According to the report, feedback from the television coverage highlighted the similarity of certain cars, especially during night races. This problem arises at a time when F1 cars have become increasingly alike in their bodywork, to the point that only a specialist with a keen eye can differentiate them if they were painted white or black. This uniformity is a result of the most stringent regulations in the history of the sport.
A recent trend in F1 is the use of exposed carbon fiber, which has made it more challenging to distinguish between the cars. Teams have resorted to this technique to reduce the weight of their vehicles by using less paint. Alpine, for example, faced difficulties with an overweight car in the early races of 2024.
Consequently, F1 cars now feature a significant amount of black in their paint jobs. The report suggests that spectators often confuse the cars of Mercedes, Aston Martin, Williams, and VCARB. Discussions have already begun with the teams to find a solution for the 2025 season. These discussions will take place during the upcoming F1 Commission meeting. FOM and FIA aim to avoid imposing strict rules to address this issue and instead seek collaboration with the teams.
Nikolas Tombazis, head of single-seater racing at the FIA, stated in an interview with Motorsport.com that addressing this issue is more complex than it seems. One problem is the excessive use of exposed carbon, as paint adds weight to the cars. Additionally, teams have made significant efforts to reduce weight by using extremely thin paint films. Another issue is the similarity in color schemes used by some teams, resulting in visually similar cars. Discussions with the teams are ongoing, and the matter will be addressed again at the next F1 Commission meeting.
Tombazis enfatizou a importância da colaboração para alcançar o objetivo de carros distintos, em vez de depender de regulamentos rígidos. Ele sugeriu a necessidade de as equipes se comunicarem entre si para garantir que suas pinturas sejam distintas. No entanto, o processo exato dessa comunicação ainda precisa ser determinado. A FIA não pretende regular as pinturas, mas visa garantir que os carros possam ser facilmente diferenciados.
