F1 | Haas, Guenther Steiner on the new 2021 regulations: “We will still have enough freedom”

Guenther Steiner, Haas team principal, will finally be able to say goodbye to the VF-19 in a few days, after the Abu Dhabi race.

The Brazilian appointment still remains for Steiner and the American team, but the Italian boss, in the usual pre-race preview, wanted to focus on what will be the news for 2021.

The new regulations promise a closer mid-table battle, as will the battle on the track, with more overtaking and action.

The aerodynamics of the new Formula 1 cars are certainly different, renewed, almost futuristic: they herald a new era, while maintaining the original heart of the supreme motoring category.

"The development, regardless of the regulations, is always in the aerodynamic field. This is the main thing to develop – Steiner confirmed – there is still enough freedom as to which areas of the car we can develop to make them different from each other. We will try to achieve a little higher performance than our competitors. The bottom is always one of the most important things on a Formula 1 car. It has always been important and will continue to be important, so they won't change much in that regard. You always work to get as much performance out of the car as possible". 

Another novelty will be the new weight limit, increased from the current 743kg to 768.

"Nobody wants heavier cars in racing in general, and even more so in Formula 1. It doesn't make the cars feel linear when they turn. With all the technology, safety aspects and hybrid technology, you can't do without it. I don't think the 25 pounds will be the biggest factor in slowing cars down - it's more aerodynamics. Maybe we won't be where we want to be at first, but I'm pretty sure we'll end up being as fast as they are now. A lot also depends on the tires".

The new regulations still allow teams to have their own freedom in the creation and development of the single-seater, thus preventing F1 from becoming a single-brand series.

"It was the biggest discussion between FIA, FOM and the teams. The teams didn't want to have a single brand car. We didn't want to end up becoming a GP1 series. In the end, the FOM opted for creativity by opening up the regulation". 

Another big change is the budget cap: a spending limit for all teams, set at 175 million dollars. This, of course, does not mean that the teams will necessarily spend all the budget available, and this will maintain the gaps still present within the circus.

"I think initially the spending limit, or budget cap, will close the gap, but it won't eliminate it. We're far from spending $175 million right now, and the big teams are well above that. The big teams have to go down, and they will go down to $175 million, but most other teams are well within that figure. Let's hope he closes the gap to start, so we'll see. Maybe there is a second step in cost capping” concluded Steiner.