skoop wrote: ↑26 Feb 2021, 11:13
I think the secrecy is relatively self explainatory when you look at the overall situation: The later you show anything new to your competition the more ressources they have to allocate to the development of the 21 contender for analyzing / understanding your solution. There the development of the 22 car gets hampered
To be honest, i think this only applies to spectacular 'gimmicks'.
Any other design 'thing' is part of the overall car philosophy and wouldn't really work in suddenly implementing, or even concidering for your next vehicle.
With gimmicks that's a different thing, the only issue is that gimmicks nowadays get banned pretty soon so it's not worth it either.
For example, DAS is something that would be worth it given more time. It gets banned because in the end, it's going to cost a lot of money and it'll return the field to 'before' when everybody implements it, and nothing really is gained.
Things like the F-duct is something that could be implemented without too much money investment and have a reasonable gain. Blown diffusers, Double deck diffusers. They're all things that are hard or 'impossible' to implement in the same season but have such benefits that it'll definately will be taken into account for the following season.
Hence secrecy revolves around things like those 'big' gimmicks, to prevent other teams to copy it and 'lessen' the initial advantage they'll have from the season start.
I don't believe ANY car in the field this year will hold anything 'gimmicky' that makes them suddenly have a great advantage. Hell, Mercedes' DAS system didn't even boost them that much, it just had a worthwile positive effect that they used to 'greaten' their margins on winnin the WCC and WDC.
The only 'things' we might see have a effect in 2021 are the engines. What has Honda done, and what has Ferrari done? This will have the biggest effect on the season.
For 2022 things will be very different, hence opportunities for 'gimmicks'. I am confident that for 2022, there is going to be a lot of secrecy and late reveals. I actually expect the teams to use the current cars, and just put 'mockup' low noses and 18" wheels on the cars with the liveries they'll be running and some 'imitation' floors.
The real excitement for 2022 will be at the pre-season testing.
BUT i'm way off on the topic itself though.