Within just two years, Formula 1 will have significant regulatory changes that will affect various aspects of the cars. They will have new power units, with a greater emphasis on electrical components, but active aerodynamics is also being considered to compensate for the loss of speed resulting from the engines.
The plans included a removable rear wing, generating more aerodynamic downforce in corners while reducing aerodynamic load on straights to increase top speeds. However, according to the Motorsport.com website, simulator tests conducted by teams showed that at high speeds the cars would have so little aerodynamic load that they would spin out just by accelerating on the straight due to lack of downforce.
Simulations with the lowest drag configuration and maximum engine power show that drivers would spin out on straights and smaller corners would be impossible to navigate without the rear end sliding out. It is believed that the active rear wing studied has three times the effect on aerodynamic balance compared to the current DRS.
A source from the aforementioned website suggests that, in this context, the only solution for the cars to be drivable would be to limit them in such a way that they would be slower than the current Formula 2 cars. However, the FIA is already on top of the matter and has concluded that it will also be necessary to have an active front wing to achieve the desired characteristics. One thing is certain, time is running out, with teams having about a year and a half to have the cars ready.
