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Tyres NorthamptonFormula One is back in action after three long months of waiting. The ten teams hit the track in Barcelona and Bahrain for six days of the most crucial testing for a generation. If you thought F1 couldn't surpass the last lap drama of the 2021 season, it's time to think again if the pre-season action for 2022 is anything to go by.
Sweeping regulation changes are in force for the upcoming season, implemented with the sole intent of creating better racing. As a result, the radical new cars showcase notable changes across almost every inch.
Firstly, the long-awaited 18-inch Pirelli tyres are finally here, and the lower profile rubber undeniably improves the side profile look of each car. The road relevancy of F1's new tyres ties in with the sport's drive for sustainability, and we can expect less degradation on each compound following Pirelli's consulting with the drivers, teams, and FIA last year.
Other features surrounding the tyres demonstrate the direction F1 is moving, with wheel covers returning and the new inclusion of a wheel arch. Both innovations reduce the turbulent airflow that has blighted these cars in recent years, leaving drivers unable to follow each other through corners.
The broader implications of the move to reduce the so-called 'dirty air' are most obviously visible on the simpler and curvier front and rear wings. Now, generating aerodynamic grip will also come from the underside of the cars thanks to 'ground effect aero', allowing drivers to follow their rivals much closer than before.
The results are encouraging. Early reports from the drivers suggest that nose-to-tail running is much easier. Some faux on-track battles between Lewis Hamilton and Pierre Gasly, and Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll seem to back up their claims.
Although that may sound ideal from a fan's perspective, there are new issues that the teams must get on top of. The most obvious is porpoising – a bizarre problem that sees the cars bouncing down the straights. The effect results from underfloor aerodynamics sucking the car to the ground like a vacuum before bottoming out, temporarily losing that suction, leaving the car to pop back up and repeat the cycle.
McLaren are the team who have suffered the least from porpoising, but their test days weren't without concern. Daniel Ricciardo missed the entirety of the second week thanks to a positive Covid test, leaving Lando Norris to battle with brake problems for the Woking-based team.
Braking woes hit Williams, too, with Nicholas Latifi spectacularly suffering from a brake fire that melted his FW44's suspension. The teams are understandably reluctant on releasing information on whether the wheel covers are the root cause but will be feverishly doing the maths to see if these new inclusions affect brake cooling.
In better news, the front of the field does look tight, with reigning constructors' champions Mercedes vying for supremacy against Red Bull and Ferrari. Max Verstappen ended the Bahrain week with the fastest time – a 1:31.720 – set using the softest Pirelli C5 compound. Hamilton took a 1:19.138 on the final day in Barcelona using that same Pirelli rubber.
While lap times are a terrible indicator for the season's running order thanks to gamesmanship between teams, the smiles at a particular Italian outfit suggest they have their groove back. F1 returning to have a top-three rather than top-two looks likely for 2022.
You can expect to see further technical changes by lights out on Sunday. Mercedes and Red Bull have led the way with continual modifications as the tests progressed, and the development race will continue throughout the season.
Pirelli also helped every team with alterations to stiffen up the rear tyres to aid stability through corners. With the four tyres being the only part of the car in constant contact with the racetrack, how quickly the teams can adapt to the new 2022 Pirellis will prove crucial to the championship battle.
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