anyone really interested in F1 NEEDS to read these documents:
http://www.fia.com/sport/Championshi..._one_2011.html
long story short, 2011 rules change proposals include attempts to keep accelerations and top speeds roughly the same but with 50% of today's fuel consumption, a drastic reduction in team's expenditures, and closer racing. how? a few examples are:
1) either moving to a 1.3~1.5L turbo inline 4, or a 2.2L turbo V6
2) elimination of all barge boards, mid wings, chimneys, etc
3) active wing elements (!)
4) turbulence sensors for when in leading car's wake coupled to active ride height control
5) thermal and kinetic energy recovery with 4WD and a "push to pass" style deliver system
6) spec undertray & wheel packages
there's some exciting stuff in there, even mentions of plasma generators and MEMS turbulators to delay flow seperation. have a look see.