Other restrictions will affect vehicle design and manufacturing processes, rig testing, suspension, brake and hydraulic systems development, bodywork, weight distribution, on-track testing and the number of personnel that may work at races, reports AutoWeek. The decision is to provide smaller and less affluent teams with a more equal footing in terms of development budget, which should, theoretically, make races more interesting.
Of all the cost cutting measures planned, the limits to aerodynamic testing are likely to be the most frustrating for engineers. The new rules also stipulate that only a 60% scale model can be used in wind tunnel tests, and only one model can be used during a session. Full scale tests will only be allowed on a race track with a real car and only for five days out of the year.