2021 F1 Regulations
Trimming the Floor, Capping the Budget
The big rule overhaul was pushed back a year by the pandemic, so the 2020 cars carried over with changes aimed at one problem: teams had developed downforce faster than the 2019-spec Pirelli tyres were built to cope with. The FIA cut a triangular section out of the floor ahead of the rear tyres, banned floor slots, trimmed the rear brake duct winglets and cut the height of the diffuser strakes by 50 mm, aiming to remove around 10 percent of downforce. The first budget cap arrived at the same time, at $145M. The 13-inch tyres stayed for one more year, with the move to 18-inch wheels delayed to 2022.
Typical Engine
Configuration
V6
Capacity
1.6L
Aspiration
Turbo-Hybrid
Power
~1000 hp (estimates vary)
What Changed
Floor
Full floor ahead of the rear tyres
Triangular cut-out ahead of the rear tyres
Floor Slots
Allowed
Banned
Rear Brake Ducts
Larger winglets
Winglets reduced
Diffuser Strakes
Taller dividing strakes
Cut in height by 50 mm
Downforce
Baseline
About 10% less (FIA simulations: ~0.5 s per lap slower)
Budget Cap
No spending limit
$145M cap introduced
Wheels
13-inch (18-inch planned)
13-inch kept, 18-inch moved to 2022
Impact on Racing
- The cuts were about protecting the tyres rather than slowing the cars for its own sake: the FIA's simulations suggested around half a second a lap
- The budget cap was a first for F1 and set the stage for the 2022 reset, when it tightened to $140M
- On track, Red Bull and Mercedes fought a title battle that went to the final race of the season
What changed in the 2021 F1 regulations?
The big rule overhaul was pushed back a year by the pandemic, so the 2020 cars carried over with changes aimed at one problem: teams had developed downforce faster than the 2019-spec Pirelli tyres were built to cope with. Key changes: Floor: Full floor ahead of the rear tyres to Triangular cut-out ahead of the rear tyres; Floor Slots: Allowed to Banned; Rear Brake Ducts: Larger winglets to Winglets reduced; Diffuser Strakes: Taller dividing strakes to Cut in height by 50 mm.
How did the 2021 regulations affect racing?
The cuts were about protecting the tyres rather than slowing the cars for its own sake: the FIA's simulations suggested around half a second a lap. The budget cap was a first for F1 and set the stage for the 2022 reset, when it tightened to $140M. On track, Red Bull and Mercedes fought a title battle that went to the final race of the season.
What engines did F1 cars use under the 2021 rules?
V6, 1.6L, Turbo-Hybrid, around ~1000 hp (estimates vary). Notable engines: Mercedes M12 E Performance, Ferrari 065/6, Honda RA621H.