Formula 1 teams repeating controversial incident from five years ago?

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2019 saw Mercedes once again asserting their superiority in Formula 1, as Lewis Hamilton clinched his sixth world title and the team secured their sixth straight constructors’ championship.

In the 2020 racing season, Racing Point drew inspiration from certain elements of Mercedes’ championship-winning vehicle in creating their RP20. As preseason testing began, other teams noticed Racing Point’s fast lap times and soon referred to it as the “Mercedes in Pink.

After repeated protests from Renault, it was determined that Racing Point’s brake ducts had been copied from Mercedes W10. Cyril Abiteboul was particularly vocal about the issue. As a result, Racing Point lost 15 points in the constructor championship and were fined €400,000. However, they were allowed to continue racing with the illegally designed brake duct for the rest of the season.

Could a slap on the wrist incentivize teams to follow suit?

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: Even though Racing Point was handed a 15-point penalty for copying brake ducts from Mercedes, they managed to stay competitive throughout the season and outrank Renault. The punishment didn’t seem to slow them down much. However, one wonders if they would have been as formidable on the track without their Mercedes-inspired design.

Immediately following the discovery of RP20 violating regulations, the FIA swiftly enacted measures aimed at avoiding similar occurrences. Consequently, they prohibited teams from incorporating images to input any designs into Computer-Aided Design (CAD) or 3D software, which has the capability to generate curves or edges.

Under the latest guidelines, it becomes significantly challenging for a team to draw direct design ideas from another team’s vehicle, as evident in the case of Racing Point. Nevertheless, there exist creative solutions tailored to the revised regulations that can be employed.

Prior to a Grand Prix race, team workers are often seen wandering around the starting grid, examining other vehicles and possibly searching for unique designs that might inspire their own team’s creations. In theory, there’s no restriction against a team developing a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) based on what they observe. However, if the FIA notices a similar design, they have the authority to look into the situation further.

Despite being questionable morally, such an approach might hold attraction for teams struggling in the standings. It’s about weighing the potential benefits against the possible penalties, considering Racing Point only received minimal sanctions. Since the FIA may not compel a team to create an entirely new design after the season starts, it presents a loophole that could potentially be used again.

In light of another significant rule adjustment planned for 2026, there’s a strong possibility that less competitive teams might draw strategies from more victorious counterparts for the seasons of 2027 and 2028. This scenario could potentially lead to a reoccurrence of the situation that Racing Point found themselves in during 2020. It’s a delicate balance, and it could potentially result in similar outcomes.

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2025-01-10 14:32