After a memorable 2021 that saw McLaren Racing return to the top step of the Formula 1 podium and ranked for the INDYCAR Championship, you might find it hard to believe that 2022 could be even more exciting. But judging by the fact that we’ll be competing on four fronts this year, that’s the right four, Formula 1, INDYCAR, Extreme E and Esports, ’22 has all the ingredients to take ’21 to the top, and here it is is the reason for this…
They run
Competing in four different series means we’ll be driving at many of motorsport’s most prestigious and talked about events – in both the real and virtual worlds – from the magic of the Monaco Grand Prix to the exhilarating spectacle of the Indianapolis 500 to racing on the enchanting island of Sardinia. Our first Race 22 will be our Extreme-E debut in the Saudi city of Neom on June 19–February 20th, while this year’s racing successes will conclude with the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi on November 20th, followed closely by the F1 Esports Grand Final in December. That means you’re watching 10 months of McLaren action wall to wall.
The choice of race weekends? Quite possibly 9–On September 11th we return to Monza, the scene of our unforgettable one-two win in 21, the Italian Grand Prix, while also participating in the X Prix of Chile and the final round of the INDYCAR season at Laguna Seca Raceway.
In F1 alone we’re talking triple headers, potentially more sprint racing and a return to some of the most prestigious circuits in the world, like Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix and Albert Park for Daniel Ricciardo’s home race, the Australian Grand Prix. The number of F1 sprint events – a 100km sprint race on Saturday to determine the starting grid for Sunday’s race – has yet to be confirmed, but with a record-breaking 23 grands prix on the calendar, the 2022 season will be anything but a race Sprint. Oh and…
…we’re going to Miami
Each race we’ll be attending this year has its own je ne sais quoi and brings its own special something to a diverse and vibrant motorsport calendar, but the inaugural Miami Grand Prix is a pretty big deal. F1 has never really cracked America, but rising viewership and interest fueled by Netflix’s Drive to Survive and McLaren Fan Heist suggest it could be close. And the first-ever Miami Grand Prix, held on a sparkling 5.41km street circuit surrounding Hard Rock Stadium, could be a big part of that. Of course, this isn’t our only visit to America’s Sunshine State this year: On February 27, the INDYCAR season begins on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
The driver
If our ’22 rider list doesn’t excite you, then we don’t know what will. Lando Norris comes this year after his best season to date, with four podiums, one pole position and one fastest lap. The 22-year-old Briton came within a hair’s breadth of his first Grand Prix win and P5 in the drivers’ standings. His star will continue to rise in 22, as will Arrow McLaren SP driver Pato O’Ward’s. The Mexican not only clinched a first INDYCAR win in 21, but added another to his tally and was in contention for the title right through to the final lap – having led the standings earlier in the season. He’s hungry for more and another bold bid for the Championship is on the horizon.
Having won the Italian Grand Prix with McLaren last season, Daniel Ricciardo is just as hungry for more success in 22. Despite the highlights of last year’s campaign, it has been far from an easy year for Daniel. It has taken him some time to familiarize himself with the MCL35M but he heads into 22 with the team and a brand new car to play with. An F1 career spanning more than a decade stretches will certainly stand him in good stead when attempting to get the most out of the MCL36.
Much like Daniel, 2022 will mark Arrow McLaren SP driver Felix Rosenqvist’s second year as part of the McLaren Racing family. Having adjusted to team life at 21, Felix will be firing on all cylinders this season. When it comes to being married at speed, look no further than Juan Pablo Montoya. The Colombian has one of the most enviable CVs of any driver and after battling with Arrow McLaren SP at the Indianapolis 500 last season to win the race for the third time in his career, Juan Pablo is once again working with us to win the illustrious race this year.
We’re in uncharted territory as we’re competing in the Extreme E electric off-road series for the first time, but we’re in safe hands with New Zealand Rally Championship winner Emma Gilmour, who competed in the Extreme E last season. and four-time US Rallycross Champion Tanner Foust at the wheel.
So those are the drivers you’ll see on track for McLaren Racing this year – or off track if you’re Emma and Tanner – but there are those who do the business in the virtual world, be it the tireless effort and countless simulator miles accumulated by our steadfast test and development drivers Oliver Turvey and Will Stevens or our McLaren Shadow E-Sports drivers which we will be announcing very soon.
The new cars and closer races
The biggest changes to technical regulations F1 has seen in decades will usher in a new era for the sport this season. An increased focus on ground effect, larger 18-inch wheels, low-profile tyres, an increase in renewable fuel content to 20%, improved aesthetics and new braking and suspension systems make this year’s crop of F1 cars some of the most eagerly awaited in the world history of sport. In addition, the changes should result in improved aerodynamic trail, allowing cars to follow closer and overtake more.
A word of caution: there is no guarantee that the changes will close the field. In fact, rule changes throughout F1 history have tended to do the opposite, while rule stability has traditionally led to convergence in car design and a narrowing of the gap between the fastest and slowest cars. Regardless of the impact on the competitive order, if you apply the new rules correctly, you can stay one step ahead of the competition. If you get them wrong, you could be catching up for ’22 and beyond.
Tight races are guaranteed at INDYCAR and F1 Esports. The areas of the starting field are often only separated by tenths of a second, while cars can often be seen three times – or even four times in the case of INDYCAR. Elsewhere, Extreme E’s second season will be even tighter than the first as teams get a better handle on the cars. The ODYSSEY 21 will be familiar to everyone who took part in the fledgling series last year, including our own Emma Gilmour. But the 400kW (550hp) SUV is the first all-electric car we’ve entered the fray with at McLaren, so it’s very new to us. However, we have prepared over the winter by testing in one of the harshest environments on earth… Dorset. And we can’t wait to start racing.
The development race
The annual development race in F1 is always wild as teams try to improve their cars to overtake rivals or retain a speed advantage. This is often a major reason for performance fluctuations. And how well a team develops over the course of a season ultimately has a significant impact on its fate. With all-new cars, the scope for development is huge, and since none of the 22-series cars turned a wheel, the understanding of this is still relatively immature. Teams will learn a lot as they cover the kilometers on the track and keep a close eye on the innovative interpretations of the rivals.
While there is no such development race in INDYCAR, Extreme E and F1 Esports as all three are spec series, there will still be performance throughout the season as teams attempt to tweak setups to squeeze out the last tenth.
And there you have it, don’t say you haven’t been told, 2022 promises to be a year to remember. You can follow all the action on McLaren.com, the McLaren App and our social channels: @McLarenF1, @ArrowMcLarenSP, @McLarenXE and @McLarenShadow.
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