McLaren sees development slowdown in third year of F1 rules

McLaren technical director Andrea Stella believes F1 teams will be facing diminishing returns on their development this season as the field tightens in the third year of the sport’s ground effect regulations.

Since the introduction of Grand Prix racing’s new regulation platform in 2022, the F1 landscape has transformed.

While Max Verstappen and Red Bull have maintained dominance, the midfield has witnessed a dramatic tightening.

The 2023 season saw some of the closest lap time gaps in history, with all 10 teams pushing each other for position.

Although the past two seasons have seen substantial aerodynamic progress, resulting in faster cars and a tighter midfield battle, Stella believes that unlocking additional performance gains through aero development might now become harder to achieve

Stella, as reported by Motorsport.com, commented that he believes this year will be the first time we see diminishing returns when adding lap time due to the new regulations.

In the past two years, we have observed significant progress, particularly in aerodynamic advancements.

However, I predict that as we approach the end of the season, it will become more challenging for designers to maintain such rapid development.

This is the reason why, as mentioned earlier, we can stay competitive if we maintain the same pace of development we have seen in the past 12 months.

Stella proposed that as F1’s budget cap continues to mature and restrictions on aerodynamic testing are implemented, it will result in a fair competition for all teams.

He explained that he hopes to see the budget cap gradually leveling the playing field in the sport over time.

“Furthermore, we need to consider the limitations on aerodynamics, as successful cars in terms of championships have fewer opportunities for aerodynamic testing.”

I hope that these rules will create a fair competition and improve the enjoyment and competitiveness of the sport through better outcomes.