The cars of 2022 are expected to be very different from the cars of 2021. Formula 1 is introducing new regulations to encourage better racing and more wheel-to-wheel action. The cars will also have bigger tires as Pirelli will introduce 18-inch tires instead of the existing 13-inch ones.
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Interestingly, McLaren Technical Director James Key believes some teams will be playing some tricks.
Despite strict restrictions and controls, the F1 teams and engineers repeatedly manage to find some loopholes to increase performance. However, Key believes the FIA will be stricter in reviewing the wings on the cars following the Flexi-Wing controversy in the 2021 season.
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Tests for the rear wing are tightened: McLaren engineer James Key
The British engineer believes that the FIA will closely monitor the regulations and will also check the fenders of the cars on a regular basis. Both Mercedes and Red Bull complained about each other’s wings in 2021. The Flexi-Wing also brought Mercedes under fire at the beginning of the season. The FIA even punished the German team for an illegal rear wing at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
“The tests for the rear wing are being tightened. The beam wing comes back. You can certainly use that somehow. The front wing is a massive part. But there are also strict stiffness guidelines for this, ”said Schlüssel.
Formula 1 F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – December 4, 2021, McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo in action during practice REUTERS / Hamad I Mohammed
“I think there will be some tricks teams can play with but nothing that can be easily exploited. The FIA will examine that closely. The rules are written restrictively, but that tends to encourage innovation. I expect to see different ideas. We’ll all look at what the others did, ”said the McLaren engineer.
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Hopefully it is McLaren who come up with something extraordinary that will make them compete directly with Red Bull and Mercedes in the 2022 season. Key is excited to see where the new McLaren will be in the pecking order in the future.
How do you think the 2022 season will develop?
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