Analyzing issue of shortened F1 practice: half hour that makes difference. Analyzing issue of shortened F1 practice.

High-rake, low-rake, flexible wings. There was certainly no lack of discussion topics regarding the revisions of the regulations decided by the FIA for the 2021 Formula 1 season, which in various ways, for better or for worse, have and are having an impact on the current championship. Among the various innovations, however, there is one that has passed without too much attention. An apparently marginal change, yet capable of upsetting the balance of teams and drivers in the days leading up to the grand prix. In the latest episode of the official Circus F1 Nation podcast, the Federation’s decision to reduce the time of Friday’s free practice sessions from 90 to 60 minutes has been discussed.

Half an hour more or less on Friday, even if it doesn’t seem like it, makes a huge difference. The drivers, in fact, in just one hour cannot put together a sufficient number of laps to evaluate with the right approximation the deterioration of the tires during the race. During the broadcast, the concept was repeated several times by the commentator Tom Clarkson: “With the current rules a driver can do eight, at most ten laps in a row, which means that the teams cannot get a precise idea. what will happen to the tires between stops, how quickly and to what extent they will wear out. It is all a great unknown to which, for now, there does not seem to be a convincing answer ”.

Tom Clarkson, who moderates the interviews during the post-race press conferences every weekend, analyzed the issue of shortened free practice sessions, taking as an example what happened to some teams at the French Grand Prix: “Ferrari was sure not to have any problems, but as the minutes went by, lap after lap, the race had unexpected difficulties ”. According to Clarkson, one of the few teams that despite the difficulties of assessments arising from the regulation seems to have taken the right measures with the management of the tires is McLaren, which often proves to be very effective in the race despite not having shone in the Friday sessions: “It’s like their car is easier to drive. The reason why? I don’t know, but it was nice to see Daniel (Ricciardo) back in great shape.”