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I completely agree with your comments regarding the lack of opportunities to pass. Yes, it seems the FIA need to change the regs to make passing easier.

But your comments are long on symptoms and short on suggestions. What exactly could be changed in the regs to alter the current situation? We need to have a full debate about this.

Does downforce need limiting, so that we can concentrate more on mechanical grip? The slicks could come back if we can limit downforce. How to do this? Make the cars even thinner (another 10cm reductin in width? - this would make overtaking slightly easier :-)) Limit the surface areas of front wing and rear wing (need some way of coping with lots of elements though)? Make the tyres narrower? Since we dropped from 2 to one tyre manufacturer, things have become more straightforward. The FIA need to tempt another rubber company back to give some variation.

Do we need to limit power? 2.5 litres limit? 2 valves per cylinder limit? Increase the mimimum car weight by 50kgs? All of the above?

Kill the speed too much and you kill the sport. The balance is tricky..

Kevin B.

PS Keep up the good work with the site, it's really excellent!

The Heretic replies:

What we have is a problem with technology. The current F1 car is aerodynamically as sophisticated as a F18. I do not think the FIA could have foreseen that.

Wing size does not necessarily determine downforce. One could theoretically achieve the same downforce with half of the current wings with a greater angle of attack. Sure drag would be much higher and so will turbulence which will probably exacerbate current problems.

Weight may help but it could make the car more dangerous if it lost a wing or two.

I like your comments on making them thinner.

I am reluctant to see them reduce power in any way, what they need to do is remove some of the aids in controlling the power.

The reason why I am short on suggestions is that I believe that it will be almost impossible to outlaw aerodynamics without the risk of making the formula even blander.

Today the best formula to assess drivers is Formula Ford. It may be a great way of separating the brilliant drivers from the rest but it is boring to watch.

But, having said all of that I believe that they should outlaw outboard aerodynamic devices and allow wings only if they are behind front and ahead of back wheels. You would then probably also have to rule that they have to be below a specified height, say no higher than the top of the wheels.

That would eliminate a lot of downforce as the current wings, both front and rear, are clear of turbulence from the body of the car. They could then afford to go back to slicks as teams would be forced to rely on mechanical grip.

I realise it is radical, but if you want to see overtaking, aerodynamics that rely on clear air to work must be eliminated.

Another area that could be looked at is tyre compounds. When I was racing, which is admittedly more than 30 years ago tyre dust and "marbles" did not exist. Grip was probably less than we get from the family car today, but you could use all of the track without having to worry about sliding on debris.

Surely they can come up with a tyre that doesn't litter.

As you say, the balance is tricky.

I will consider doing an issue on what I believe they should do, but at the end of the day one must assume that the FIA knows more and are struggling with the problem.

Debating would help. I am sure that the FIA are open to suggestions and who knows we may come up with something they did not think of.

Keep it coming!

The Heretic