Over Head
The changes for 2010 are perhaps most striking from overhead. As a result of the ban on refuelling, the fuel tank (4) will be longer and wider. The wheelbase is likely to be about 15 cm longer than in '09 to accommodate this larger tank (6), though teams could opt to move the driver forward slightly (3) or build shorter gearboxes (5) to minimise this increase. At the front, the narrower front tyres (2) will change the handling characteristics and weight distribution of the car, while the driver has control of the front wing flap angle (1) from the cockpit.
Side View
Although the refuelling ban for 2010 is a change to the sporting regulations, it has technical implications too. The fuel tank's capacity (2) has almost doubled from around 120 litres to at least 235 litres, while the car's minimum weight has been increased from 605kg to 620kg. To accommodate the larger tank, the car's wheelbase will likely be increased by around 15cm (3). Another 2010 change is that wheels covers (1) have been banned. This is primarily to avoid problems during pit stops which, with no refuelling, will be incredibly fast. It's been estimated that pit stop times will be cut to under four seconds.
Front View
From the front, the 2010 cars will look distinctly different to their '09 predecessors due to the narrower front tyres (1) and the wider rear bodywork needed to accommodate the larger fuel tank (2) required following the ban on refuelling. The slimmer front tyres - which address the imbalance of front and rear grip that resulted from the reintroduction of slicks last year - will widen the space between tyre and chassis, thus making this area even more important aerodynamically, so expect to see it featuring some interesting aero components.
