F1 2011: Moveable Rear Wings

Here is the clearest video I’ve seen of the new for 2011 moveable rear wing in Formula 1 taken from the back of Sauber‘s 2011 challenger, the C30.

The aim of this piece of technology is to allow drivers to overtake a little more easily than has been the case in recent years.

From Formula1.com:

Under new moveable bodywork regulations, drivers of suitably equipped cars can adjust the rear wing from the cockpit, altering its angle of incidence through a set range. (The moveable front wing, used in 2010, has been dropped.) The system’s availability is electronically governed – it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying, but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. In combination with KERS, it is designed to boost overtaking. Also like KERS, it isn’t compulsory.

I’m not entirely convinced I’m OK with this idea being in Formula One. It strikes me as terribly artificial. A pass at the pinnacle of motor sport should be something momentous that should be celebrated in my view. I hope it doesn’t create races where there is so much going on it is hard to focus on what is happening – like in NASCAR for instance (which is ironic because nothing at all happens in NASCAR, and yet when you actually watch it, so much passing happens that there’s no sense of achievement about it).

The wing isn’t going to make a slow car win races, nor is it going to make a quick car lose races. But it just seems wrong to me. With the first race in just over 32 days, it won’t be long until we see its true effect.

Edit: The Bahrain Grand Prix never happened… it was cancelled after political unrest made the country unsafe. The first race will be held in Australia on March 27th.