Next‑gen 2022 F1 car unveiled

“The car” isn’t to say F1 will become one-make. It’s to say, there’s a whole new rule set and this car is a sneak peek as to what the interpretations of those rules by the various teams could look like, once the 2022 season gets underway. It’s all change, in terms of aero, looks, cost and racing, for F1 going forward from 2021…

The goals of this next-generation of cars are well known. The aerodynamics are being overhauled for a number of reasons. Mainly, to minimise the wash that destabilises the current cars when they get close to one another, to an end of much closer racing. The aero rethink and general simplification also aid the FIA and F1’s goals of having better-looking cars that are also cheaper to develop.

So, better racing in sexier cars that are cheaper to race. Everyone’s a winner, in theory. How have they done it? Well, there’s a general loss of spindly-ness, for want of a more technical term. The nose is comprised of fewer wave pieces and vortex generators. Likewise the sidepods appear larger, while the complicated latticework of bargeboards we have today are replaced with a 3D floor geared more towards ground-effect. Likewise the spoiler is much more flowing, with up-turns at the extremities contributing to a higher angle of separation for passing air. The rear-end look was described by Daniel Ricciardo as more “old school”. We’re on board with that.

The hard numbers are fairly convincing, too. A racer giving chase in the wake of current cars could expect to lose around 35 per cent of their downforce at a 20-metre distance and a massive 46 per cent at ten metres. In the new cars, that drops to a respective four per cent and 18 per cent.

Of course much-publicised are the bigger wheels, up now to 18 inches from 13 inches. Lower-profile tyres will run for the first time, in addition to wheel bodywork including external winglets, controlling airflow. The tyres themselves will be much hardier when being pushed to the limits, too. Music to team’s ears, we’re sure…

The core of the cars will be more robust, improving safety, while minimum weight will go up by five percent to 790kg. The cars will also be more eco-friendly, running ten per cent ethanol for the first time.

So, what do you think of the new cars overall? They’re prettier, we reckon and closer, safer, more sustainable racing all adds up to an exponential win. Now we just need to see how these new rules will be creatively interpreted…