Where does 46kg come from?!

[PlatinumZealot]

I actually don't mind the length of the cars.

I think one if the first "busses" was the Maclaren 2010 car which fans called the silver Limousine.



The Red Bull had a slightly shorter wheel base but it was still considered long.



I once suggested the extra length was a mainly consequence of the refuelling rules, the higher fuel capcity required a bigger and thus longer fuel tank so it must be responsible for the drastic increase in wheelbase, but I was proven wrong by another user. Some cars did indeed have short wheelbases like the 2010 mercedes but apparently better aerodynmamics were to be had by slimming the fuel tank, narrowing the sidepods (longer rads) and increasing the distance between the leading edge of the floor and the tyre wake.

[vorticism]

Some say the FIA were trying to make the cars faster, with the return to 2m width and wider tires. Makes sense. Although, they could have also reduced weight, reduced lenth through alterning the chassis/aero formula. There are concepts known as mission creep and the ratchet effect, which apply to institutions. Bureaus rarely make their documents shorter.

The FIA should omit sections of their rulebook as often as they add to it. Powertrain could be modified, omission of batteries and some electrical systems. Some safety items could be elective per driver preference. FIA spec'd an engine to get good fuel economy. Yet it's largely irrelevant in motorsport where fuel is a negligible cost. Hence the 'road relevance' question and F1's financing problems. FIA now spec swooping lines, they could just as well spec sonorous engine notes.

[ENGINE TUNER]

Guess the length is all in the name of downforce and high speed stability.

And it lowers drag as well

[JordanMugen]

Although, they could have also reduced weight

How could they have reduced weight for 2017 while keeping the same hybrid engines from 2016, and while keeping (essentially) the lightest possible 13" wheels and narrow tyres from 2016?

Especially knowing the 20kg halo would come along for the 2018 season. I don't see how it would have been possible for F1 to reduce the minimum weight in 2017 compared to 2016.

reduced lenth through alterning the chassis/aero formula.

I guess the suggestion is a maximum wheelbase rule introduced for 2017, but how much would that even save? The gearbox length and longer bodywork is surely a relatively minimal contribution to car weight compared to safety improvements, hybrid power units, increased driver weight allowance etc.

Are you suggesting instead a wholesale change to a Delta Wing type car?

they could just as well spec sonorous engine notes.

V8 or V10 engines would certainly save a lot of weight, wouldn't they (at least on low fuel, but needing to run more race fuel, depending if FIA and teams want to allow refuelling). But it's not going to happen, is it?

[PlatinumZealot]

You know i don't care about the wheel base that much. I don't why it holds some meaning to people. Maybe they are some middle aged boomers reminiscing about their morris minors, minies and ford escorts?? Lol.

It's the weight is my issue. The cars are sluggish.

f1 cars are meant to be swift at high speeds. The long wheelbase vs short wheel base you wont notice any decline in agility at high speeds. At low speed it just monaco and singapore.. And weight reduces agility there more than wheelbase.