Formula One pre-season testing is done and all the drivers seem to have gotten a good feel of their cars. However, we are still weeks away from seeing the newly unveiled 2022 cars in action. With so many new changes to the regulations, the teams have all taken different approaches to their car designs. However, the basic regulations for all F1 cars remain the same and they have been brought in with the clear aim of improving their aerodynamics and promoting closer racing. Will these changes prove to be a game-changer this F1 season? Let's take a look at them to find out if they will.
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The first thing you'll notice about the new F1 cars is their new larger wheels. These are 18-inch Pirellis that have a much lower profile than before. This means they will deform a lot less and make it slightly easier to manage airflow. You'll also notice that there are new over-wheel winglets over these wheels. These aren't for aesthetic reasons but are meant to control the aerodynamic wake from the front wheels and stop it from messing the airflow around the rest of the car. Ultimately, this will help the cars deal better with the dirty air from those in front of them, thus allowing closer racing.
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Previous-gen F1 cars had barge boards on their sides. But these have been replaced by something the FIA calls the 3D Floor. Essentially, such an apparatus changes the underside of the car into one giant wing, making it less susceptible to dirty air from the leading car. Again, this should allow cars to get much closer to the ones in front of them while experiencing less dirty air.
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Both the front and rear wings of the 2022 Formula 1 car have been given overhauls under the new regulations. The rear wing design features rolled tips for better aerodynamics. And you will also notice that the much larger front wings are now placed higher than the ones on last-gen cars. Apart from maintaining consistent downforce, this is another measure that has been taken to make these cars less susceptible to dirty air.
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Aerodynamics aren't everything that 2022 cars are all about. A host of safety improvements have also gone inside them. Their longer noses have been developed to withstand more impact. Moreover, the entire car is designed to break in half in the event of a very heavy accident. This will separate the power unit from the monocoque and keep the fuel cell away from the driver. This is a crucial lesson learnt after the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix that saw Haas driver Romain Grosjean miraculously escaping from a car that had completely gone up in flames.
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The FIA never misses a chance to speak about its commitment to sustainable racing. The 2022 car brings further improvements in that department. At least 10% of the fuel that these cars will use comes from biological sources. And these biological sources include waste crops rather than food crops. This is another step towards the FIA's ultimate goal of racing on 100% sustainable fuel.
Coming back to the aerodynamic changes that the 2022 Formula 1 cars have been blessed with, it's pretty clear that they will facilitate closer and more intense racing. You will first be able to witness these game-changing machines in action at the Bahrain Grand Prix on the weekend of March 18-20. Who do you think will take the first pole of the season?
