Formula 1 in 10 years: Is the cost cap leading to better racing?
While it all sounds promising for teams to be racing much more closely together in 10 years, change is coming in little over one.
New regulations in 2026 see a much more efficient engine and tweaks to the aerodynamics and tyres, which F1 and the sport’s governing body the FIA hope will improve the show yet further.
Tyres, and their unpredictable nature, have been one of the elements many – in particular the drivers – have been vocal about in recent years.
“I don’t think honestly we need big changes in Formula 1 now,” says Mario Isola, racing manager for F1 tyre supplier Pirelli.
“Many races have been very interesting. There has been a lot of action on track, overtaking. What we want as spectators is this kind of racing. I believe we can fine tune elements; races with two pitstops are more interesting than races with a single strategy.”
Williams have witnessed F1 from both ends of the competition chasm over time. The Oxfordshire-based team dominated Formula 1 at times during the ’80s and ’90s.
But in recent years they have struggled to compete with major manufacturers’ spending.
Williams boss Vowles is now on the frontline of what he sees as real change.
“Two athletes at top of their game,” he says. “Everyone every weekend, wherever you’re sitting, looks at it and goes: ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s going to be exciting.’ That’s good sport. And that’s what we have now.
“I think you’re going to see even more in 2025. In 2025 you’re going to have four or five teams capable of winning a championship, all capable of winning on any different weekend.
“It’s not down specifically to can you overtake, but can you create an environment where these elite athletes are on a world stage performing every week? And the choices they make, that define the result of a race, you can almost see them making them in the car.
“The unpredictability is you can’t tell me who’s going to win the race. You don’t know, I don’t know. And I have all the data in front of me.
“There is overtaking, but I believe an overtake should be hard fought. It shouldn’t be a given. It should be when you watch it you really feel the risk involved in it.
“I think we’re about on that balance.”
Given the nature of Piastri’s pass on Leclerc, he would probably agree. And, most crucially, as things stand, so might the fans.
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