2023 car speculation

[continuum16]

F f s

The associated article from AMuS says that it isn't known for certain why the weight limit of 796kg was talked up by the engineers and the change walked back by the FIA.. but suggests pirelli may be bringing heavier tyres and that's the reason

Translation of the AMuS article by DeepL (if there are mistakes, feel free to pm and I will correct):

Actually, the Formula 1 racers should finally lose some weight this year. But after back and forth in recent weeks, the teams have reached an agreement with the FIA that the minimum weight will remain the same as in the previous season.

It is one of the drivers' biggest criticisms of the current Formula 1 generation. The racing cars are simply too heavy and thus too sluggish, especially in slow corners. In the past years, the minimum weight specified in paragraph 4.1 of the technical regulations knew only one direction - upwards. In the period from 2013 to 2022, the racing cars gained a whopping 156 kilograms.

The first major increase in weight came right at the beginning of this decade. The introduction of the turbo hybrid engines in the 2014 season caused the limit to shoot up from 642 to 691 kilograms (+49 kg). In the following years until 2021, the increased use of standard components, the ban on expensive lightweight materials, improved safety measures and larger tyres ensured that the limit was raised step by step to 749 kilograms.

The next big step in the weight ladder was climbed in 2022 with the introduction of ground effect cars. Actually, a limit of 795 kilograms was planned for the start of the new aerodynamics era. But because only one team, Alfa Romeo, came close to this limit shortly before the start of the season, the FIA added another three kilograms at the last minute.

But no turnaround in 2023

After years of increase, a turnaround was finally to be initiated in 2023. The last published draft of the technical regulations, which were approved by the World Motor Sport Council at the end of June, provided for a diet of two kilogrammes - so from 798 kg it was to go down to 796 kg. Not much, but at least something, the drivers praised. At least it was going in the right direction.

But at the last meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), in which the technical directors of the ten teams constantly discuss rule changes with representatives of the FIA, new figures were brought into play again and again. From the starting point of 796 kg, it initially went up to 799 kg via 797 kg. That would even have meant an increase in the minimum weight.

At the last meeting

In the last meeting in mid-January, the engineers agreed on a limit of 798 kilograms, which will now apply for the start of the season. So everything remains the same. It is not entirely clear why the original target could not be met. It is said that the new front tyres from Pirelli had increased somewhat in comparison to last year's product.

Another smooth-brained move from the FIA. It’s not like it’s impossible to make a car meet the original minimum weight. Alfa Romeo did it. And I’m sure even they could probably find 1 or 2 kg to shave off over 12 months. Increased weight from Pirelli literally has no performance advantage to any team; using it as an excuse to not lower the minimum weight is quite frankly pathetic IMO.

[AR3-GP]

I have not seen this revision to the technical regulations. Still showing 796kg.

[Stu]

I was thinking that the 2kg reversal was quite unambitious; something very difficult to achieve (750kg) would be far better. Even overweight teams are still using ballast to tune the balance/hit the required percentages.

This really is ridiculous!!!

[mendis]

Sorry to ask in the wrong thread, is Sky F1 covering the upcoming winter testing live? Haven't seen any news of it.

[BrunoH]

the cars are too heavy for racing cars and too long.. we need f1 to get back to be in the 600ish kilos at least and half a meter shorter cars

[marcel171281]

I was thinking that the 2kg reversal was quite unambitious; something very difficult to achieve (750kg) would be far better. Even overweight teams are still using ballast to tune the balance/hit the required percentages.

This really is ridiculous!!!

It is.

Other thing I still don't understand is why there is a mandated weight distribution. What is the point? It only makes cars heavier. One too heavy part at a wrong location needs an equally heavy ballast somewhere else, that wouldn't otherwise be necessary.

[AR3-GP]

I was thinking that the 2kg reversal was quite unambitious; something very difficult to achieve (750kg) would be far better. Even overweight teams are still using ballast to tune the balance/hit the required percentages.

This really is ridiculous!!!

It is.

Other thing I still don't understand is why there is a mandated weight distribution.

Restricting the design space brings the cars closer together.

[101FlyingDutchman]

Wouldn’t it be better to have an upper limit and no lower limit allowing teams to choose perhaps a totally different design direction and encouraging thinking outside the box?

[michl420]

The mandated weight distribution is a joke since year one. Like mandated shoe sice for every football player one the field.

[bonjon1979]

I thought the weight distribution rule was brought in because the teams don’t know what sort of tyres they’re getting. Teams could really luck in or out depending on how the weight dist interacts with the tyres. Doesn’t seem quite right that a team could be dominant through pure luck

[AR3-GP]

I thought the weight distribution rule was brought in because the teams don’t know what sort of tyres they’re getting. Teams could really luck in or out depending on how the weight dist interacts with the tyres. Doesn’t seem quite right that a team could be dominant through pure luck

The weight distribution is somewhat irrelevant with respect to the tire because the cars are generating more than their weight in downforce. The distribution of that downforce is defined by the aero balance. Since aero balance is not mandated by the regulations, there is no actual spec weight distribution w.r.t the tire when the cars are at speed.

[wogx]

the cars are generating more than their weight in downforce.

None the less, the cars do generate many times their own weight in downforce at speed and equal their own weight by just under 100 mph.

So the weight distribution is still significant in slow speed corners (?)

[AR3-GP]

the cars are generating more than their weight in downforce.

None the less, the cars do generate many times their own weight in downforce at speed and equal their own weight by just under 100 mph.

So the weight distribution is still significant in slow speed corners (?)

Yes, but this is also the point when the tire loads are at their lowest so it's not really anything Pirelli can use to as the operating parameter for the tire design. This gets to my second point which is that I think the real reason for the weight distribution mandate is to try and give Pirelli an easier time designing a tire that works for every car.

The flaw of course is that the weight distribution can no longer be accounted for when there are significant aero loads which have different front to rear distribution depending on the car. The differences won't be significant of course, but it won't necessarily be equal to the weight distribution.

Of course they can probably make rough approximations for the deviation from ideality, but they wouldn't be able to target any specific distribution since some cars will have a more forward bias aero load than others.

[RedNEO]

Sorry to ask in the wrong thread, is Sky F1 covering the upcoming winter testing live? Haven't seen any news of it.

Testing to be shown live on Sky, between 7am and 4pm each day uk time.

[mendis]

Sorry to ask in the wrong thread, is Sky F1 covering the upcoming winter testing live? Haven't seen any news of it.

Testing to be shown live on Sky, between 7am and 4pm each day uk time.

Thanks!