Haas homologated its 2022 chassis ahead of new Formula 1 regulations, while Mercedes were the first team to cheer on their new car.
The American-owned team announced the VF-22 was homologated on Thursday, meaning it passed mandatory FIA crash tests that will allow it to drive the car in pre-season tests.
Just a week after the end of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes also made further progress with its 2022 car when it announced it had launched the W13 at its factory on Wednesday. While firing does not necessarily mean that the chassis itself has been homologated, it does mean that an updated power unit fitted to the chassis is operating for the first time.
A new era of @F1 starts right here… 
Powering up our 2022 F1 car for the first time – the W13 is ALIVE. 
pic.twitter.com/fphuaVp2dI
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 23, 2021
The 2022 cars will be significantly different from their predecessors, with a major overhaul of technical regulations that will reintroduce ground effect and achieve aerodynamic performance under the car to improve the ability to follow closely and encourage closer racing.
No teams have yet confirmed launch dates for their new cars, although this week Ferrari confirmed the window in which it will present its as-yet-unnamed 2022 offering.
“The car will be presented in mid-February, we haven’t set the date yet,” said Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto. “The 16th through the 18th are the dates we will be finalizing over the next few weeks.”
