>>1292852>Why don't car companies use open-wheel designs?Because open wheel car designs are inherrently unaerodynamic and dangerous.
Formula 1 just has that as a very stubborn rule. Take a look at Formula e, it has cars which are very close to being open wheel cars, but not completely. The front wing covers the front the wheels and the rear tyre only has the very top exposed. Indeed, next season, Formula e is going to move to a totally closed wheel design.
Here's the other thing, Formula 1 isn't actually that fast. It is among the fastest racing series out there, but the top speeds of the cars are actually lower compared to the likes of LeMans Prototypes, and one of the big reasons for that is because Forumula 1 is all about turning, accelleration and decelleration performance. LeMans is about speed and endurance, which is why a number of the LMP cars which have higher top speeds than Formula 1 cars are actually diesel engined cars, while F1 cars are petrol engined hybrid cars focussed on getting from slow to fast quickly, while LMP cars are about staying fast for as long as possible,
