The development race never fails to capture F1 news headlines, and the first wind tunnel allocations of 2024 will play a key role.
Despite Max Verstappen’s historic dominance last year, there are reasons to be optimistic about a competitive 2024. For the first time in some years, there are five teams who could potentially contend at the front.
Some might dismiss Aston Martin’s chances of recovering from their 2023 slump, whilst doubts will inevitably surround Ferrari.
This scepticism is understandable. Fans are all too familiar with seeing F1 news outlets celebrate the Maranello team’s winter progress – only to be disappointed.
However, there is no denying that last season saw two new names (Aston and McLaren) disrupt the established order.
The final standings were somewhat misleading, with McLaren arguably finishing the year as second-fastest team. In a sport where customers rarely outperform their suppliers, it was a surprise to see the two British teams outperforming the Silver Arrows at various points.
With a combination of old and new faces working to hunt down Red Bull, wind tunnel allocations will be pivotal:
Wind tunnel hours: January 1st-July 1st
Haas – 1380 hours
Stake F1 Team – 1320 hours
AlphaTauri – 1260 hours
Williams – 1200 hours
Alpine – 1140 hours
Aston Martin – 1080 hours
McLaren – 1020 hours
Ferrari – 960 hours
Mercedes – 900 hours
Red Bull – 840 hours
These are the allocated wind tunnel hours for teams until July 1st, when the constructor’s standings will again dictate the allocation until December 31st.
As seen last season, development opportunities are far more restricted than in previous years. This makes the tunnel hours that are available all the more essential.
Mid-season updates are also more limited, with teams forced to contend with the cost cap. Formula 1 is increasingly demanding of teams – who must avoid mistakes and produce innovations.
Aston Martin’s fall from grace last summer was perhaps the most prevalent F1 news story of the season.
From the above list, many would point towards McLaren as a stand-out. Their progression in 2023 was already formidable, so having more wind tunnel hours compared to their rivals is clearly beneficial.
Unlike Ferrari and Mercedes, their development trajectory has been consistently upward.
AlphaTauri could also prove a dark horse in 2024, having shown tremendous progression post-Singapore. As they tighten collaboration with Red Bull, the Faenza-based team is one to watch.
Still, as the reigning Champions have proven, these restrictions can be overcome.
