The heads of the Ferrari and Mercedes Formula One teams, Toto Wolff and Mattia Binotto, are still not convinced that overtaking will become easier
Toto Wolff and Mattia Binotto express scepticism on the question of whether the Formula 1 cars of the 2022 season will really produce better racing. This was the key issue in the biggest rule reform since 1983.
With the presentations and the first shakedowns, the Formula One cars with ground effect have finally become a reality, which the commercial rights holder Liberty Media actually wanted to introduce for the 2021 season, but then postponed for a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the new generation of cars, the old problem of “dirty air” should finally be effectively reduced. This prevents a close approach to the car in front and thus ultimately overtaking manoeuvres. In addition, the gaps between the teams are to become smaller.
But does it really work? Toto Wolff has his doubts in the wake of the launch of the W13: “I am optimistic that the new rules will improve racing. But the truth is that I have no idea.”
“The aerodynamic concept of the cars is fundamentally different from anything we have known before. Only when we actually race against each other will we see whether it has become easier or not. I think anyone who predicts that overtaking will get easier is making a bold statement. “
Mattia Binotto made a similar statement at the launch of the F1-75 on Thursday, “We have to wait and see. It’s very difficult to estimate from the simulations. The cars generate plenty of downforce and performance.”
“So I don’t expect too many changes from last year. But I could also be completely wrong. Again, only the track will show whether there has been an improvement or not. Let’s wait a few days for next week [testing in Barcelona] and Bahrain. Then we will surely be able to give a better answer.”
According to Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, the team will spend some of its test time chasing other cars to better understand the new aerodynamics: “In my opinion, we should invest a little time to check that. That’s a theme we’ll be following in testing – just driving behind the opposition to see how it feels. “