F1 - All Change For 2014. Sounds Good?

Albert Park pitlane. (C)

    During the F1 summer break we found ourselves contemplating the 2014 switch from high-revving 2.4 litre normally-aspirated V8 powertrains to 1.6 litre turbo engines limited to 15000 rpm. After delving a tad deeper into next year's regulation changes, we've come to the conclusion that the next time F1 arrives Down Under to tackle the Albert Park street circuit, the cars will look vastly different.
    Narrower front wing, slimmer rear wing with the lower beam outlawed, but one of the most interesting concerns exit exhaust positioning. Since the last major changes from 2009, F1 teams have been utilising exhaust gases to influence rear diffusers and improve airflow to the rear bodywork. However, from 2014, there is to be a single exhaust, angled upwards, and with no bodywork behind. In the interest of safety, nose height has drastically been reduced to 185mm from 550mm. Open wheel race cars are more prone to launch into the air in the event of a rear end collision with another car. Think Webber-Valencia or Schumi-Singapore or Ralf Schumacher-Australia.
    The aero sensitive bodywork mysteriously shrouds a number of changes. Gearboxes must now have 8 forward gears instead of 7 and race fuel will be limited to 100kg/race with the emphasis on fuel efficiency. F1 and the auto industry have recently ventured into the world of Energy Recovery Systems. 2014 sees greater emphasis on ERS as the quantity of fuel permitted is not enough to complete the minimum 300km race distance. Therefore the new systems in addition to harvesting energy under braking, can also stockpile energy from waste heat generated by the turbocharger. This equates to an extra 160bhp for approximately 30 sec/lap. Impressive or what? F1 being F1, they'll endeavour to perfect the technology which will filter down to the auto industry.
    But how will this all affect the racing, and more importantly, the show to the viewing punter? Will we see cars retiring amid a huge plume of smoke courtesy of a shat engine/turbocharger? The packaging under the skin must surely present cooling issues for the teams. Will we see the leader dramatically splutter to a halt with 2 laps to go as a consequence of fuel mismanagement? With the emphasis on development pointing more towards the mechanical package, will the teams produce markedly different looking cars to each other now they're starting with a relatively clean slate? The big question? How will they sound?
    Let us know what you think. Send formulafrontrow.com an email at: greenflag@formulafrontrow.com or simply leave a comment. The 2013 European season culminates with this weekend's Belgium GP around the formidable Spa-Francorchamps, followed by the Italian GP at Ferrari's spiritual home, Monza. 10-time GP winner Mark Webber? Now that sounds good.... 

---