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Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB16B
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Special feature

How F1's tech restrictions could shake up the 2021 order

This year’s carryover designs initially pointed to a continuation of Formula 1’s 2020 pecking order, but now it appears that the required aero tweaks may shake things up for the entire grid

When the decision was made to shove Formula 1’s technical overhaul and return to true ground-effect cars back a year, the suggestion was that 2021 would end up as something of a holding year. But, following the condensed pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, it seems that the mandated technical changes to the aerodynamics have actually thrown some of the teams a loop. Instead of the 2020 carbon copy that many had been wary of, testing suggested that 2021 may actually offer one of the closest-fought seasons in years.

The biggest changes involve the floor, and the introduction of a triangular exclusion zone ahead of the rear wheel to strip the cars of some of the aerodynamic tools that teams used to improve the underbody downforce. The slots along the floor’s edge are gone, and the diffuser and the brake-duct winglets situated at the rear of the car have also been trimmed back to culminate in a suggested 10% downforce reduction.

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