Formula 1 Cars Projected to Be Two Seconds Quicker in 2018
Expect records to fall next season.
A recent study performed by Pirelli shows that Formula 1 cars will likely be two seconds per lap faster by the end of next season. With the addition of the hypersoft compound and revised aerodynamics, teams are projected to see drastic improvement from this past season. F1 is ultimately working towards the goal of an overall five-second leap in comparison to 2015's best times, a feat that is well on its way to being achieved after every track saw improvement in 2017.
Motorsport tells that Pirelli's F1 racing manager Mario Isola is optimistic about the sport's direction going into 2018.
"At the beginning of next year they should be quicker by one second per lap, and during a year the normal rate of development is 1 – 1.5 seconds. So by the end of next year, they should be quicker by two seconds per lap."
One aspect that must be factored in, however, is the added weight from the now-mandatory Halo safety device. This equipment has been a hassle for teams as they develop their cars for next season and the additional heft could slow down times according to Isola.
"If we go softer with the tires, the cars could be ever quicker. But we have to remember that there is an additional weight with the Halo, and that will cost about three to four-tenths of a second, because of the weight plus aero implications."
The FIA bumped the minimum weight of the Halo to 6 kilograms for 2018, but teams like Force India have found that the necessary hardware and chassis bracing actually increases the load even more. This, along with the complicated structural integrity of the equipment, could make R&D even more difficult leading up to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
