F1 2009 regulations PART 1: More overtaking?

The other potential problem is due to the scale of these changes we could see a bigger spread in the field. Currently the spread from front to back is under 2.0 seconds. This could very easily get alot bigger. Some teams will adapt brilliantly and some including those with a lesser budget won’t. A field that is more spread out could produce less close racing. Although in 2003 the field was more spread out (due to new regulations), we still saw great racing, as there were groups of teams within the field that were close together. Therefore this may not be a problem however it could be if one team does a far better job than anybody. That could turn 2009 into a season like 2002 or 2004. Let’s hope 2 or 3 teams are closely matched at the front!

The KERs could prove interesting. However whether it will improve racing I am not so sure. When a driver behind presses his boost button the driver in front could very easily press his button as well and counter it. However it will be all about when the driver decides to press the button. It could add an interesting tactical element. However I think being able to use 2 boosts a lap is far too much. I would have allowed drivers to boost 10-15 times over the course of a GP. I think that would have made the tactical element even more challenging. A driver who uses all his boosts too early could get themselves into big trouble later on in the race.

So in conclusion I think these new rules with regards to overtaking are a definite step in the right direction. However I think the FIA could have gone the full distance to make overtaking even more feasible and make it harder for engineers to reclaim a large quantity of the aero downforce in other areas. The other problem is we may end up with other unforeseen problems. For example will the new larger front wings get damaged more easily?

However in my opinion there are other changes still required to spice up the show along with these proposed changes. For example engines will still be rev-limited to 19,000 rpm and we will still be using control tyres (supplied by Bridgestone). These are two variables, which have disappeared. You need to have an advantage somewhere to overtake and varied engine rev limits and teams using different tyre suppliers were both interesting variables. We now have fewer variables where an advantage creating an overtaking opportunity exists than in the past.

As well the races will still be effectively 3 or 4 sprints thanks to re-fuelling during pit stops. Research has shown that there is a correlation between the time re-fuelling was introduced, and a lower amount of overtaking moves since then. Another thing as I mentioned in one of my recent articles is the points system, I don’t believe the current system motivates overtaking enough so I think that needs to be changed too.

Part two of my F1 2009 regulations article will focus on which teams will adapt best to the 2009 rules. I will publish this sometime during the weekend.

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