Hubcaps debut in 2022 – Motorsport Week

The 2021 Formula 1 season recently ended dramatically in Abu Dhabi, but the majority of the teams stayed behind to take part in a post-season test that gave us a glimpse into 2022.

Pirelli and the teams took the opportunity to test out next year’s new 18-inch wheels and tires, which gave us the opportunity to observe the differences between the old and new that mark an epoch-making turning point in F1.

The tests enabled both the teams and Pirelli to collect important data on the behavior of the tires for the next season, which of course will have a major influence on the suspension settings.

Compared to the previous tests carried out in Imola and Paul Ricard, in Abu Dhabi we were able to honor the new ergonomic hubcaps that will be used next year. Not all teams have edited the front pages, but they are allowed under the rules of 2022, as we saw on the prototype of the 22-series car model unveiled at Silverstone this year.

The modifications to the covers compared to the original construction we saw are intended to support the mechanics’ hold during pit stops. The new design by Yas Marina is not quite as flat, but rather rounded on the outside. The curved shape allows you to create two bumps on the outside edge and one on the center edge (near the hub) so that mechanics can grip more firmly with their hands.

The change in shape of the covers is due to an intervention by the FIA, which was met with complaints from several teams denying the poor ergonomics of the new tires, which could lead to dangerous situations during pit stops.

In an interview with Mario Isola, he confirmed that the new tires will have a total weight (tire + rim + cover + sensors) of 18 kg at the front and 21 kg at the rear. A considerable weight for the mechanic to lift and quickly move into position.

The modification of the cover profile also meets the needs of the Pirelli employees for balancing checks by inserting lead counterweights into the rim.

The FIA, together with the sole supplier BBS, has therefore approved a change in the shape of the hub caps in order to provide the mechanics with better grip without impairing the aerodynamics of the single-seaters.

The 2022 hubcaps will become part of the Prescribed Design Components (PDC), which are standard components for everyone but allow teams to make small changes. Any research into the thermal-aerodynamic advantage by the teams will of course be present, but it will be very difficult to find “gray areas” in the 2022 regulations.

During the testing, McLaren also ran a trial where they installed a series of LED strips along the wheel fairing to test a new technology for displaying logos / sponsors with a possible launch in 2023 – which would be particularly noticeable at night races, several of which are now on the calendar.

The PDC components also include the bells that wrap around the brake discs, with some teams in Abu Dhabi trying some solutions as early as 2022. With the new regulations, the FIA ​​has tried to limit the aerodynamic influence as much as possible.

In addition to changing tires, the front and rear brake discs are also changed. The diameter will be increased on both axles and the brake management could influence the driving style of the drivers compared to this season.

In the drawing there is a comparison with the windshields from 2021 and 2022, in which not only the diameter but also the ventilation micro-holes change. Teams have to deal with reducing the vents along the width of the brake disc to dissipate the heat created by friction between the caliper and brake disc – if not properly controlled, that heat will be transferred to the tire and can either help heat the tire or increase the deterioration.

Temperature management is also becoming more critical as the 18-inch wheels have increased the distance between the rubber and the brake bell, resulting in less heat transfer. In the tests in Yas Marina, however, the graining problems identified in previous tests seem to have been partially resolved, with the 18 ″ tire struggling with the warming in the innermost area of ​​the carcass.

The transition to an 18-inch rim (instead of 13-inch) will change the behavior of the tires in terms of the usage window, which Pirelli has widened. The reduced shoulder will also have an impact on the driving style of the driver, as the distance between the rim and the asphalt will be smaller and the bumps on the track become noticeable.

In the comments made by drivers after testing the new tire in Abu Dhabi, many agreed that the car tends to understeer in slow corners. The cause could also be related to the lower pressures after Pirelli asked teams to use a pressure reduced by 1.5 PSI.