F1: Looking at the 2014 cars

With one race left in the 2013 season, it is safe to say that all the 11 teams on the grid have turned their attention on their 2014 challengers. While clever designers find new ways to warp their designs around the new regulations, the FIA are struggling to come up with regulations that restrict such rule bending.   There are a couple of new regulations, one of which is the restriction in the amount of fuel that the teams are allowed to use. Next season, a car can use only 100 kilos of fuel, compared to the unregulated fuel use this season(though teams normally use 250 kilos). This decrease in the weight of fuel means the cars balance will be totally different to those of the 2013 cars. Another change is the addition of the Energy Recovery Systems(ERS). Currently, all 22 cars on the 2013 grid are running KERS. ERS is basically KERS, but with an additional heat energy recovery system, which recovers heat from the turbo. Teams are allowed to split the batteries for their KERS systems this season. However, 2014 regulatons are forcing teams to use batteries that weigh between 20 and 25kg and be contained in single pack. This means it will be necessary to place the battery pack inside the fuel cell.