Formula One has released images of a prototype 2021 model in a wind tunnel as it continues to work on the next generation of race cars.F1 is set for a complete overhaul of the current regulations and hopes the new rules will create cars which can deliver closer racing and more overtaking.Downforce lost by following a car, for example, will decrease from 50% to only 10%, which will reduce the effect of turbulent air on the car behind.The new 18” wheels could also be seen in the 2021 model, as well as covers to control airflow.Racing chief Ross Brawn has assembled a team to analyse data, and has even brought drivers into the process to help shape the rules which will be published at the end of October.

About the new regulations, F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds said: “The wind tunnel testing we are doing is slightly different to what the teams might do.

“The teams concentrate solely on the forces on the car, through a variety of attitudes as they move the car around. While we naturally have an interest in what those forces are and particularly how those forces change as the car moves, we're even more interested in what is happening to the turbulent air behind the car.

“For that reason, although we are doing most of our development in CFD, and that CFD is using some advanced techniques which aren't commonly used by the teams, we want to back up the virtual simulations with a physical simulation.

“We also chose to use a 50% model rather than a 60% model and we chose to run that model quite a long way forward in the wind tunnel, so this gave us the opportunity to best inspect the wake of the car."

As well as changes to the cars, F1 wants to introduce a budget cap with the goal of having the playing field closer together and not to have huge gaps between the teams.

This last rule, though, is still in discussion, but one thing is for sure, every F1 fan would love to see closer racing and more teams challenge the giants of Mercedes and Ferrari.