Technical Director of Mercedes, James Allison, believes that Formula 1’s attempts to regulate dirty air have taken the wrong direction. The change in the sport’s 2022 regulations aimed to promote closer races, prioritizing the downforce generated by the cars’ floors instead of the front and rear wings. However, Red Bull’s dominance continues for the third consecutive year, while other teams struggle to reduce the gap. Allison acknowledges that it is the teams’ responsibility to reduce the deficit, but he highlights certain flaws in the current regulations. He questions the wisdom of having cars that stick to the ground and emphasizes the importance of considering tire performance beyond turbulence control. Although Red Bull is performing well, Allison believes that all teams should strive to improve and does not blame the regulators for the situation. Looking to the future, Allison hopes that the FIA, the F1’s regulatory body, learns from the current regulations and prioritizes the interaction between the car’s floor, diffuser, and rear height management in the next rules. He suggests that the layout of the current floors, which negatively affects the cars’ response to rear height, should not be maintained in the 2026 regulations. Allison calls for a more balanced approach that takes into account both turbulence management and other factors.
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