Mercedes Technical Director James Allison believes that Formula 1’s attempts to regulate dirty air have taken the wrong direction. The sport’s 2022 regulation change aimed to promote closer racing by prioritizing downforce generated by car floors rather than front and rear wings. However, Red Bull’s dominance continues into a third year, as other teams struggle to close the gap. Allison acknowledges that it is the responsibility of the teams to narrow the deficit but points out certain flaws in the current regulations. He questions the wisdom of having cars that hug the ground tightly and emphasizes the importance of considering tire performance in addition to controlling wakes. While Red Bull is performing well, Allison believes that all teams must strive to do better and does not blame the regulators for the situation. Looking ahead to the future, Allison hopes that the FIA, F1’s governing body, will learn from the current regulations and prioritize the interaction between the car floor, diffuser, and rear ride height management in the next rule set. He suggests that the layout of the current floors, which negatively impacts the cars’ response to rear ride height, should not be carried over to the 2026 regulations. Allison calls for a more balanced approach that considers both wake management and other factors.
Hendrick Motorsports' driver, Kyle Larson, is considering participating in more IndyCar races in the future. Larson, who will be making his debut at the Indy 500 this season...
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