The 2022 Formula 1 season is one of the most anticipated in a long time.
On the one hand, the level of excitement that reached last year’s championship, where Max Verstappen dramatically overtook Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the last race, to overtake him at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and win his first title as a driver. It makes everyone want to know how the drivers are preparing for this new test.
And on the other hand, the change of rules for the 2022 season is a clear indicator that we will see a very different season from previous years.
Below, we examine some of the most relevant news ahead of the start of the 2022 F1 season next March.
New Rules
In order to contribute to the evolution of motorsport, some new rules have been introduced for the 2022 season.
The FIA has implemented the new regulations to make F1 more “fair and sustainable” while also enhancing the spectacle of racing. Some of the new rules are the following.
Aerodynamics
In 2022, teams will be able to change the flat floor of their cars for the first time ever. This is expected to have a much greater influence than in previous years, as the lower body will have a greater impact on the car’s grip.
Fuel
At least 10 percent of all fuel must be advanced sustainable ethanol.
Suspension
Cars will no longer be able to use hydraulic suspension or inerters attached to the suspension. Extended mount points will also not be allowed under the new rules.
Tires
Wheel sizes will increase from 13 inches to 18 inches for the new campaign. This will have a huge impact when it comes to your track temperature.
The main impact the new rules are expected to have is in closing the gap between the cars and increasing the level of competition, especially when overtaking occurs.
“There has long been a suspicion that the cars weren’t very friendly when they were racing each other,” said Ross Brawn, F1’s managing director of motorsport. “The performance of the following car was greatly affected by being in the wake of the car in front. It starts to lose performance the closer it gets, and that doesn’t help a good race.
“The rules had been developed by the teams that had all the knowledge, experience, and funding. The regulation evolves through proposals and suggestions from the teams. Making cars race-friendly was never a priority.”
Pre-season test
Teams have to field cars that conform to the new rules. It is for this reason that everyone had great expectations of what we would see in the pre-season tests in Barcelona.
However, Formula 1 decided last week to turn the Barcelona pre-season tests into a practically private event. Without an audience, without live times, and with the presence of journalists reduced to a minimum.
The only thing that the FIA and Formula 1 have confirmed is that there will be an official timetable at the end of each test day in Barcelona. Nothing more. Neither live tracking nor photographs. And it all seems part of a thoughtful plan so that the great presentation of Formula 1 2022 is in Sakhir.
Certain information suggests that Formula 1 would have asked its teams not to show the shape of their new cars or even the definitive decoration with which they will face the season in these official presentations. The objective of Formula 1 is that we know as few things as possible before the tests in Bahrain, the so-called ‘official’ ones.
The Ferrari Case
One team, whose name has not been disclosed, complained to the FIA about last week’s test at Fiorano. During the test, it was announced that the drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc would use the SF21 car from last season.
Apparently, Ferrari’s intention was to be able to explore data from its engine, which is the least that will change for next season. However, under the new regulations, teams are prohibited from using last year’s cars to test for the new season.
Max Verstappen’s New Number
The last Formula 1 champion, Max Verstappen presented his new helmet for the 2022 season, which, among other details, will have the number 1.
The new design changes the red lines for gold ones, and in the same color includes the phrase “gives you wings” on the visor, the slogan of the firm that owns the team. In this way, it replaces the presence of Honda, which in 2022 will not make the engines for the team.
In addition, the helmet will include the 1 on the rear wing, instead of the 33 that it had been using. The Dutchman then becomes the first driver to use that number, iconic in motorsport, after being champion since Sebastian Vettel did it in 2014.