F1 shouldn’t limit the potential for innovation – Wolff · RaceFans

Formula 1 teams say the sport must keep its spirit of innovation after F1’s motorsport director Ross Brawn warned some developments could be banned within one race from next year.

Speaking before the launch of the new Mercedes – and the discovery of its Dual Axis Steering system – Wolff said F1 should not discourage teams from pursuing innovations.

“Innovation will always be at the core of Formula 1,” he said. “This is what we do and it’s part of the DNA.

“I don’t think we should be limiting the potential for innovation. If somebody comes up with a clever idea they should be allowed to race it if it’s within the regulations.”

The restrictive nature of the new rules for the 2021 F1 season have led some teams to warn car designs will become very similar. McLaren technical director James Key point out the cost cap which is due to come into force next year will also limit opportunities for development.

“We’ve got to leave the technical innovation of F1 to have its freedoms but I think that within limits which don’t end up being ridiculously expensive – with the cost cap, of course, you’re going to control some of that – or rely on technologies which only a few have got access to.”

Key hopes next year’s rules will continue to “leave room and space for innovation as well”.

“I do think you’ve got to allow innovations to, in some way, make a difference,” he said. “My personal hope is, and I’m sure we share that here and in other teams, that in an environment where you have slightly more restrictive regs in ’21 and you have a cost cap as well, it’s going to be more about the drivers, more down to the smart engineering and all the operational side, more down to the quality of what you’re doing rather than how much you’re spending. And part of that is to be able to innovate.”

Renault sporting director Alan Permane admitted the team felt some envy over Mercedes’ DAS system, but doesn’t want the sport to prevent teams gaining an advantage on their rivals this way.

“F1 is not all about, but it is about, innovation,” he said. “It’s about people differentiating, it’s about finding that edge on your competitors.

“So whilst we’re, let’s say, jealous or frustrated or whatever we are about Mercedes, they’ve clearly found something they think is a benefit and I think that’s one of the wonderful things about Formula 1.

“I don’t know how it’ll work in 2021, whether projects like that would ever get off the ground. If you go to F1 and say, ‘I’ve got this and it’s going to be worth a two-tenths of a lap to me’ and they’re going to shut it down in two races, you may not ever see that sort of thing.

“So I think there’s a line and I think we need to be careful that we don’t quash that sort of free thinking and that sort of spirit, because that’s part of the DNA of Formula 1.”

Mercedes could still face a legality fight over its Dual Axis Steering system. Read more in today’s RacingLines column on RaceFans