Nick Chester: '2017 the biggest challenge I remember'

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It seems the rear wing and diffuser areas will change quite a lot. Do you think the flows in this area will be totally different or just more powerful?

It will change the flows quite a bit. Teams have quite different optimisation to do on the shape of the diffuser. The flow around the wider rear wing is going to be different, the shape of the endplates will be quite different as well… So, it is an all-new problem. The concepts of what you are trying to achieve stay the same but you have got a whole level of new gen to work with.

Do you think the front wing’s new arrow-like shape will change the way it operates?

It is more a visual change. Teams will still be trying to achieve the same with the front wing – how it works with the wake from the front tyre – but the swept back design is not a huge difference.

The bargeboard will start 430mm from the front wheel centre line, and will extend all the way back towards the sidepod. Could you remind us the role of the bargeboards?

The bargeboard is conditioning the flow of the leading edge of the floor. It controls some of what happens to the tyre wake, and then what happens to the airflow going under the floor. We can have bigger bargeboards, and teams will be looking how that works in conjunction with front wing and wider front tyres.

“Cars will be physically a bit harder to drive, and a bit more punishing if you make mistakes. You might have to be a little bit tidier because, when the corner speeds have come up with a good amount, if you start to lose the car, it is harder to get it back”

What will be the impact of the downforce increase on other parts?

We will have a heavier car, with more downforce: that is why there is so much design work with this new set of regulations. You have got a brand new aero package, so new bodywork, but also all your loadings are changing. That is why it is such a big challenge.

There is really no part of the car that you will carryover from this year to next year. Even for the brakes: there is a change on disc figures anyway, as we will be allowed to go up to 32 millimetres in thickness (against 28mm previously). Maybe not all teams will decide to go thicker, I think they don’t need to, but it is available.

How 2017 cars will affect the driving?

Cars will be physically a bit harder to drive, and a bit more punishing if you make mistakes. You might have to be a little bit tidier because, when the corner speeds have come up with a good amount, if you start to lose the car, it is harder to get it back. You may have to have a very tidy lap.