The biggest regulation changes in decades, budget cost cap, wind tunnel restrictions based on constructors standings, last year before engine development freeze. Formula 1 is ready for big shake up of a rather normal pecking order.
Based on what was shown at the car presentations and especially during winter testing, teams didn’t let us down. There are novelty tech solutions and diverse development directions in their effort to tackle the new 2022 Formula 1 regulations.
Front wing
Front wings for 2022 season are restricted at four simplified flaps that can be adjusted, now directly connected with the nose. On the outside wall of the endplates there is a little dive plane to help with the directing of the air flow around the front wheels.
Front suspension
Except McLaren and RedBull every other team on the grid have gone with front push rod suspension layout, which was norm in the past years. The two concepts have their own pros and cons. Pull rod layout is giving the car lower center of gravity due to mechanical parts being placed lover at the front of the chassis, and additional benefit on the aero side. It is believed that the air coming from the front wing has a much cleaner path atacking the side pods and the floor leading edges.
18 inch wheels
This year F1 cars will use 18 inch wheels with wheel covers on them to reduce turbulent air. Brake ducts also are reshaped to send the turbulent air in an upward flow and behind. The effort to reduce and direct the turbulent air is helped with first time seen winglets on and little over the front wheels of an Formula 1 car.
Side pods
The most eye catching thing on the new F1 cars are side pods. The variety and not yet seen designs regarding the side pods is the most refreshing sight to be seen. The teams really showed how creative and innovative their designers are in the pursuit for aerodynamic performance.
Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes as a top three teams have all gone on quite different paths with their side pods designs. We’ll see which design will work out to be the best, but there’s no question all three teams push the envelope, they shown innovative thinking and extreme designs.
Floor
These new F1 cars are also known as a ground effect cars. Huge part of their downforce is created by the floor and the tunnels he features. The ground effect is created by the two tunnels on the each side of the underfloor, where the air rushes through creating suction known as a ground effect. There are a lot of exotic slots and bits seen on the floor edges to work as a air conditioners. This area is expected to be hugely developed through out the year as a place of huge importance for the teams to guide the air fast under the floor and directing the slower air over the floor and diffuser at the back, thus creating pressure difference.
Rear wing
Rear wing is also new and fresh design with rolled tips. This new wing design is optimized to make it easier for the car behind to follow. The beam wing on F1 car is back for 2022, which will further help the air exiting the diffuser to be directed upwards and to be thrown over the top of the following car.
All these regulation changes where well thought and researched by the FIA tech group of experts with specific purpose following and overtaking another car in F1 to be easier, consequently improved racing and better show.
