Autoweek - January 23_ 2017 magazine-pdf.org

THE FANS WHO
have been wanting to
see different Formula 1
cars in 2017 might
be disappointed.
The cars will require distinct
aerodynamic solutions, but the fundamental
rules of physics do not change.
Chances are the cars will be only
marginally different in appearance.
Yes, they will look a bit racier,
with wider tires and front wings, and
swept-back rear wings; there will also
be more ground effects sucking the cars
to the road in the corners. Mercedes F1
boss Toto Wolff says the cars will be
more difficult to drive, and they’ll
produce more g-forces.
The new-generation tires will
add to the grip levels, and they will
probably be less prone to degradation,
leading to less performance differential
as they wear down.
Time and stable regulations
are always the best ways to have
convergence of performance. And it
will happen naturally much more
easily than if there are attempts to
manufacture it.
Sebastian Vettel hopes the new regulations
package will help Ferrari close the gap on
Mercedes this season.
“What we have always said
is to leave the regulations alone
and the performance gap will shrink;
eventually, we are going to have some
good racing,” Wolff said.
The hybrid turbo engines, in play
since 2014, remain in the series through
at least 2020, which makes a case for a
closer field. When the rules change,
bigger teams tend to gain more, with
smaller teams again playing catch up.
The order of the cars might change
this year, but we probably won’t see
convergence. Instead, we’ll be watching
for teams that can eke out a bit of aerodynamic
advantage with the diffusers,
which could make a big difference.
Will we see a speed increase?
Probably as much as five seconds on
some circuits, with tires accounting for
as much as two seconds, according to
Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti.
Will the drivers have greater impact
on performance than they have had in
recent years? Perhaps a little, but the
drivers are all so fit now that a few
more g-forces should not mean a huge
difference. Engines will still need to
be maintained in 2017; there will be
only four per car per season rather
than five, but with manufacturers
pushing hard to get more horsepower,
we could see more risks being taken
and, therefore, more engine failures.
That could lead to some unusual
results on a few occasions.
We will also likely see more engine
penalties, which will mean that big
names might need to do a little more
racing through the field.
But the key question remains:
Can anyone catch Mercedes? n
GETTY IMAGES; LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC
JANUARY 23, 2017 AUTOWEEK 7