Red Bull completely dominated the last round of the 2022 Formula 1 season, the Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, with 2021 F1 world champion Max Verstappen starting from P14, but still being able to take an easy win, as his team-mate Sergio Perez completed a one-two finish for Red Bull, on a weekend in which Ferrari had no answer to challenge its main rival.
The performance at Spa saw both Red Bull drivers display an impressive straightline speed, which helped Max Verstappen as he passed most of the cars by using the DRS system at the end of the long straights. But this not come as any surprise, given that the Austrian team has been strong in a straight line for the entire 2022 championship. This also means that the RB18 cars should be in a good position to make things difficult for Scuderia Ferrari, as the Maranello team returns to Italy to race in front of the Tifosi. Monza is the fastest track on the calendar with speeds nearing 220mph.
Scuderia Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto was asked after the Belgian Grand Prix how much of a worry the straightline speed disadvantage to Red Bull was at Spa-Francorchamps in view of the Italian Grand Prix, but the Ferrari team principal confirmed that he is not at all worried, pointing out the different set-up approach which will be used:
“In view of Monza, it is not, because we have as well a lighter wing to run here in Spa, but we didn’t use it because we believe it was not the right choice.” – Mattia Binotto explained after the Belgian Grand Prix – “Considering tyre degradation and the high temps of today, what is more concerning for me is to see [Red Bull] have been capable of running a lower downforce but still having a great type of speed in the middle sector where you need downforce. I think they’ve got both, low drag and high downforce, great downforce on the car. So for Monza, certainly we will run a different type of wing, lower drag, so the speed itself will not be the concern. But once again, for the next races, I think it’s more the overall performance of the Red Bull shown today that is a concern.” – he continued.
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Scuderia Ferrari decided for a slightly higher downforce package than initially planned for this circuit, only using the lower drag rear wing on one F1-75 car during the free practice sessions on the first day of action in Belgium. The idea behind the setup was to give Charles Leclerc more chances of overtaking, given the fact that the Monegasque driver had to start from the second part of the grid due to penalties for using new engine components at Spa.
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