By Austin Lindberg
The action in Formula 1 doesn’t stop once the season ends: Once the champagne has gone flat in Brazil, teams have less than 12 weeks before their first public on-track appearances for the next season. Over those precious three months, teams will spend hours poring over the revised rulebook to discover any loopholes that can be exploited—while staying within “the spirit of the rules,” of course. There will be changes in ownership, management, and sponsorship, as well as teams that may cease to exist entirely. And, as seems to happen every year, tire compounds and constructions will change, adding another element for the engineers to deal with. And while the 2012 season will go down as one of the most exciting in F1 history, what’s transpired since Jenson Button finished first last November in São Paulo indicates that 2013 could be as good, if not better.
Major Changes at Mercedes
When Bernie’s traveling circus reconvened in Jerez and Barcelona for preseason testing, no fewer than eight drivers vacated their cars, but the biggest action was over at Mercedes. Legend Michael Schumacher announced his retirement last fall after his three-year comeback tour with Benz fell well short of expectations. But his departure was just the second step in what would become a massive overhaul at Mercedes as the 2012 season wound down. A week prior to Schumacher’s announcement, Lewis Hamilton made known that he would swap his McLaren for a Mercedes starting in 2013. Six weeks later, Benz’s head of motorsport, Norbert Haug, was relieved of his duties and subsequently was replaced by three-time world champion Niki Lauda. And, early this year, Paddy Lowe, who had been with McLaren for the past 20 years, was announced as Mercedes’ technical director beginning in 2014. Lowe’s appointment likely serves as writing on the wall for team principal Ross Brawn, who has led the non-business side of the team since moving from his eponymous effort to Mercedes for the 2010 season. The other driver changes for 2013 are detailed below in the team previews.
Double-DRS Banned
While the names affiliated with the teams are ever in flux, so too are the rules. Of the 2013 changes, of most interest is the ban on “double-DRS systems,” similar to what was used by Mercedes last season. Essentially, when the driver engages DRS (Drag-Reduction System), the rear wing opens to reduce drag. Benz’s double DRS exposed a pair of intakes, which channel air to the front of the car and stalled the front wing, further decreasing downforce and increasing top speed. Already we’ve seen teams exploiting a loophole in this new regulation. “Passive double-DRS,” in which intakes are permanently exposed and automatically activate above a certain speed rather than being driver-activated, is allowed, and both Red Bull and Lotus have been experimenting with the idea.
Tire Updates
Another obstacle for the engineers is that Pirelli—the exclusive tire supplier since 2011—has again changed its choices for 2013. The entire range will …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver
