Adrian Newey apprehensive about 2014 noses

After certain incidents during contact between drivers, such as the spectacular somersault of Mark Webber in Valencia in 2010, increasingly drastic measures have been put in place regarding the nose height of single-seaters. This notably resulted in the stepped nose designs seen during 2012, which were mostly hidden with a specific cover in 2013.

The new regulations were introduced after FIA research showed that lowering the nose height reduces the chances of cars being launched, as in Mark’s crash when he hit Kovalainen, the aerodynamicist explains. But while these regulations reduce the risk of the car taking off, they might well increase other risks.

« I must admit that I’m a bit afraid the opposite might happen now, that cars could now go under another. If you hit the back of the car and then go underneath, you’ll end up in the crash box, which in my opinion is a much worse scenario. »

Outside of the safety issues posed by this new regulation, Adrian Newey confirms the trend observed in the discipline: “I find it unfortunate that the regulation creates hideous solutions, as we’ve seen on some of the cars that have been unveiled. It’s not purely a technical question since we have to produce the most efficient car possible, without thinking about its appearance. But I think the shape of the cars, the sound they produce, are part of the essence of Formula 1. And it’s unfortunate if the cars are no longer appealing.”

But the shape of the nose of the single-seaters is not Adrian Newey’s only concern. In recent seasons, the Red Bulls have suffered from problems with the KERS. Although it has been replaced by the ERS, there remains a major issue: the batteries and their placement in the vehicle. Until now, they were placed under the gearbox for reasons of space and optimal weight distribution. Now, they must be placed below the fuel tank, in the center of the car.

« This was decided for safety reasons, but I am not sure that placing a battery under a gas tank is less dangerous than placing them behind the engine. These batteries can suffer from overheating after an impact, which is difficult to predict, and once we are in this situation with such a large battery, it is very difficult to control. »

But more than potential damage to the cars, Adrian Newey is concerned about the people who will be in contact with them, particularly the drivers and the pit crew: « I don’t think it endangers driver safety given that you see it coming with a reasonable lead time, but it remains dangerous. I also think the voltages are very high. Pit lane safety will be paramount and will be a big challenge with these cars. »

Adrian Newey thus fears this new regulation, but not because of potential performance loss for Red Bull. The designer is mainly concerned about the safety of the individuals who will be operating around these new single-seaters.