It’s time again next weekend to take out your cap with number 33, and then put it away immediately. Max Verstappen is driving with number 1 on his car this year because he just managed to collect the most points and became champion last year. You may have seen something about it. For this brand new season there are some new things to watch out for. We briefly list them for you.
New F1 cars, old engines
If you’ve seen even a glimpse of this year’s cars, you know that this is a revolution in F1 regulations. The cars of previous years generated downforce from air currents over the car. Different wings, fins and inlets ensured that this airflow created downforce, so that the drivers did not end up off the track in fast corners.
This year, that downforce comes mainly from the underside of the car. Tunnels under the floor of the car create a vacuum. As a result, the entire car sucks itself, as it were, onto the asphalt, which in turn provides the desired grip. The effect of this is that cars can follow each other better and drive closer behind each other through the bends. They also look cleaner from. So expect more wheel-to-wheel combat this year, rather than straight-line overtaking with DRS. The cars still have DRS, by the way, but that is probably less effective.
drivers
Like every year, we see familiar faces in different suits. Loyal team player Bottas has to leave the field at Mercedes for the younger and faster George Russell. It remains to be seen whether George will just as easily be sidelined for Hamilton. The former F2 champion has been dangling at the back of the field with Williams for a number of years and now is the time when he needs to make his mark on the sport. An ambition that can literally and figuratively clash with Hamilton.
Max Verstappen recently signed a mega contract with Red Bull and will also drive for the team with which he took the title last year. Sergio Pérez will again occupy the other seat with the team.
Who is the fastest?
Three test days took place in both Barcelona and Bahrain in recent weeks, during which the teams could put their cars to the test. In the final tests in Bahrain, Verstappen was fastest, followed by Mick Schumacher’s Haas. Mercedes, meanwhile, complained that their car was having problems and that they “will not be fighting for victories this year”.
However, that does not mean that we can already crown Max Verstappen champion in 2022, while Mercedes is moping at the back. The above scenario occurs every year. Then we see Mercedes blowing away the competition and Haas being put on several laps. It’s a game of bluff poker from Germany.
In these tests, the teams do not all have the same amount of fuel on board, which means that some cars carry more weight and are therefore less fast in that round. Other rules such as tire pressure are also not observed in the tests. Because of these differences, good cars can still drive a slower lap time. In qualifying next Saturday, all the teams will be in similar conditions and we will really see who is fast this year and who will struggle in the points.
Dates and times of the Bahrain GP 2021
Friday March 18, 2022
1st free practice: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
2nd free practice: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday 19 March 2022
3rd free practice: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Qualification: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 20 March 2022
Race: 4 p.m.
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