Charles Leclerc hopes F1 will discover a higher stability between weight and downforce. He hopes that for the 2026 laws, Components 1 can strike a superb stability between lowering weight and sustaining its “spectacular” ranges of downforce.
The extreme weight of the present F1 vehicles has turn out to be more and more unpopular amongst drivers and groups, with this yr’s minimal weight being 798 kg, which is 200 kg greater than the vehicles from 15 years in the past.
This is likely one of the key facets that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem desires to handle within the upcoming 2026 laws cycle, though most groups consider that F1 would do effectively to maintain the automobile weight at an identical stage, following the proposal to separate electrical and V6 engine energy 50/50, which would require heavier batteries.
Charles Leclerc has joined his colleagues in hoping that automobile weight could be lowered, however he additionally hopes that the “very spectacular” downforce ranges of the 2023 period could be maintained.
“I got here to Components 1 in 2018, and the vehicles have been already fairly heavy. I by no means had the possibility to drive a automobile from 2008/2009, however final yr I had the chance to drive the Ferrari F2004 in Abu Dhabi, and regardless that I used to be on monitor with 50 kg of gas, I felt a major distinction in comparison with in the present day’s vehicles. I don’t like heavy vehicles as a result of they’re much less agile, and this turns into very obvious in low-speed corners,” Charles Leclerc mentioned in an unique interview with Motorsport.com.
“However on the similar time, the sensations now we have in the present day in medium to high-speed corners are unimaginable. We’ve got an unbelievable aerodynamic load in comparison with 12 or 13 years in the past. It’s a matter of stability, however I’m certain I don’t wish to improve the load now we have now.”
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Charles Leclerc finds the present ground-effect vehicles “extra unpredictable” to drive, however he thinks that groups will proceed to make enhancements because the laws mature.
“Within the final 10-15 years up till 2021, the vehicles behaved roughly the identical method, whereas since final season, we’re coping with a really completely different philosophy that groups are nonetheless discovering. There’s nonetheless quite a lot of room for enchancment. These vehicles are way more delicate to adjustments in comparison with the earlier ones. It’s simple to modify from a superb stability to a nasty one with a small change, and that’s why we regularly see unpredictable swings.” – the Ferrari man identified.
Chatting with the sister web site of Motorsport.com, Motorsport-Whole.com, FIA President Ben Sulayem mentioned that the need for lighter vehicles is shared by the FIA and Components 1.
“We’re evaluating this facet. It’s doable, and it could be higher for all events concerned,” he mentioned. “We’re attending to the primary level of why we’re doing this, which is definitely to make sure that we obtain what we promised, particularly an 80% discount in emissions. Maybe we’re a bit too optimistic. Let’s say that our objective is an 80% enchancment, which comes from a lighter automobile, the inner combustion engine, the battery, aerodynamics, and fewer gas. All these components collectively make a distinction. If we exclude one in all them from the equation, we gained’t have the ability to attain our objective.” – FIA President Ben Sulayem defined.
Aug 22, 2023
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