Laurent Mekies discusses key differences of 2022 Formula 1 cars. Laurent Mekies discusses key differences of 2022 F1 cars.

In a recent interview for German automobile magazine ‘Auto Motor und Sport’, Ferrari Sporting Director Laurent Mekies reflects on the differences which can be expected for the 2022 Formula 1 cars:

Laurent Mekies: “The 2022 cars will certainly be more difficult to drive. A lot will depend on the drivers, how they adjust to it. We are well equipped with Charles and Carlos. They both have different ways of reaching the target. Each is fast in his own way. There is less money available for the “during the season development” because the overall budget has also shrunk. We will see more upgrades than in the 2021 season, but also less than in 2018 or 2019.”

Laurent Mekies expects visible differences in the 2022 cars in the first draft despite significantly less freedom for the engineers: “After 6 weeks, the differences will already be fewer and by 2023 the cars will be pretty much be the same.”

Laurent Mekies on the 2022 car: “We have no idea where we stand compared to the others. There is no reference. At the beginning, the loss of lap time was huge. We made up a lot of it, but nobody knows if it’s enough. You put the car on track in Barcelona and hope that it does what the simulations and the wind tunnel promise.”

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Ferrari‘s hybrid upgrade in 2021 is said to have given them 0.15s per lap. Especially in the race, where the power unit provided more electric power over a longer period of time. At the end of the season, no other power unit went into charging mode as late as the Ferrari.

Ferrari recorded a high level of material wear in the past season due to crashes from both drivers. Laurent Mekies says this was not a sign of the SF21 being difficult to drive at the limit.

“We encouraged our drivers to push the limits. Because the competition between them helps us. There was relatively little development on the car this year. So we could cope with the crashes “better” in terms of the budget. That will be different in 2022. We need all the money for the development of the car.”