FORMULA ONE HAS undergone a radical overhaul of its technical regulations for the new season.
McLaren’s executive technical director James Key breaks down the “massive” changes in the rules, and how they’re likely to make races even closer and more dramatic in the battles for both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
Why have the regulations been revamped?
“The major reason is to improve the ability to race,” Key explains. “Formula One cars generate jet-fighter performance with huge amounts of downforce. But they rely on clean air to create that performance.
“When a driver follows another car and gets stuck in the so-called ‘dirty air’, the performance drop-off is massive, they cannot keep up, and that has made racing difficult.”
So, what’s changed?
“To remove that problem, Formula One, its governing body the FIA, and the teams, have come together to create a machine which is far less susceptible to the car in front.
“We have moved from 13-inch Pirelli wheels to 18-inch wheels. We have mud-guards over the front tyres, a simpler front wing design, and a new floor which has been raised a long way above the ground.
“The changes have been introduced to generate an air-flow which compliments the car behind, rather than hinder it. As far as aesthetics go, the most striking aspect are the new sidepods. The car is also heavier, up 50 kilograms from last year to almost 800 kilos.”
Does it work?
“The early signs seem to suggest that it is easier to follow. Hopefully it will also reduce the performance difference between the teams and create a tighter grid. The closer racing will be more fun for the drivers and the sport only benefits from that entertainment.”
How big a challenge has it been?
“From a technical perspective, it has been a huge challenge because it is a massive change. This is my 25th season in Formula One and it is certainly the biggest change I have seen during my time in the sport.
“We have had hefty changes in the past, but all of those were based around the same principles and you could adapt what you already knew. But this year, we have started with a clean sheet of paper, and that has never been the case before.”
And what about Mercedes’ new sidepods?
“Hats off to them for giving it a go. It is a brave decision to go for something so different which needs quite a lot of mechanical engineering to get it to work.
“You might also say it is just one of 10 different concepts. Mercedes’ tiny sidepods are on the other end of the scale to Ferrari’s, but I am sure they will both be competitive.
“Perhaps that suggests the sidepods will not be a major player. Mercedes have certainly gone the most extreme so it will be interesting to see how it pans out and if that was the right way to go.”
Has anyone stolen an advantage?
“This year, more than ever, it is really difficult to tell. Teams run different tyres, fuel, and engine modes – all of which significantly change how fast the car is – during testing and there is no point showing your hand. It seems to be reasonably close.
“One has to believe Mercedes and Red Bull will be strong. They have both been bold with their designs, which you might expect given their legacies of investment, success and the methodologies which have worked for them in the past. Ferrari do look strong and where we are in that mix? I don’t know.
“None of us can predict how the grid will shape up in Bahrain. We will only find out on Sunday.”
Ireland internationals Devin Toner and Lindsay Peat were our guests for The Front Row’s special live event, in partnership with Guinness, this week.
The panel chats through Ireland’s championship chances ahead of the final round of Guinness Six Nations matches, and members of the Emerald Warriors – Ireland’s first LGBT+ inclusive rugby team – also join us to talk about breaking down barriers in rugby.
Click here to subscribe or listen below:
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So many penalties against Leinster makes me look at the ref again. When you see the ref awarding 50/50 decisions in one direction suggests the dice is loaded. France rugby and English rugby are in cohoots with the sponcers against Irish rugby.
@Brendan O’Callaghan: just look at last year’s final. Carley screaming abuse at Ross Byrne for asking if Jenkins can get medical attention.
@Brendan O’Callaghan: ah yea blame the ref for Leinster’s poor performance so far
@Brendan O’Callaghan: that time when the Bristol player played the ball on the ground after VDF broke and nearly scored. Outrageous from ref – he just invented a knock on to avoid giving the Bristol player a YC for very cynical play. Leinster discipline has been poor though
@robert kelly: Who is blaming the ref for Leinster playing bad? Weird chap.
@Mick Joe: Co the jets there Mick I must say it seemed to me like you and Brendan were blaming ref and making excuses… I’m just a neutral watching a game of rugby
@Brendan O’Callaghan: this is Top14 reffing, it’s a different beast you can get 3 yellows at once if your really lucky
@Michael Corkery: did josh not lose the ball forward just prior to that?
I thought Prendergast couldn’t carry or threaten the line?
Ref doesn’t do refing.
Can’t believe the whinging by the goys on here tonight….. unbelievable Jeff!
Ref doesn’t do scrums.
@Jofus Soap: yea, some very dodgy calls. Typically French
Give me Leinster with Lancaster any day before this Nienbar tripe
Leinster by 15
Leinster by 14
@Shanie: one more for my big bet bro
@Shanie: 14 point win would be nice, BP even better, but I am not sure it will be that easy. Really hard to tell which teams will show up for CC in the first round. Hopefully Bristol will be thinking more about the Prem.
@Paul Ennis: TBH just messing it will be a tough game
@Gary Galligan: Hopefully you get your 25 cent win
@Shanie: 40 euro
@Gary Galligan: Interesting
Was this referee born in Bristol?
No arms tackle by Sam ?
Soccer slide tackle by Sam.
@Jofus Soap: He was penalised for it.
@Mick Joe:
indeed
@Jofus Soap: Thanks for your commentary. Keep up the good work
@Jofus Soap: Are you one of these supporters who have Sam Error Alert set on your phone so you don’t have to bother enjoying watching the rugby??
@Paul Ennis:
Sam’s a sound young lad.
So TMO comes in for that but doesn’t bother with blatant hands in the ruck on Bristol’s own line? Absolute cheats
@teuO6nLS: it was a blatant trip from a try scoring opportunity
@robert kelly: Agreed. TMO absolutely had to come in for that. But he also should have checked hands in the ruck 5m from the line. Also a try scoring opportunity and resulted in a scrum to Bristol followed by a penalty given away by JGP. Ref cannot see everything but I think that is worthy of a TMO intervention. Bristol try also looked like it had a Leinster hand under it.
@robert kelly: the complete lack of consistency is my point. Blatant hands in a ruck on your own line when the referee has called a knock on and you don’t get involved? But a questionable “trip” from a player still completing a tackle has you suddenly getting involved?
Either call both or neither. Only calling one stinks of bias
@teuO6nLS: Difference is that one is classified as foul play and the other is cynical play. You cannot trip a player – it will be a yellow card anywhere on the pitch. A different TMO on a different day may have intervened.
@teuO6nLS: yea fair enough. Deegan knew exactly what he was doing tho you can clearly see it on the replay. I think the majority of the penalties have been justified and calling the ref a disgrage is a bit extreme. I’m no rugby expert but the conditions are difficult which promotes a lot of unforced errors. Scrappy but also entertaining game so far with a little bit of niggle adding to it
@teuO6nLS: got away with one there Mccarthy could probably on a yellow as that trip was bordering blatant as well
@robert kelly: a “trip” where he’s got an arm wrapped around the opposition player? It’s a tackle
Lads relax. If Leinster come away with losing bonus point, it will be a good day out. They are hopeless.
@Ray Ridge: Ray ….your trolling is extremely poor. I’d expect higher class trolling from a kid in primary school. You’re an example of where practice does not make perfect.
@Ray Ridge: Your hopeless
@Ray Ridge: you were saying ?
@Shanie: They were hopeless. That first half performance won’t get them within an asses roar of the top French sides.
@Ray Ridge: Rugby is an 80 mins game fyi
@Ray Ridge: that one hasn’t worn too well….
@Ray Ridge:
Chokers should win no trophy on offer
@Tony McGrath: You’re a pathet1c boy.
@Tony McGrath: You’re sound like an expert on choking……probably have really hairy hands as a result
@Tony McGrath: your a complete tosser
Disgrace of a referee.
Leinster by 5
Class
Leinster by 13
Refereree adjudicatior should keep that man away from a rugby pitch for quite a while.
Farcical end to that game
That some mullet on the number 10
Slimani has taken Cordero’s crown of being the most useless NIQ ever to play in Ireland
@5sZl1dX2: Did you see Corderos pathetic attempt at a tackle in the 7th minute for Zebre opening try. The guy should be sent straight back to wherever he came from.
Leinster are hopeless says your man and yet there hammering the english side second in there league dumb dumb
Jesus these Leinster pukes in the comment really don’t like when they get reffed do they? Pathetic
@5sZl1dX2: Are you even looking at the game kiddo?
@5sZl1dX2: Making up their excuses already ……. Donnacha OCallaghan was right when he Leinster are under huge pressure this year to win in Europe. They have spent as much money as the Children’s Hospital Lmao!
@5sZl1dX2: stick to mini rugby please.
@Mick Joe: yes I am. Leinster are choking but what’s new?
@5sZl1dX2: At least they’re in the mixer. When was Munster last in the business end of a European competition? Remember the great Peter O’Mahony has won 1 trophy with Munster. He has more trophies with his Leinster buddies.
@Mick Joe: and Fineen Wycherley has more club trophies than Joe McCarthy, does that mean he’s a better player? Flute
@Lulu: Come again?
@5sZl1dX2: You’ve completely missed the point there Harold. Not the first thing to go completely over your head.
@Shanie: Google it Sunshine!
@Lulu: Money well spent by the looks of things. Pity Munsters big money spend in the past was such an abject failure. Makes it all the sweeter seeing him play so well for Leinster.
And poor Jack is going to lose his #10 Ireland jersey as well…
@James: on his displays against Fiji, Australia and tonight he’s a raw attacking talent but can’t tackle to save his life. Will improve but needs constant game time with Leinster.
@mark sheehan: Can’t tackle…a bit like Jack
@James: hahahahahhahahahaha
@5sZl1dX2: tosser,stade were complete shite,otherwise you red muppetts eould have lost…really agsinst 13 players thats the best u could muster
@James: spoken like a true totally biased dumdf# ck.
@5sZl1dX2: the Munster lads coming out swinging hahaha love it!
@David Clarke: bahahahahhhahHhhH
@mark sheehan: That’s not what your ma moaned to me last night…..she’s some goer
@James: that’s about your level, rooting around in graveyards.
Easy money
@Gary Galligan: least your good at preditions unlike some on here
It’s freezing here! Windy too!
@Oran Burns: North poll
Lucky boy all right.
Instinctive though
Who’s that geezer !!