F1 2021 concept cars revealed: pictures, details, reactions

Formula 1 has revealed the designs for three 2021 concept cars at a presentation held ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.

At the announcement F1 motorsport boss Ross Brawn said the three concepts will focus on improving racing and look good as well. Describing the designs as “sensational”, Brawn wants the new cars to inspire the younger generation of F1 fans.

Brawn’s presentation in full

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“When we started looking at the 2021 car, the primary objective was to enable the cars to race well together. What we established early on in our research is the cars we have now are very bad in following each other.

“Once the cars get within a few car lengths of each other, they lose 50% of their downforce. That’s a substantial amount of performance lost. So we set about understanding why that was and how we can improve it. I’m pleased to say we’re at about 80%.

“As time has gone on, another of the primary objectives was to make great looking cars. We want cars that look better than what you see in a video game, cars that kids want to have up on their walls. At each stage, as we have been evolving the car, we’ve had someone we are working with create a graphic representation artist to give us a feel of what the car could look like.

“That is not to control the development, because it’s critical this development achieves its objectives, but why shouldn’t we have great looking cars as we’re evolving the cars? We want a car that is inspiring. F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and the car should look sensational.”

What next for the concept cars?

F1.com reports that further research and development will continue for another year and a framework should be in place by the end of 2019. It’s hoped that the new designs will encourage teams to stay in F1 and new teams to join.

“We want to create an environment where there is a queue of people wanting to join F1,” said Brawn.

About the F1 2021 concept cars

Concept one (below)

Better integration of the halo cockpit protection device and “more aesthetically pleasing”.

Concept two (below)

More refined, stylistically more aggressive and bigger wheels.

Concept three (below)

“The tyres and the wheels are the dirtiest area of the car, they cause huge disruption in the airflow,” says Brawn. “We are starting to look at devices that can stabilise the flow as it comes of the wheel. It’s maturing as we go along.”

How Twitter reacted to the F1 concept cars