The changes that Formula 1 has ordered for 2022 have a firm expectation: to get closer races and with more cardiac shows, as happened on the last date of the 2021 season. Technology is the ally with which they seek to achieve this, since the recent technical modifications to the single-seaters are the ones that will allow this innovation to the show.
One of the first changes that we will see in Formula 1 this year is in the tires, which will leave their 13-inch version that has been a key part in the last three decades to change to 18-inch ones.
The new 18-inch tyres, which were thoroughly tested by the teams in 2021, they will have the same bandwidth as now, but with a larger diameter. The sidewall lowering will be the biggest change, more like a road car. The change in tire behavior means the cars will handle differently, making them more precise with the much stiffer sidewall.
This increased stability means less attention is required from teams to address turbulence, which means lower costs. In this regard, the head of the tire brand of the Formula 1 (Pirelli), Mario Isola, has commented that these adjustments will wear out the tires less and the expectation is that there will be only one stop in the pits to change them.
Formula 1 has also confirmed that the tires will feature winglets and the return of tires, which hasn’t been there since 2009. The wings will help move air off the front tires away from the rear, while the tires reduce downforce. of the car.
Another important aspect to be modified is the return of ground effect, which was present in competitions in the 70s and 80s. It is a system of aerodynamic appendages that generate suction towards the ground and this, in turn, will prevent cars look less disturbed by the one in front of them. The objective is that the vehicles can be followed with shorter distances, as in the past.
Alongside this, the front wing redesign for 2022 is also much simpler. The new front wing will generate downforce in the traditional way, although it concentrates heavily on controlling front wheel wake and lowering the car in a much less disruptive way. The intention here is to send the wakes from the cars ahead up the sides smoothly, rather than under it or pushing it out the sides.
In terms of security, the Formula 1 has designed a chassis capable of withstanding 48% frontal impact absorption compared to the previous year’s car and a 15% increase for rear impacts. However, these changes, along with larger wheels, have resulted in the cars’ minimum weight increasing from 752kg to 790kg with the same power units in use by 2022. they forecast the new cars to be a bit slower than the 2021 ones.
“We’ve made improvements to the headrest for the driver, to the fuel tank, we’ve made it a lot harder for debris to spread around the track which would make it dangerous for other cars, so we’ve been working really hard on it. the entire safety method,” describes Nicholas Tombazis, a member of the FIA’s Design Corps.
Safety adaptations became a priority for the engineering teams behind Formula 1, after the accident of the French driver, Romain Grosejan, during the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020. Given this, an important modification is that the power unit will separate from the chassis without exposing or breaking the fuel tank in the event of a sufficiently serious accident.
According to FIA statements, these adaptations to the single-seaters have been worked on for four years, with development research that has involved 7,500 simulations and 16.5 million hours of material storage in computer equipment.
“We started the journey in 2017. We spend more time in this car than any other car that has ever been produced in Formula 1 in terms of getting some regulations together. We do it because we want to entertain the fans, get them involved in the sport. We want to respect and maintain to our existing fans to keep them excited,” said Pat Symonds, championship technical director.
Calendar also with changes
Formula 1 was also renewed in its calendar, since for the 2022 season it offers its longest-running circuit, including 23 Grand Prix. Last year the plan was for those same 23 to be held, but due to the casualties of five countries due to the pandemic, a readjustment had to be made that left it at 22 races.
The season will start on March 20 in Bahrain, as happened in 2021, to later fall in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Their arrival in Europe will take place in the fourth Grand Prix, on April 24, when they visit Imola, Italy, and for the fifth date they will arrive in America for the return of the Miami circuit, which is hosting it again for the first time since 1959 ( will be May 8).
After a visit to Canada on date 9 (June 19), the circuit will make a pilgrimage through Europe and Asia, until returning to America on October 23 with the United States Grand Prix (in Austin, Texas) and on October 30 to Mexico City, so once again there will be a celebration of the Day of the Dead in world motorsports (in 2021 it was celebrated on November 7).
The last date will be November 20 in Abu Dabi, United Arab Emirates, a circuit that has closed the season for the last eight years. In addition, the 2022 calendar marks the return of Australia, Canada and Singapore, who dropped out of the 2020 and 2021 editions due to the pandemic, although China and Vietnam no longer appear.
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