Source: Williams Media

F1 News

Lowe: F1 has overtaking weapon now

Lowe: F1 has overtaking weapon now

20-09-2018 10:20
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Bobby Vincent

Formula One's newest push to try and increase overtaking can avoid previous pitfalls because teams now have a weapon that hasn't been around before, according to Paddy Lowe.

A project is currently in process, with the aim to try and make the sport more entertaining for the drivers and viewers.

An initial change will be made in time for next season, but the full effect won't be around until the 2021 season, where there is a big overhaul of regulations set to take place, which some teams such as Ferrari, are unsure about.

Lowe, who is Williams' technical chief, has said that F1 has not felt the positive impact of such a change before and will help get rid of any unintended consequences of their planned regulation changes.

"The more work you can put into it, the better," the Williams man said to Motorsport.com. "The good thing now is that F1 are actually spending money on a central R&D for aerodynamic performance which never existed before.

"The OWG was just a one-off project with a fixed amount of time that was paid for by the teams with an outside contractor.

"I think if the OWG had continued another year they would have looked at the cars that had been created and thought up another round of tests.

"So, I think it is good that F1 have permanent staff dealing with that subject. It will improve the ability to track what is happening and stop unwanted side-effects much more quickly should they occur."