hypothetical

[darksag3x]

if F1 cars weighed under 500 lbs and had cooler engines, would sidepods still be necessary for downforce?

[manchild]

They are there first of all for cooling. No one would use them for downforce otherwise since they cause huge drag. If they weren’t needed (on air cooled engine) regulations would definitely impose safety structure to replace sidepods as monocoque/tank protectors.