Austin (United States) (AFP)

More contested, cheaper and ultimately cleaner, this is the future drawn for Formula 1 from 2021 by the new regulation presented Thursday on the sidelines of the United States Grand Prix in Austin (Texas).

"F1 will be less complex and easier to understand," said President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Jean Todt, adding that the new rules were "to make our sport more sustainable and safer."

Adopted unanimously by the World Sports Council, the supreme authority of this sport, they will apply from the beginning of the season 2021 and replace all the provisions foreseen by what was previously called "Concorde agreements".

Among the most important measures is a cost cap of $ 175 million per season and for each team to develop single-seaters. This figure is to be compared with a total budget of about 500 million dollars currently for larger teams like Mercedes and Ferrari.

But it will not cover everything: the marketing expenses, the salaries of the pilots and those of the three most paid members in each stable in particular, will not be included.

- Slower F1 -

Then, the cars will be simplified, not only to make them less expensive but also to animate the races, which are often summarized today processions whose outcome depends on tire change strategies.

It takes cars "more able to fight on the track," said Chase Carey, who represents the FOM, the American promoter of F1.

"F1 is an incredible sport followed by some 500 million fans and we want to respect its DNA," he said, while some suspect Liberty Media, the group that bought F1 rights there at three, to want to bastardize to make it more spectacular.

"We want to respect this DNA but also allow F1 to adapt to the modern world," he added.

Considered to be the pinnacle of motorsport, F1 sees other disciplines such as Electric Formula gaining popularity among a younger audience and more concerned about the protection of the environment and the consequences of global warming.

The text presented Thursday sets at 25 the maximum number of Grand Prix per year (for 21 this year and 22 next year) but also a reduction in their duration from four days currently (Thursday to Sunday) to three (Friday /Sunday).

The technical managers of the FIA ​​and the FOM have conceded that these new technical rules will make the F1 slower, of the order of 3 to 3.5 seconds per lap, depending on the circuit. But this figure will depend on what the F1 engineers will find to circumvent the limitations put in place, while having to comply with the ceiling of 175 million dollars, which was not the case before.

- Take it or leave it -

Chase Carey recalled that these rules were to be taken or left for the stables, ten currently, the plateau, suggesting that those who would not accept them had only to go elsewhere.

Ross Brawn, FOM Sports and Technical Officer, joked that what was previously allowed or not was essentially based on a "gentlemen's agreement" between the teams. "But there are not many gentlemen in the paddock," he said, adding that a system of strict sanctions would be put in place to ensure their respect.

As for the environment, it is not directly part of Thursday's announcements but F1 should soon present a roadmap to become cleaner.

The engines are therefore largely absent from the new regulations but Ross Brawn said Thursday that the current mode of propulsion with hybrid V6 "was the most effective" in motorsport.

However, new discussions are on the agenda with 2025 horizon to think about new propulsion modes but also the use of other less polluting fuels, such as hydrogen or synthetic.

© 2019 AFP