Motorsport legend and 1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti believes F1 should have followed IndyCar's approach to aerodynamics when it introduced its new-spec cars in 2017.
IndyCar has switched to a sleek, new mandatory and universal aero kit this season which has considerably reduced downforce levels, an initiative rooted in the series' decision to reduce costs and promote closer racing, exactly what F1 needs.
F1 on the other hand, overhauled its regulations last year, putting on track new-spec wider cars which offered much higher levels of downforce thanks to bigger wings.
While the cars are spectacularly faster, their speed has come to the detriment of racing, with overtaking opportunities often few and far between according to the circuits.
"I think the [IndyCar] series, the management have done a great job in tweaking things," Andretti told Motorsport.com.
"They’re doing the right thing with the aerodynamics of the cars and coming back to a more of a pure-looking single-seater, open-wheel car which I think was something all of the open-wheel aficionados wanted to see.
"Unfortunately, last year’s cars started looking more like a sports prototype car with all the winglets and all the bullshit that was hanging over, but what they’ve done, I think is personally [what] Formula 1 missed [out] on.
"They reduced the downforce of the car which is an element, they still gave them good downforce with the ground effect because it does not create turbulence.
"But with the smaller wings, you can stay near the guy’s gearbox and you can have a competitive overtake."
©IndyCar
Andretti pinpoints a few of the clear drawbacks associated with F1's choice to enhance downforce.
"I think personally that’s where F1 missed it, they gave them more mechanical grip with wider tyres that gave them bigger weights which created more turbulence.
“And by doing bigger wings, they shorten the braking points even further which eliminates almost the chance of overtaking.
"Yeah you have DRS and all that, which you really need more than ever now, but at the same time even with the DRS, you’ve got to be able to suck up to somebody’s gearbox coming off a corner and you cannot use DRS until you’re on the straightaway."
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