Red Bull expects more overtaking in 2017

The 2017 season saw the emergence of a new technical regulation based on an increase in aerodynamic downforce. Many engineers working in Formula 1, as well as outside observers, noted a possible decrease in the number of overtakes. This would be mainly due to a reduction in braking distances with the additional downforce and the difficulties for the cars to follow each other due to suffering from oversteer.

But at Red Bull and according to their engineers, it could be quite the opposite. Indeed, the increased width of the cars could result in new overtaking opportunities precisely thanks to the increase in drag on the straights.

This is what Pierre Wache, chief performance engineer of the Austrian team, explains to us: « The 2017 single-seater will visually be a more aggressive car, it will be wider, it looks more muscular, with bigger tires. Having a wider car, one could argue that it might be more difficult to overtake. »

However, he continues with a note of optimism: « However, due to the aerodynamic effect with more drag effect and more time spent on the straights, you will have more opportunities than in previous years to overtake in this kind of situation. »

Dan Fallow, director of the aerodynamics department confirms: « The more downforce the cars produce, the more they can be affected by other cars in terms of drag. It could therefore be that the cars are able to race closer behind another car by using the downwash on the straight, so overtaking could actually be easier. »

Another point that could prove to be positive is Pirelli’s adoption of more durable tires, allowing drivers to push harder for longer: « The tires themselves, if they are more resistant than previous generations, will change the race and not necessarily for the worse. I think it will be better. We will potentially have more overtaking,” concludes Paul Monaghan, Red Bull chief engineer.