Front wing changes for 2019 to improve overtaking

F1 teams may have to replace their "outwashing" front wings, as a new design is in the plans to improve overtaking next season.

The design of the front wings stems from 2009 and it's believed to be one of the main reasons that drivers struggle so much to follow each other closely. After they were introduced initially, the Overtaking Working Group (yes that's a thing apparently) or OWG studied its design and recommended a reshape to reduce total downforce.

The OWG ceased after one season. Williams team principal Paddy Lowe was on that project, and he says that the OWG would've addressed the problem more but he's glad the F1 is doing so now.

“I think it is fantastic the new owners of F1 are invested in central research to properly study and develop regulations based on science,” he said.

The FOM has asked the teams now to research whether replacing the outwashing wings would indeed make it easier for the drivers to follow each other closely.

If it wants to really have a chance to make it into next season's rules though, the changes need to be accepted by the end of April. After that, a unanimous agreement between the teams is needed for the rule change to be accepted and applied for next season.