F1 2022 car launch Here is everything you need to know about the new-generation machine

Picture Credit: F1

Formula One has given the fans the first glimpse of what the future of racing will look like from next year onwards. With Mercedes winning the championship consecutively for last seven years, only Red Bull and Ferrari have been able to give some fight. As a result of all that has happened in last few years, F1 has finally launched the new car for 2022 which is expected to reduce the existing gap between the teams, making racing more exciting and unpredictable for the fans.

The launch event happened on July 15, Thursday ahead of the British Grand Prix. The new-generation car has been designed through an evolution in aerodynamics which will guarantee more competitive racing on the tracks with an opportunity of producing more overtakes. Here is everything you need to know about the new F1 2022 car-

How will overtaking become easier?

With the current design, the chasing cars lose half of the downforce which gives them grip round the corners. The revised rear wing has been modified in such a way that they won't be that affected by the dirty air coming on their way which will give them more stability. This will allow them to be closer to the car in front round the corner and could potentially lead to some breathtaking overtakes.

Talking about the numbers, the estimated loss of downforce could come down from 35% to 4% (20m distance) and from 46% to 18% (10m distance). Hence, cars in front won't be able to run away as easily as they can presently do and the fans will get to see some exciting battles on track.

Size of wheels has been increased, but why?

In one of the major developments, the size of the wheels has been increased from 13 inches to 18 inches. The low profile tires (Tread width - 305mm front, 405mm rear and Diameter - 720mm) will also be introduced for the first time in F1. The addition of wheel covers and wake control winglets has also been done to enhance a very aspect flow of air.

The large size of wheels will enable much more control and one could see a lot more faster driving in the sport. The FIA and Pirelli have gathered data from all the teams and have worked closely to come up with a design which will ensure that the tires do not get overheated on sliding too much.

Adoption of more sustainable fuel - E 10

One of the major changes includes the introduction of a much more sustainable fuel for cars, which is called 'E 10' - ‘E’ stands for ethanol, while ‘10’ signifies its percentage in the mixture. Interestingly, the ethanol must have a near-zero carbon footprint as it will be a second generation biofuel made in a sustainable way. F1 is trying to make a huge shift towards fully-sustainable fuel in coming years which is expected to be achieved very soon. However, the E 10 marks the beginning of a revolutionary change.

Will the cars become more safer?

Following the scary accident of Romain Grosjean in 2020, the safety of cars became the foremost issue to address. As a result, the F1 2022 cars will be required to withstand 15% more energy in front and rear impact tests before getting the approval. The chassis will have to undergo a huge number of strength tests and they will also have to ensure that engines should be able to separate from chassis in a safe manner without exposing the fuel tank. The minimum car weight has also increased by 5% and has gone from 752kg to 790kg.

As many as 7500 simulations took place before the launch of F1 2022 car which just signifies that a lot of research and data has gone into it to come up with this revolutionary design. With so much to look forward to, the new era of F1 is finally here and one just can't wait for the next season to begin.