With the controversial and epic final of the 2021 season behind us, Formula 1 sees the end of winter on the horizon, at least on a sporting level. In about a month and a half in Barcelona the new single-seaters will finally make their debut on the track, the result of the new technical regulation strongly desired by the leaders of F1 and FIA. Postponed by 12 months due to the pandemic, the goal of the new rules is to increase the battles on the track and – possibly – expand the number of drivers and teams able to compete for victories and titles. For the moment, however, only uncertainty reigns supreme.
In the last two regulation changes that took place in the sport – 2009 and 2014 – a dominant team has always emerged that forced the opponents to chase immediately at a great distance. Everyone’s fear is that something similar could happen again this time. Certainly, however, there has not been an off-season so full of uncertainties and expectations for years. At least three teams – Ferrari, McLaren and Alpine – have bet all or almost everything on 2022 to sensibly get closer to the top of the sport. The real risk is that someone could ‘get burned’ by failing to achieve the set goals. But what will be the crucial ingredients to be able to set up a title car in the championship that will start next March 20? Daniele Sparisci and Giorgio Terruzzi tried to answer this in the columns of Corriere della Sera.
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“[…] In the factories of the teams for some time there hasn’t been such an expectation full of doubts. Because the technical revolution is total. […] There are two assumptions that have changed the rules: more restrictions, in order to reduce the freedom and inventiveness of those who design the cars […]; more overtaking thanks to aerodynamics that do not penalize those who follow another car. Finally, the limitation on the budget, 140 million maximum allowed. […]. […] Simplifying and thus making aerodynamic choices homogeneous means attributing importance to power units. Whoever manages to get more power from the engine – Ferrari is aiming a lot – will enjoy a certain advantage, especially in the presence of minimal chassis differences. […] Each team is certain that it will take a few races to really understand their car. Who will be more flexible and quick in this search will show a decisive progression. […] A good start does not necessarily lead to consistency at the top. And the winner of the first Grand Prix, taking into consideration the new rules and the huge margins for improvement, could quickly lose any advantage”.
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