Ground-effect single-seaters struggle to reach the minimum weight, despite the fact that the FIA has granted a 3 kg increase in the minimum value at the express request of the teams. If we exclude Alfa Romeo, which had already reached 795 kg in the design phase of the C42, the majority of the cars are struggling to reach 798 kg, which represents the new limit.
Each team tries to approach with different strategies. Ferrari, which took a brilliant one-two in Bahrain last weekend, has the luxury of using rear brake discs that are smaller than the ones allowed by the FIA technical regulations for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
With the introduction of of 18-inch tires and rims, in the corner of the wheel there is more space and the new rules offer the possibility of an adjustment regarding the measures of the discs based on the weight increase of Formula 1 cars which was 46 kg, so a more powerful brake system is required.
The external diameter of the disc went from 278 mm to a maximum of 328 mm for the front axle, with a maximum width that remained 32 mm, while in the rear it went from 266 mm to 280 mm, with an increase in width which has grown from 28 to 32 mm.
The Maranello technicians made use of the larger carbon discs in front, while in the rear they managed to balance a good braking using a smaller disc that ensures maximum braking efficiency, while at the same time saving some weight.
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The 2022 complete braking system increases by about 700 grams per wheel, bringing a mass increase of the single-seaters of almost 3 kg overall compared to 2021. Scuderia Ferrari has shown in the Sakhir weekend that the F1-75 car is excellent under braking, despite using such smaller diameter rear discs just to recover some of the excess weight. And a few grams can make a big difference, especially in Formula 1.
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