Formula 1. In 2011 standard balance of the cars

In 2011, Formula One single-seaters could be subject to a weight distribution between the front and rear axle that is the same for all. The idea comes directly from the FOTA technical group, chaired by Ross Brawn, but will have to be examined by the other teams.

The percentage ratio between the two axes that could be applied from next season could be 46:54 and the cause lies in the arrival of Pirelli as the new sole supplier of the Circus.

The teams would like to avoid the problems that arose at the beginning of 2009 when Bridgestone changed the design of its tires, forcing the teams to make expensive modifications to correct the weight distribution.

Ross Brawn: “If the weight distribution were to remain free then some might get it right, randomly, while others might get it completely wrong. This is what we want to avoid."

Having cars with an approved weight distribution would level a very important value in the competitiveness of the single-seater. This year at Mercedes, for example, they realized at the beginning of the championship that they had made a mistake in the calculations on weight distribution and had to intervene by lengthening the car wheelbase to remedy the situation. The Renault of the world titles with Alonso had its own specific weight distribution moved widely to the rear (to make the Michelin tires work better) but when, in 2007, they returned to the single Bridgestone tire in Enstone they realized that this criterion was no longer suitable and we had to take the opposite direction.

Robert Ferrari