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F1 abandons LED wheel cover plan for 2024
The idea of cars fitting LED wheel housings to display extra information to fans has been considered for several years, and there is even an option in the regulations to introduce them to racing if the technology is ready.
McLaren trialed the LED light system on its cars as early as the 2021 Abu Dhabi playoff test, hoping they could be used to help fans better understand what’s happening during or during a race.
According to Pirelli’s racing director and F1 Mario Isola, the options for information that can be displayed via the LEDs are limitless.
He said at the time: “When you install this (LED light) device and it works, you can do whatever you want.
“You can show positions, you can show flags, you can show lap times for qualifying or something like that. There are a lot of possibilities.
“You have the technology, so it’s easy to program what you want to display.”
Pirelli Motorsport Manager Mario Isola
Photography: Steven Tee / motorsport pictures
But after the latest F1 committee meeting, the idea of introducing LEDs has now taken a step back.
In the revised technical regulations for 2024, rules detailing the possible introduction of LED systems have been removed – officially ruling out any possibility of them playing a role.
The original Article 8.18 stated: “Subject to the availability of the necessary technology, in order to provide visual information to the audience, the FIA may require that each of the four wheel housings described in Article 3.13.7 be fitted with a rotating LED display.”
While the technology may be improving all the time, one of the biggest concerns with LED systems is the potential weight gain in sensitive areas of the car.
F1’s move from 13-inch to 18-inch wheels has resulted in a significant increase in mass, 2.5kg at the front and 3kg at the rear.
Also, at a time when many teams are struggling to get their cars down close to the minimum weight limit, adding extra weight due to the LED system is clearly not acceptable to the teams.
Esteban Ocon had a great Sunday afternoon. Across the streets of Monaco, the Frenchman appeared to be at one with his Alps, which eventually even earned him a podium finish. Ocon told a news conference that he looked back on the weekend with a very good feeling.
The Red Bull driver was last in Sunday’s race and was out in Q1 qualifying.
He went on to make five pit stops in a dismal race that saw him twice passed by team-mate and race winner Max Verstappen, who now leads the championship by 39 points.
Although it marked Perez’s first game of the season without scoring, the Mexican said his error was “costly” and “unacceptable”.
He said: “We paid for my mistake and it was very costly. I just have to apologize to my whole team because it was unacceptable for this kind of mistake to be made.
“I have to move on and learn from it, I can’t afford another zero in the tournament.”
Despite the poor finish, Perez had a “very good” start to the race, finishing 15th on lap 30, but dropped back into the standings after a couple of incidents and a period of rain.
He also collided with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen in the corner on lap 34, breaking his front wing.
Perez said he “didn’t know what happened” but was “considerably hurt” by the incident.
He added: “It went well. Unfortunately I hit traffic early on and that put us back where we were. Then it rained and we were one of the last to pit.
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB19, Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo C43
Photography: Simon Galloway/ motorsport pictures
“Then I cut the wall and it all became a mess. Me and Magnussen broke my front wing and he just came out of the chicane (deeply) and it went bad.
“When you’re in those positions, you’re always taking a lot of risks.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said it had been a “bad weekend” for Perez, blaming the poor result on a crash in qualifying that “put you at a disadvantage”.
He also said Perez was inside Ocon’s maintenance window before getting stuck behind slow-moving traffic.
Horner said: “We took a very aggressive strategy. Stopped on the first lap and you could see how fast he was in the free space and how much the others were saving.
“He actually came back inside the pit window on Esteban Ocon, and then (Logan) Sargeant and the slow car started to struggle and, of course, you couldn’t overtake.
“Then he got involved in a melee with (George) Russell and damaged the front wing. It was just one of those weekends where he got nothing done.
“He saved a lot of money in the pool, so he might need a new pair of underwear after that.
“For him, it’s just one of those weekends where[he should]turn the page and I think for him, the sooner he gets to Barcelona the better.”
Max Verstappen gave a masterclass in the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. The Dutchman once again showed his raw talent, whether in the rain or on dry tarmac. If the Dutchman fails to win, there are still two contenders for the title. Teammate Sergio Perez and his friend Fernando Alonso. Will the Spaniard get another chance at victory soon? Verstappen responded at a press conference.
Ocon: 'I have much respect for Aston Martin'
Perez “cannot afford another zero” in F1 2023 season
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