FIA: Closer racing with 2022 car 'won't happen overnight'

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FIA technical director Nikolas Tombazis is confident that F1's 2022 regulations will fulfill their objective of producing closer racing, but warns that it "won't happen overnight".

Formula 1 unveiled on Thursday at Silverstone its full-size model that was designed to the sport's 2022 rule book which will relies on ground effect aerodynamics to allow cars to follow each other more closely, thus enable for better racing.

But according to Tombazis, each team's interpretation of the regs could lead to wide differences that might impact the competition at the outset in 2022.

"We expect to see closer racing, but maybe not from the very first race because maybe somebody will get the new rules right and somebody wrong," said the FIA's head of technical affairs.

"But very soon we expect to see a closer level of competitiveness between the cars, and cars being able to follow each other more closely.

"It's not so much actual overtaking, but how close they race," added Tombazis. "So being able to follow each other, fight each other throughout the race.

"So that's what we've been trying to do, mainly acting on the aerodynamics."

Read also: Formula 1 unveils new era archetype 2022 car!

From F1's chiefs to the FIA to the teams, everyone is banking on the new regs to usher in a new spectacular era for Grand Prix racing.

F1 managing director of motorsport Ross Brawn is confident that ambition will be achieved from next season.

"This is the start of a new journey, a new philosophy, a new culture, where the raceability of these cars is going to be vital to the future of F1," he said.

"And why do we do that? We do that because we want to entertain the fans, we want to engage the fans and we want new fans to come into the sport.

"This is a unique new chapter in our sport. And these regulations have evolved to make F1 the absolute greatest racing spectacle, and to push our sport to the very forefront of global culture and entertainment."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.