Fry: 'Within a week I can copy something and put it on my own car'

Every year the new Formula 1 cars are proudly presented, but more than once they are not the cars we see during the test days. According to Alpine technical director Pat Fry it is only logical that teams keep their cards close to their chest.

The days before the winter test were used by the teams to show off their new cars for the 2021 season. But although the cars showed the new livery, more than once the real new car was not shown. Mercedes and McLaren for example censored certain parts of the car, while Red Bull Racing didn't show any photos of the RB16B at all. Only during the winter test the real car was shown to the public and the rest of the teams.

It's striking, but according to Pat Fry, it's not at all strange that teams go to such lengths to keep their secrets secret for as long as possible.

"It's also more of a principle that anything else, to be honest. You never give anything away. I've learned that for thirty years, so it's hard to start changing that now," the Alpine technical director told Autosport.com.

Copying at record speed

But it also goes beyond simply being a habit.

"In reality, I can see something on someone else's car, whether it's a different piece on the car or a different shape floor, and I can test exactly the same thing in the tunnel two days later. After a week, I can already have that part on the car. That's important to keep in mind," the top executive explained.

The rules have also changed a lot this year, making it a gamble for many teams whether they have made the right decision while designing the car.

"It's quite easy to react and see if someone has something that works better than the rest. I think that's the nature of Formula 1. We all think we are clever and we keep our work secret and then we will find out who is the fastest when we go racing in Bahrain."