Tombazis says he is “satisfied with the direction of the aero characteristics”

2019 marks a first stage of change in technical regulations in F1 before a major upheaval expected in 2021.

If current single-seaters should not resemble their future little sisters, Nicholas Tombazis, technical Manager car at the FIA, believes that the work accomplished, particularly on the wings of the 1 F2019, is bearing fruit.

The FIA ​​particularly wanted to allow single-seaters to follow each other more easily, and thus be able to increase overtaking on the track.

“Looking at the cars in testing and seeing some of the solutions, there's no doubt that maybe we could have changed the rules slightly, but that's often the way it goes, comments Tombazis in the latest issue of AUTO.

Overall, I am satisfied with the direction of the aerodynamic characteristics. I certainly don't think we have reached the definitive point we are looking for and we can never remain indifferent and say, "OK, everything is fine."

However, I think if we hadn't gone through this process and were writing the 2021 rules, we would be in a much weaker position. For what we are trying to achieve, 2019 is a very useful exercise and has eased the turbulence in the wake of the single-seaters. »

In terms of overtaking, Tombazis admits that certain race simulations suggest an overtaking rate up 50% this season, while recalling that the evolution of lap times was not the priority for the governing bodies.

“If we were 20” slower it would be a different story, but a second or two at where we are is irrelevant if it translates into a closer race. »Pierre