into effect in 2021 but, with F1’s 2020 season in hiatus, officials thought it wise to defer intro until 2022. F1’s new budget cap rule will go into effect as scheduled originally.
With the 2020 Formula 1 season delayed until early June at the very least, on Thursday, the FIA and Formula 1 voted to delay something else. Most of the new regulations for the sport, which would have gone into effect for the 2021 season, will be postponed until 2022.
The decision makes sense. Even if teams race this season, the season could end around mid-December. That makes it virtually impossible for the teams to make adjustments and prepare for pre-season testing the following February.
But know that another issue had to be managed–money, generally, and the introduction of a budget cap, specifically. The budget cap limits all teams with respect to how much they can spend on design, development, and production of the new race car, which will not be capped at $175 million. F1 decided that the budget cap will be activated in 2021 and that the rest of the new rules will be introduced a year later.
To further reduce costs, teams have agreed to retain the chassis they hope to use this season and extend its use through the end of 2021. That move eliminates overhauling costs, which will help smaller teams. For all teams, the introduction of new chassis will be deferred until 2022.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all move. Ferrari has had chassis struggles, which it now must live with. And McLaren will now have to see how its powerplant change from Renault to Mercedes works out. If the new-style engine fits the current chassis, it could give McLaren an advantage, perhaps even enabling it to challenge for the top three. But if the chassis and the engine do not combine well, it could be a season of trouble as the team’s mechanics try to balance the set up with the engine and the car.
With delays and changes in Formula these days, only one thing is for sure: no matter how 2020 turns out, the same cars/teams will be back in 2021.
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Note: Cover photo courtesy of f1technical.net.
