Why F1 teams launch new car designs every year

• Formula One teams launch new car designs every year
• They start developing them at mid-season and launch the following year
• They allow competitiveness at the highest level

Do you ever wonder why each team has a new F1 car every year and the rationale behind this?

It is intriguing learning about all this. Every year, F1 cars alter to accommodate new technology and regulations, but the modifications become more significant in the middle of the race. All these changes are approved by the FIA and all Formula One teams play by the book on this.

Interestingly, there is more than one reason why team cars change every year.

DO F1 TEAMS HAVE A NEW CAR EVERY YEAR?

There is always a new F1 car every year for each of its 10 teams. Just like in any other sport, racing is constantly evolving and advancing in terms of technology, engineering, and aerodynamics. The idea behind new cars every season is to allow teams to always gain a competitive edge and improve their performance.

Alfa Romeo. Photo/Alfa Romeo

One way to achieve this is, is by launching new car designs with updated features and components. Additionally, regulations and rules may change from year to year, requiring teams to adjust their designs to comply with new standards.

For instance, Alfa Romeo’s 2023 design, the C43 adequately addresses bouncing issues while racing (porpoising). It is an issue that dogged teams such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Alfa Romeo in the 2022 season. At one point, Mercedes driver and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton expressed his dislike for his W13 Mercedes car that let him down so badly.

An automobile rapidly bouncing up and down causes the porpoising phenomenon, which happens at the fastest speeds while achieving peak downforce levels. It is a result of an increase in downforce followed by an immediate loss of it, which causes the automobile to drop and then allows it to rise again.

Additionally, the new designs for 2023 racing teams have reduced weight to improve speed and comply with aerodynamic rules. The model and design changes come from the engineering and technological shortcomings drivers experience for half the season.  These necessitate the launch of F1 cars every year.

However, it is worth noting that it is not mandatory to introduce new F1 cars every year, but it happens in most seasons. Previous season’s cars are less effective and slower. Therefore, it is nearly a rule of thumb that each team launch a new design at the season’s start.

HOW MANY TEAMS IN F1 2023?

There are 10 teams participating in the 2023 Formula 1 season with 20 drivers. Each of the 10 teams has two drivers each. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, four F1 drivers left for other teams and retired.

Nicholas Latifi, Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher, and all lost their places in their respective teams. Then, Sebastian Vettel made up his mind to retire and concentrate on other personal projects. As for transfers, Pierre Gasly left AlphaTauri to replace Alonso at Alpine and Fernando Alonso joined Aston Martin to take Vettel’s place.

WILL F1 CARS BE DIFFERENT IN 2023?

As a rule of F1 car every year, the 2023 season is no different. All ten teams launched a new design ahead of the official start of the season. Engine and technological elements of these cars changed in a big way to keep up with the evolution of F1 racing. Each team hopes to win the season with new looks and tweaks here and there.

New McLaren 2023. Photo/RacingNews 365

WILL THERE BE 12 TEAMS IN F1?

The 2023 Formula One season will only have 10 teams participating although the governing body, FIA caps it at 12. FIA invited fresh applications in February from prospective teams seeking to join the circuit. However, even if they qualify, they will not enter the season in 2023.

Every applicant will go through careful due diligence. Each application will be evaluated based on a number of factors. Some of them include the applicant team’s technical resources and capabilities and its capacity to generate and retain the necessary funds. Further, the applicants’ ability to participate in the Championship at a competitive level, and their experience and people resources.

Once they convince the FIA of all this, they can join from 2021 through to 2027. They will, of course, add zest to the F1 car every year phenomenon.

CONCLUSION

New cars in Formula One at the start of every season are for competitive purposes. They keep the race going at the highest level.