2022 F1 cars could match 2021 performance

In brief

F1 cars to regain lost performance during 2022

When F1’s technical rules changes for the coming season were first announced, one team principal estimated they would be significantly slower than the cars they are replacing, by up to seven seconds.

But with the first season featuring the drastically revised cars now just weeks away, the performance loss is now expected to be significantly lower. Pirelli’s head of motor sport Mario Isola believes the 2022 cars could match last year’s by the end of the season.

“We have simulations coming from the teams, simulations that are telling us that the new cars are not much slower compared to last year’s cars,” Isola explained. “At the beginning we were talking about more than three seconds per lap, now it’s half a second, one second.

“So if they start with only one second difference, it means that during the season they will probably achieve the same level of performance that we had in 2021. So I’m happy with the result of the test, especially because we confirmed what we have found during all the development process.”

‘New audio’ of Abu Dhabi GP row isn’t new

Footage from the final race of last season has been widely shared on social media by users claiming it reveals previously unheard radio communications from the controversial race. However although the footage, including audio of a discussion between FIA F1 race director Michael Masi and Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, was not broadcast live during the race, it was published a few days after the contentious end to the championship.

In it, Wheatley is heard urging Masi to hasten the restart of the race, telling him: “Those lapped cars, you don’t need to let them go right the way round and catch up the back of the pack, you only need to let them go and then we’ve got a motor race on our hands.” Many sharing the video have drawn attention to the similarity between his choice of words and Masi’s later response to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff following his vociferous complaint over the race’s conclusion: “Toto, it’s called a motor race.”

Envision to switch to Jaguar power

Formula E team Envision has confirmed it will switch to Jaguar power units when the series introduces its new ‘Gen3’ cars next year. The team currently uses Audi motors and will be the first customers for Jaguar, who finished second to Mercedes in last year’s championship.

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

Hamilton back at Mercedes factory ahead of 2022 season (BBC)

“Hamilton’s movements in recent days show that he is preparing for the F1 season as he would any other – but that should not be interpreted as a confirmation that he will race this year.”

‘Scars need healing’ following F1 title controversy, Webber says (Nine)

“We wanted a straight fight, a clean fight, and unfortunately there was one guy with his hand tied behind his back.”

Magnussen rules out returning to F1’s midfield (Racer)

“I was there for seven years and I enjoyed it most of the time, but sporting-wise, as an athlete it wasn’t rewarding enough to be in the position I was in. It’s really good to be here (in the US) and have that spark back.”

Formula 1 drops taking the knee to focus on ‘action’ (The Times)

“Hamilton, who remains F1’s only black driver, has been a leading voice in pushing for greater equality in the sport. His Mercedes team painted their car black for the last two seasons, though it is understood they will return to their traditional silver livery for this year.”

Jos Verstappen hits out at ‘weak’ Belgian media (Daily Mail)

“The 24-year-old, who is a dual national because his mum, Sophie, is Belgian and his dad, Jos, is Dutch, has established himself as a household name but Verstappen Snr has been less than impressed with the media in Belgium.”

New AGP grandstands named after F1 world champions (Speedcafe)

“Clark and Lauda, of course, are named after multiple F1 world champions Jim Clark and Niki Lauda.”

Pietro Armanni confirmed as Monolite Racing’s first 2022 signing (Formula Regional Europe)

“F4 driver Pietro Armanni will graduate to Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine joining Monolite Racing. The Italian will drive one of three cars that the team is planning to field for its second season in the series. In 2021, the Italian outfit showed good potential, claiming 10th place in the Team standings with four top-10 finishes and the best result of fifth.”

F1 has ‘key focus’ on race support in 2022, says Christian Horner as Abu Dhabi inquiry rumbles on (Sky)

“Ex-FIA president Jean Todt, meanwhile, says he has remained in contact with Masi since that Abu Dhabi GP finale and expressed his concern over the impact it has had on the Australian.”

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