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Red Bull gap shows 2022 F1 rules less restrictive than expected

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In 2022, F1 is turning to car concepts based on the use of floor-to-ground effects, with the aim of making it easier for drivers to race each other by reducing turbulent wakes.

Regulations have also been tightened to make it less likely that one team will get a head start. Aside from the impact of the budget cap, there are hopes that a new era in F1 will result in a closer grid.

While the rules appear to have hit the mark with midfield closer than ever, early suggestions that F1 would become more of a spec series proved unfounded.

According to McLaren F1 boss Stella, the team was wary of the lack of room for innovation the new rules would offer, but after developing the car, they saw a lot of potential to change thanks to the various new floor development avenues. status quo.

Red Bull and Ferrari have come up with two competing floor and sidepod concepts, each proving competitive in 2022, while Mercedes has adopted a radical design but is now ready to ditch it.

Plus: How Red Bull built the most complete F1 car yet

“I have to admit, and I think most teams should admit, that until the next generation of cars lands, we think the regulations are very strict,” Stella said.

“But what’s interesting is that once you start the journey, you realize there’s a lot of performance, especially on the floor. There’s a way to take advantage of this ground effect from a technical standpoint, which is beyond what I think anyone in Formula 1 will be able to do. expected.

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren

Photograph: Sam Bloxham / motorsport pictures

“If you look at the complexity of the geometry, you might see that on some cars, especially maybe on the part that faces the ground, so it’s not necessarily obvious, the complexity of the flow field, and the vertical structure that you want in the Cars are generated below, and then these exceed the expectations of the regulations.

“From a technical standpoint, it’s been a fascinating journey.”

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Stella believes that this unexpected potential to develop complex floors has rewarded the right teams, as evidenced by Red Bull’s huge advantage in other areas in 2023.

“From a landscape perspective, it means whoever does it better, as Red Bull is currently doing, can gain a sustained competitive advantage beyond expectations,” he added.

“So there’s a technical reason for that, and ultimately it means there’s a premium for those who do better than everyone else.”

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Explained: Ferrari's ambitious upgrades for the SF-23 in Barcelona

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At the Spanish Grand Prix, F1 entered a dedicated permanent track for the first time since the season opener in Bahrain. Due to the nature of the Circuit de Catalunya, teams usually implement a lot of upgrade packages on their cars, as it is well known that if a team performs well in Barcelona, ​​they stand a good chance of doing well for most of the remainder of the calendar. repertoire.

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F1 drivers fear unintended consequences of Barcelona track changes

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For the first time since 2006, the championship will do away with the oft-maligned slow 14-15 left-right corner and will revert to two high-speed open right-hand corners to complete a lap.

This has increased the top speed of the final corner to 170mph and is intended to allow drivers to follow the main straight more closely into the slipstream and overtake.

While single-car racing got rave reviews from drivers for the changes to improve lap speed during Friday’s practice session, they don’t think the tweaks will help the pass as envisioned.

With the Pirelli tires’ lack of overtaking so far in 2023 due in part to overheating rather than degradation, AlphaTauri driver Nyck de Vries believes that will again be a major factor this weekend.

He said: “Let’s not jump to conclusions, but obviously the main reason for the change was for a better game.

“I’m not sure if it’s going to give us a better game…the left forward has suffered a lot.

Insight: What we learned from Friday’s practice for the F1 2023 Spanish GP

“It’s a tough job at the front. You can feel it now, on long distances, when you’re behind other cars it’s hard to keep up.

“Now there’s a lot of focus on the front axle, whereas before, there was a little bit of both…they did (change) for the right purpose, let’s put it that way.”

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo Racing

Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo Racing

Photography: Alfa Romeo

De Vries reckons it’s possible to advance two laps before “you end up paying the price” because of so much tire wear.

Drivers also mentioned the 2023 car, fueling concerns that the revised Barcelona lap would not lead to an increase in overtaking.

While the switch to ground effect is intended to help the car follow more closely, winter developments increase levels of dirty air. Drivers commented that this season was significantly harder to keep up with than the previous one.

Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas told Autosport: “The faster the more fun. (But the level of overtaking) will be the same. The last corner is hard to follow.

“It’s just faster, but I don’t think it will improve overtaking. It’s a bit bumpy over there.

“So, there’s a little bit of movement, which makes it more challenging, but it’s a cool corner. It’s superfast. Definitely more challenging, but also for the tyres.

“It felt like the tires were traveling a lot in those two corners.”

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Windsor: 'Bad news for competition that Verstappen is SO relaxed'

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Max Verstappen was the fastest driver on the track at all hours of Friday’s Spanish Grand Prix. The fact that the Red Bull driver also had time to listen to Helmut Marko’s call on the radio should cause concern for the race, according to Peter Windsor.

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