According to a report from the GMM news agency, citing the BBC, it seems that the 2013 Formula 1 season will witness the return of the 1980-style 'tea tray' front wings in the series.
The report states that the new-spec front wings will replace the large front wings from today's cars and force the F1 engineers to build the 2013 challengers in such a way that it will generate the bulk of their downforce underneath the car. The formula on which the cars will be built will apparently be set up by two of the most experienced technical minds of F1, Williams' Patrick Head and Ferrari's Rory Byrne.
“(In 2013) We are only going to have roughly 65 per cent of the amount of fuel and a (limited) fuel (flow) rate – that was a given,” said Head, according to the British broadcaster.
“We were just told 'That's what it will be, you've got to come up with a car spec that is not going to be more than five seconds a lap slower than a current F1 car'. So some circuit simulation was done by Rory at Ferrari and when we'd come up with some numbers in terms of drag and downforce it was then to try to come up with a geometry of a car that could try to achieve that.”
The changes are due to become effective starting the 2013 campaign of F1, which is when the 1.6 4-cylinder turbocharged engines will also make way into the series. In addition, it seems that the 2013 draft regulations – which will be sent to all the teams by Christmas – will also include much smaller rear wings (we're not sure if they will continue to be adjustable).
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