After two days of discovery aboard the new F1 cars for the 2022 season in Barcelona, the drivers give their verdicts and their feelings.
The Formula 1 officially launched the 2022 season. The drivers traveled to Barcelonasince Wednesday 23 February, to carry out the first tests of the season and the first laps with this new generation of single-seater. In view of these new technical regulations, the behavior of F1 cars is completely different. After two days of testing, unexpected problems appeared for all the teams, while some drivers said they were pleasantly surprised.
The problem of porpoising
This particular-sounding word is the bugbear of the teams during these pre-season tests. This effect represents the movement of high-speed single-seaters, particularly in a straight line, rocking up and down. This results from the new aerodynamic philosophy of F1 based on theground effectwith the hardening of suspensions. This issue has been observed on each team’s cars. The team managers were questioned in particular about this unusual phenomenon at a press conference:
« We certainly knew that the ground effect situation would be different. It is a learning process. The time it takes to address or resolve it, I think solving it can be quite simple. But optimizing performance because it shouldn’t be a compromise, but you should try to avoid any bouncing by getting the maximum performance out of the car it might be a less easy exercise. So I’m pretty sure at some point every team will have a solution. How long will it take? I think those who get there sooner will have an advantage at the start of the season. Mattia Binotto – General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari – explains
However, not all team bosses considered it a major problem at this stage of the season:
“This is the first situation of these new cars”, says Franz Tost – Managing Director of Alpha Tauri. “We are going to evolve the cars. All the teams will develop them between now, between the first race in Bahrain and the first races. Here, we experiment, we explore. We push the envelope. We can adjust the ride heights to put the car down to the ground like last year’s car. »
“As Mattia said, fixing the problem is not the biggest issue, but then being efficient will be key and the quick reaction of the team will be key for the first races. I’m sure in three or four events the press won’t be thinking about rebounds.”retorts Fred Vasseur – Managing Director of Alfa Romeo Orlen F1 Team.
THE PORPOISE ⁉️
With the return to ground effect, pilots get a taste of porpoising: very high-speed bouncing back and forth
🔣 + speed = + support = increased suction effect!
🔠 another factor: the suspensions are hard– Les Pistonnés (@LesPistonnesF1) February 24, 2022
This phenomenon is therefore making a comeback since the days of ground effect in Formula 1 in the 1980s. To overcome this problem, the teams opted for the solution of active suspensions. But today this alternative is prohibited in the discipline. In short, while we were waiting to see if one of the 10 teams would have found a miracle solution to perform better than the others, we finally find ourselves in the opposite scenario. Whoever finds the solution to this phenomenon, which is testing the performance of single-seaters, will take a certain lead in the race for development this year.
The weight of single-seaters
Going from 752 kg to 795 kg, F1 have gained weight again this year. The pilots particularly felt it during these first driving sessions, and even more so than the new aerodynamic philosophy. This is due to reinforcement of security structures and of theappearance of 18″ rims against 13″ last year.
Although the F1 cars have become more complicated to drive in the portions with slow corners, it is the agility contrast which hit the pilots. After setting the fastest time on the first day of testing at the wheel of his McLaren, Lando Norris was surveyed on the impact of this new regulation on the driving of single-seaters:
“The weight makes a huge difference to the handling, the way the car reacts. It is much heavier than last season. So it feels a bit slower, a bit more apathetic. It’s like running on last season’s race fuel before a qualifying lap, in a way. You can feel it when braking and in certain areas. Performance is not quite the same. But it shouldn’t take too long to adjust and I think at the end of the day you’re a bit more used to it and it almost feels normal again. ”
Comments that were immediately joined by Mick Schumacherdriver for Haas F1 Team. According to the young German driver, it is the difference in weight that most strikes this new generation of single-seater:
« I think the main difference is weight and obviously that plays a role in almost every turn, especially in slow corners.But overall I like driving these cars. I only did 23 laps but I hope to be able to do more tomorrow Thursday. I think the first impression is good. I wouldn’t say it’s day and night [avec la génération précédente de monoplace]. We are still going around in circles and quickly. Overall, without going into too much detail, we need to re-adapt, we need to analyze things differently and probably approach things differently. There will be different concerns compared to last year, it will just take being one of the fastest riders to analyze and understand them in order to have the tools to survive the race the right way. »
The behavior of F1 in dirty air
This is the main objective for this new technical regulation. The FIA wants to limit disturbances and improve the behavior of F1 cars in the race, when they follow each other, and therefore in dirty air. I’ground effect should limit this effect and help the pilots to be able to fight against each other. And it’s mission accomplished, for the moment… It’s still too early to draw any conclusions, while the F1 2022 have not participated in any race yet. Alex Albondriver for the team Williams, said he was surprised by the behavior of the single-seaters in these conditions. According to the Thai, it is easier to stay behind another driver for several laps:
“I did a few laps behind Gasly. The first sensations are good. Obviously I haven’t driven in F1 for a while (absent in 2021) so it’s a bit harsh on that side but I was surprised by the speed I could keep in turns 2 and 3. I I nearly understeered because I expected worse. The initial feeling is positive. ”
The Williams driver also spoke about the general behavior of his single-seater. The latter returned to the problem of porpoising and the pleasant surprise of speeds taken in fast curves :
Everyone has a little, some more than others. It’s there but, honestly, it doesn’t really impact the lap time. So, as long as it doesn’t damage the car, we can do with it. It’s a very different car compared to previous years, obviously. And that makes Turn 1 a little more interesting. When you have similar cornering speeds, and once you find the right balance, there isn’t much that can be different. You have the suspensions, you have the weight. But that’s about all. You feel like you’re driving an F2 with the way the car reacts. But with a passing speed of F1, it’s not very strange. We’re in Barcelona, which is a smooth circuit, so I’m not sure it’s going to change in Austin which is a bumpy track. We will see. »
Photo : Icon Sport
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After two days of discovery aboard the new F1 cars for the 2022 season in Barcelona, the drivers give their verdicts and their feelings.
The Formula 1 officially launched the 2022 season. The drivers traveled to Barcelonasince Wednesday 23 February, to carry out the first tests of the season and the first laps with this new generation of single-seater. In view of these new technical regulations, the behavior of F1 cars is completely different. After two days of testing, unexpected problems appeared for all the teams, while some drivers said they were pleasantly surprised.
The problem of porpoising
This particular-sounding word is the bugbear of the teams during these pre-season tests. This effect represents the movement of high-speed single-seaters, particularly in a straight line, rocking up and down. This results from the new aerodynamic philosophy of F1 based on theground effectwith the hardening of suspensions. This issue has been observed on each team’s cars. The team managers were questioned in particular about this unusual phenomenon at a press conference:
« We certainly knew that the ground effect situation would be different. It is a learning process. The time it takes to address or resolve it, I think solving it can be quite simple. But optimizing performance because it shouldn’t be a compromise, but you should try to avoid any bouncing by getting the maximum performance out of the car it might be a less easy exercise. So I’m pretty sure at some point every team will have a solution. How long will it take? I think those who get there sooner will have an advantage at the start of the season. Mattia Binotto – General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari – explains
However, not all team bosses considered it a major problem at this stage of the season:
“This is the first situation of these new cars”, says Franz Tost – Managing Director of Alpha Tauri. “We are going to evolve the cars. All the teams will develop them between now, between the first race in Bahrain and the first races. Here, we experiment, we explore. We push the envelope. We can adjust the ride heights to put the car down to the ground like last year’s car. »
“As Mattia said, fixing the problem is not the biggest issue, but then being efficient will be key and the quick reaction of the team will be key for the first races. I’m sure in three or four events the press won’t be thinking about rebounds.”retorts Fred Vasseur – Managing Director of Alfa Romeo Orlen F1 Team.
THE PORPOISE ⁉️
With the return to ground effect, pilots get a taste of porpoising: very high-speed bouncing back and forth
🔣 + speed = + support = increased suction effect!
🔠 another factor: the suspensions are hard– Les Pistonnés (@LesPistonnesF1) February 24, 2022
This phenomenon is therefore making a comeback since the days of ground effect in Formula 1 in the 1980s. To overcome this problem, the teams opted for the solution of active suspensions. But today this alternative is prohibited in the discipline. In short, while we were waiting to see if one of the 10 teams would have found a miracle solution to perform better than the others, we finally find ourselves in the opposite scenario. Whoever finds the solution to this phenomenon, which is testing the performance of single-seaters, will take a certain lead in the race for development this year.
The weight of single-seaters
Going from 752 kg to 795 kg, F1 have gained weight again this year. The pilots particularly felt it during these first driving sessions, and even more so than the new aerodynamic philosophy. This is due to reinforcement of security structures and of theappearance of 18″ rims against 13″ last year.
Although the F1 cars have become more complicated to drive in the portions with slow corners, it is the agility contrast which hit the pilots. After setting the fastest time on the first day of testing at the wheel of his McLaren, Lando Norris was surveyed on the impact of this new regulation on the driving of single-seaters:
“The weight makes a huge difference to the handling, the way the car reacts. It is much heavier than last season. So it feels a bit slower, a bit more apathetic. It’s like running on last season’s race fuel before a qualifying lap, in a way. You can feel it when braking and in certain areas. Performance is not quite the same. But it shouldn’t take too long to adjust and I think at the end of the day you’re a bit more used to it and it almost feels normal again. ”
Comments that were immediately joined by Mick Schumacherdriver for Haas F1 Team. According to the young German driver, it is the difference in weight that most strikes this new generation of single-seater:
« I think the main difference is weight and obviously that plays a role in almost every turn, especially in slow corners.But overall I like driving these cars. I only did 23 laps but I hope to be able to do more tomorrow Thursday. I think the first impression is good. I wouldn’t say it’s day and night [avec la génération précédente de monoplace]. We are still going around in circles and quickly. Overall, without going into too much detail, we need to re-adapt, we need to analyze things differently and probably approach things differently. There will be different concerns compared to last year, it will just take being one of the fastest riders to analyze and understand them in order to have the tools to survive the race the right way. »
The behavior of F1 in dirty air
This is the main objective for this new technical regulation. The FIA wants to limit disturbances and improve the behavior of F1 cars in the race, when they follow each other, and therefore in dirty air. I’ground effect should limit this effect and help the pilots to be able to fight against each other. And it’s mission accomplished, for the moment… It’s still too early to draw any conclusions, while the F1 2022 have not participated in any race yet. Alex Albondriver for the team Williams, said he was surprised by the behavior of the single-seaters in these conditions. According to the Thai, it is easier to stay behind another driver for several laps:
“I did a few laps behind Gasly. The first sensations are good. Obviously I haven’t driven in F1 for a while (absent in 2021) so it’s a bit harsh on that side but I was surprised by the speed I could keep in turns 2 and 3. I I nearly understeered because I expected worse. The initial feeling is positive. ”
The Williams driver also spoke about the general behavior of his single-seater. The latter returned to the problem of porpoising and the pleasant surprise of speeds taken in fast curves :
Everyone has a little, some more than others. It’s there but, honestly, it doesn’t really impact the lap time. So, as long as it doesn’t damage the car, we can do with it. It’s a very different car compared to previous years, obviously. And that makes Turn 1 a little more interesting. When you have similar cornering speeds, and once you find the right balance, there isn’t much that can be different. You have the suspensions, you have the weight. But that’s about all. You feel like you’re driving an F2 with the way the car reacts. But with a passing speed of F1, it’s not very strange. We’re in Barcelona, which is a smooth circuit, so I’m not sure it’s going to change in Austin which is a bumpy track. We will see. »
Photo : Icon Sport
To read on Auto-Moto:
F1: Russian GP canceled due to conflict with Ukraine?
WRC Rally TV program 2022: live, in clear, channel, schedule, streaming…
24 hours of Le Mans: return of the classic program
