Formula 1 in 10 years: will cost reduction lead to better racing?

While it all sounds promising that teams will be racing much closer together in 10 years, the changes will take just over a year to arrive.

The new regulations for 2026 include a much more efficient engine and improvements to aerodynamics and tires, which F1 and the sport’s governing body hope will further enhance the spectacle.

Tires and their unpredictability are one of the elements that many – especially drivers – have commented on in recent years.

“To be honest, I don’t think we need big changes in Formula 1 right now,” says Mario Isola, race manager at F1 tire supplier Pirelli.

“Many races were very interesting. There was a lot of action and overtaking on the track. As viewers, we want races like this. I believe we can fine-tune things; Races with two stops are more interesting than races with one strategy.”

Over time, Williams has seen F1 from both ends of the competitive divide. The Oxfordshire team dominated Formula 1 in the 1980s and 1990s.

However, in recent years they have struggled to compete with the spending of the largest manufacturers.

Williams boss Vowles is now on the front line of what he says is real change.

“Two players in excellent shape,” he says. “Everybody every weekend, wherever you’re sitting, looks at it and says, ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’s going to be exciting.’ It’s a good sport. And that’s what we have now.

“I think you will see even more in 2025. In 2025, you’ll have four or five teams capable of winning the championship, and any of them will be able to win on any other weekend.

“It’s not specifically about can you get ahead, but can you create an environment where these elite athletes perform on the world stage every week? And the choices they make that determine the outcome of the race can almost be seen making them in the car.

“The unpredictability is that you can’t tell me who’s going to win the race. You don’t know, I don’t know. I have all the data in front of me.

“There is overtaking, but I think we should fight hard against overtaking. This shouldn’t be a given. It should be so that when you watch it, you really feel the risk involved.

“I think we’re about in that balance.”

Given the nature of Piastri’s pass to Leclerc, he would probably have accepted. And, most importantly, with the current state of affairs, fans may also feel the same way.