George Russell proposed changing the regulations

From 2021, Formula 1’s sporting regulations will limit the amount of time teams can spend on aerodynamic research. It will provide for a special handicap scale, the essence of which is that teams that finished higher in the constructors’ championship the previous season will be allowed to work in the wind tunnel and use CFD technology to a lesser extent than their less successful rivals.

Mercedes driver George Russell has suggested changing the sport’s rules and introducing a different principle to the handicap scale. Speaking to journalists in the paddock at the Spielberg circuit, he argued that limiting the time for this type of research is the right approach, but that its effectiveness is currently questionable.

Red Bull Racing won the Constructors’ Championship for two years in a row and still lead the standings, having won seven of the first ten races of the season, despite other teams already competing for victories. As a result, the current handicap system does not fully justify itself, and Russell believes it makes more sense to limit the time for aerodynamic research not based on the team’s position in the Constructors’ Championship, but on the number of points earned.

“I think this wind tunnel idea is really good, but at the moment it is based on team placings rather than points,” RacingNews365 quoted George as saying. – Red Bull earned twice as many points as the team that took second place, but the difference in their wind tunnel times was the same as between the teams that took second and third place.

At the same time, Mercedes was only 3 points ahead of Ferrari last year. If this approach were based on points earned, rather than championship position, teams might be able to catch up to the leaders more quickly.

Fans want to see competition on the track, with drivers from different teams really competing with each other, and it’s great that there is no one dominant force in the championship at the moment. I think if the rules are set up correctly, the team can catch up with the front runners and different cars will be fighting for wins.

It will be very interesting to see how the rest of the season will go and what the balance of power will be next year. I believe we will see an interesting battle if four or even seven teams can claim victory. But then 2026 comes and big changes will happen again. We know from history that the best races are likely to take place towards the end of the regulation period. Perhaps the rules could then remain in force indefinitely.”