2011 Season: Teams Change, Regulations Too

The past two seasons have seen a lot of technical innovations arrive rapidly on the single-seaters of the top category: double diffuser, flexible wing, F-Duct, and others. But regulations evolve over the years.

Let’s take a look at the main changes decided for this 2011 season:

The 107% rule makes its return.

This rule, which has been absent for a few years, prevents a significant gap between the different cars in the race. To be eligible to start, the 23 drivers must complete a timed lap that does not exceed 107% of the fastest time in Q1. That said, the race management reserves the right to allow a driver to race if exceptional circumstances prevented them from succeeding.

Return of the Kers (SREC)

The KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) will make its return in 2011. Although not banned this year, all the teams on the grid had decided not to use it. As a reminder, this system allows the recovery of energy dissipated during braking, to be reused at the driver’s request to benefit from a power boost for a few seconds.

Removal of the adjustable front wing

The angle of the front wing on single-seaters can no longer be adjusted during the race by the driver, which raises significant questions about the settings to adopt, given the weight difference between an F1 car at the start of a race and at the finish.

Introduction of an adjustable rear wing

To improve the show, the FIA has decided to allow teams to adopt a system that adjusts the angle of the rear wing, which reduces downforce and provides a speed gain on the straight. However, a restriction is imposed on the use of this system: only a driver who is within one second of a competitor will be allowed to activate the device, in order to aid overtaking.

Ban on dual diffuser

Everyone remembers the surprise created by Brawn GP in 2009 with its double diffuser car, which allowed them to gain a significant advantage at the start of the season. Following numerous discussions, the decision has been made to ban it starting this year. A significant loss of downforce is expected on the cars.

Ban of the F-Duct

The system invented by McLaren will be banned starting in 2011. As a reminder, the driver had to use either their leg (like the McLaren drivers) or their hands (like the Renault drivers, for example) to interrupt an airflow passing through the cockpit. This maneuver allowed for a reduction in the effectiveness of the rear wing, thereby gaining a few precious km/h on the straight. However, the danger posed by certain systems led the FIA to ban its use.

Team instructions

The instructions given to teams to their drivers are no longer prohibited. The controversy raised by Ferrari during the German Grand Prix eventually led to the removal of this rule, referred to as “Hypocritical” by most teams.

That said, the FIA can always invoke Article 151c of the International Sporting Code if necessary, which refers to « Any fraudulent conduct or unfair practice likely to harm the integrity of competitions or the interests of motorsport. »

Here are the main changes for Formula 1 in 2011, which should see a significant reduction in downforce on the cars and improved overtaking opportunities.