The Formula 1 cars were supposed to finally lose some weight this year. But after back and forth in recent weeks, the teams have reached an agreement with the FIA that the minimum weight will remain the same as in the previous season.
It is one of the drivers’ biggest criticisms of the current Formula 1 generation. The racing cars are simply too heavy and thus too sluggish, especially in slow corners. In the past years, the minimum weight specified in paragraph 4.1 of the technical regulations knew only one direction – upwards. In the period from 2013 to 2022, the racing cars gained a whopping 156 kilograms.
The first major increase in weight came right at the beginning of this decade. The introduction of the turbo hybrid engines in the 2014 season caused the limit to shoot up from 642 to 691 kilograms (+49 kg). In the following years until 2021, the increased use of standard components, the ban on expensive lightweight materials, improved safety measures and larger tyres ensured that the limit was raised step by step to 749 kilograms.
The next big step in the weight ladder was climbed in 2022 with the introduction of ground effect cars. Actually, a limit of 795 kilograms was planned for the start of the new aerodynamics era. But because only one team, Alfa Romeo, came close to this limit shortly before the start of the previous season, the FIA added another three kilograms at the last minute.
But no turnaround in 2023
After years of increase, a turnaround was finally expected for the next Formula One championship. The last published draft of the technical regulations, which were approved by the World Motor Sport Council at the end of June, provided for a diet of two kilogrammes – which means from 798 kg it was to go down to 796 kg. Not much, but at least something, the drivers praised. At least it was going in the right direction.
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But at the last meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), in which the technical directors of the ten teams constantly discuss rule changes with representatives of the FIA, new figures were brought into play again and again. From the starting point of 796 kg, it initially went up to 799 kg via 797 kg. That would even have meant an increase in the minimum weight.
At the last meeting
In the last meeting in mid-January, the engineers agreed on a limit of 798 kilograms, which will now apply for the start of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign. So everything remains the same. It is not entirely clear why the original target could not be met. It is said that the new front tyres from Pirelli had increased somewhat in comparison to last year’s product.
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