F1 cars 2022 “not crazy different” in the simulator, says Bottas

F1 teams are working flat out on the all-new ground-effect cars to hit the market for 2022, with the goal of improving racing by allowing drivers to follow each other closer.

Some drivers who have tried the new concepts in simulators have said that they need a different approach compared to now because they will be moving much more on the edge than the current cars.

However, since Bottas has tried versions of the 2022 car in both the Mercedes and Alfa Romeo simulators, it won’t be entirely different in his opinion.

Regarding his run in the Mercedes simulation earlier this year and the Alfa test a few months ago, Bottas said, “At least at this point it felt like the cars were a little off in terms of downforce.

“But the overall feeling, at least in the simulation, wasn’t that dissimilar in any of the simulators. We can’t simulate following other cars and stuff, but it’s not crazy different. Maybe a little less downforce, but as I said, that will change. “

F1 2022 car

Photo by: Formula 1

Bottas’ comments contrast with McLaren driver Lando Norris, who said the new F1 cars feel pretty similar to F2.

“In any case, there will be a slightly different style,” said Norris recently when asked by Motorsport.com about the differences.

“I don’t think it will be so nice to drive in any way. I think it’s going to be a little bit more at the limit in terms of pushing and so on. A bit like F2, I think, where you fight more against the car and stuff.

“But I could be wrong because things are always changing. It’s like what I drove a month ago will be very different from what I drive now, and it will probably be very different again when we get to the first race. “

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Bottas said he was a little sad to see F1 say goodbye to the high downforce cars that have been posting record-breaking lap times over the past few seasons.

“It was fun, especially last year [2020] – the cars were even faster than this year, with more downforce, ”he said.

“They were nice, but I’ll let you guys know how the new ones are next year [are]. If the race is better and we can follow closer then it should be even more fun and I think the cars will be pretty fast as fast as they are now in the future. Hopefully that will be the case. “