Formula 1 working to ensure more racing in wet weather can take place. F1 working to solve wet-weather problem.

Formula 1 is focusing on finding ways to make sure that more racing in wet weather can take place. This subject has become a major issue after the 2021 Belgian Grand Priz at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which due to the rain eventually turned out to be a farcical safety car-led washout with half points awarded.

Yet the trend over the years has been more and more caution in terms of letting the Formula 1 drivers tackle particularly slippery tracks, as Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn feels the big issue is actually visibility: “Interesting work on the spray and visibility has now begun. Fernando Alonso has told us that the sports cars are much better in the rain in that way, which is striking because you would think that with closed cockpits and windshields it would be more challenging. But Fernando told us the spray comes off the cars in a different way.” – the former Ferrari boss explained.

A lot of the focus has also fallen onto Pirelli’s wet tyres, but Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Head of F1 & Car Racing, explains that this is actually a “problem with the visibility that we cannot solve”.

Ross Brawn added that the situation will be improved with the radically different 2022 cars, “although it is certainly something we will look into further”.

Pirelli’s Mario Isola also thinks a third rain tyre – a ‘monsoon’ or extreme wet in addition to full wets and intermediates – would not be a solution.

“After Spa-Francorchamps there was a lot of talk about that, which of course we could do,” – the Pirelli Head of F1 & Car Racing said, as reported by German magazine Auto Motor und Sport – “But we are talking about reducing tyres and sustainability – so should we then make another one? I don’t think that’s the way to go. And it wouldn’t solve the visibility problem. The water still has to go somewhere” – Mario Isola stated.

Ross Brawn also doesn’t think an extreme wet tyre would tackle the issue of Formula 1 cars struggling to handle torrential conditions on track: “It’s a challenge for the tyres,” he said. “After a certain point, you can no longer solve aquaplaning.” – he concluded.