Horner tells FIA “don’t dick” with 2023 F1 aero rules

F1 team bosses have expressed similar views with most insisting that it is already too late to make changes for next season.

As part of the recent technical directive regarding the governing body’s clampdown on porpoising for this year, the FIA’s head of single-seater matters Nikolas Tombazis has proposed a review of the regulations for 2023, and told teams that they will be expected to contribute with CFD research.

Tombazis noted: “It remains our objective to implement changes for 2023 which will inherently reduce the propensity of the cars to exhibit aerodynamic oscillations.

“In due course, teams will be asked to support these evaluations in CFD by performing a range of modifications on their car, and reporting back to the FIA their results.”

The prospect of changes for 2023 was also discussed last week in a meeting of F1 technical directors at an advisory committee meeting.

However, many teams have made it clear they are reluctant to support changes to the technical regulations because they believe that stability would be preferable, with Horner among the most vocal.

“I think that it’s too late in the day to be introducing changes for next year,” he said when asked by Autosport about the prospect of changes.

“We have a governance for that. And the costs involved – sometimes [there are] unintended consequences of changing complete philosophies, it will affect what you carry over into next year, it’ll affect your design and development.

“And the most important thing, and the biggest way to achieve stable costs, is stability. And the cars will converge. You can see that already, some cars are certainly looking more familiar. And I think that will continue over the next six to nine months.

“So I think the most important thing is, don’t dick with it. Just leave it alone. And the teams will sort it out.”

Alpine’s Otmar Szafnauer agreed it is too late to make changes for next year, while acknowledging safety concerns can override such considerations.

“To me it’s always better to have sight of rules early on, and not change them mid-season,” Szafnauer said.

“Having said that, though, there has been precedent. If it’s a safety issue then the FIA are duty bound to look at it and make changes.

“I’m always in favour of knowing the rules well in advance, having an even playing field, and then let everyone come up with their own solution. So the…