Scuderia Ferrari Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc confirmed that the new generation of Formula 1 cars are indeed able to follow much closer during the most important phases of an overtaking move in perhaps the best analysis yet to Formula 1’s aerodynamic changes introduced for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
The new 2022 technical regulations were made with the goal of improving racing and making overtaking easier by removing the aerodynamic concepts that led to cars leaving behind ‘dirty air’. This problem has for too long played havoc with the downforce levels of following cars and many times forced drivers to leave some space to the car ahead.
The most important changes have seen the introduction of a ground effect floor, simplified front and rear wings and wheel winglets – all designed to promote better racing. The first opportunity for the Formula 1 teams and drivers to understand the behaviour of the new challengers came last week when the Circuit de Catalunya hosted a pre-season testing session. Fans were keen to find our if the new aerodynamic solutions were in fact efficient and if cars were able to follow the one ahead closer.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection from Puma!
And the verdict from Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is encouraging and exciting ahead of the second pre-season testing session which is scheduled for next week:
“It is quite interesting,” Charles Leclerc explained, eager to provide a detailed description on how following felt in his new Ferrari F1-75 when asked by the official website of Formula 1 – “I’ll say from three seconds to one second behind the car in front, you actually can follow closer. Then from one second to five-tenths, I will say it’s similar to the feeling I had last year [when following cars]. And then from five-tenths to extremely close, it is much better than last year.” – the Ferrari driver explained.
The Monegasque driver’s indications will be warmly received by both fans of the sport and Formula 1 bosses themselves, with the gap between three seconds to one second being perhaps the most frustrating for following drivers during the last few years, as they were encountering difficulties to get into the DRS range (one second) of the car ahead, leaving them stranded. The hope is starting with the 2022 Formula 1 season we will be able to enjoy much more entertaining races. Charles Leclerc added: “It’s nice, it’s interesting. I mean, I’ll have to do a few more laps behind a car, but it’s looking good for now.”
Leave a Reply