2022 F1 Development Race

 

Each season presents F1 teams with the challenge of continually improving their car to ensure that it remains competitive.  The new technical regulations of this season compound this issue.  Not only have teams rolled out brand new cars, they need to do their best to keep up with the aggressive development of the teams around them.  This is the reason that teams bringing upgrade packages, or not doing so, is so newsworthy. 

Thus far, the teams have chosen different strategies for introducing upgrades.  The most peculiar of these strategies is that of Haas.  We are officially half way through the season and Haas has refrained from introducing any significant upgrades.  The Haas team did use a rotary tool to trim the rear wing in Baku, but that is it.  Haas promises that they will introduce one upgrade package within the next few races, through we have heard this before.  Haas as admitted that they are already pouring resources into next year's car so the potential of significant upgrades for the current car are slim anyway. 

Alfa Romeo has also begun developing next year's car.  The team has introduced a new floor, cooling package, and clutches so far.  However, the team is not living up to the promise of their double points finish at the season opener.  Much of this can be attributed to the reliability of the Ferrari PU but even with those losses discounted, the current car is moving backwards.  Small upgrades will be expected to trickle in throughout the season, but much of the team's potential will be dedicated to ensuring that next year's car can better take the fight to McLaren and Alpine.

Alpine has introduced several upgrade packages and revisions with mixed effect, but they are moving in the right direction having overtaken both Alfa and McLaren in the constructor's standings.  McLaren just introduced a significant upgrade package at the French GP consisting of new engine cover, beam wing, and floor. Though they secured a double points finish, it may be a few races before they can significantly capitalize on these new components.

The French GP saw both Williams cars receiving the upgrade package that was first introduced on Albon's car for the British GP.  The car seems to be moving forward but they will benefit from having both cars running the upgrades and collecting data. 

Alpha Tauri were stragglers to introduce upgrades, but finally did so for the French GP.  Unfortunately, due to Ocon's collision with Tsunoda and Gasly's poor qualifying, the effectiveness of the new floor, beam wing, and side pods remain to be seen. 

The controversial Aston Martin B car caused quite a stir when it arrived to the Spanish GP.  Despite appearing identical to the Red Bull, the team and FIA insist that this was merely a coincidence that had been in development well into the previous year.  Unfortunately for the people's champion (Seb), the B car has not proven to perform like a green Red Bull.  

The bulk of Red Bull resources seem to have been dedicated to fixing the reliability issues experienced early in the year. The team also seems to have gotten on top of the DRS issues experienced as recently as Baku.  The team introduced new floor fences at the French GP, small upgrades are expected throughout the season.  The design team headed by Adrian Newey seems to have gotten it right from lights out in Bahrain. 

Mercedes has spent most of the year working to justify the zero sidepod design employed by the current car.  The results show that they have made steady progress forward.  It seems unlikely that a major upgrade package is coming, as the zero sidepod car was a complete surprise introduced at the second round of preseason testing.  The original car presented at the first round of testing was developed in concert with the zero sidepod car, implying that the cost of developing two cars left few resources for development throughout the season.

Which brings us to Ferrari.  The Scuderia has introduced a lower drag rear wing and small revisions to the floor.  But, is quite evident that the team requires two major upgrades.  The first is something to solve the reliability that has plagued all teams employing the Ferrari PU. The second, more important required change, is a major revision to the processes or personnel that currently dictate race strategy.  The Red team have very likely already forfeited the WDC and WCC for 2022, but if they do not get it together they risk being overtaken in the WCC by a much more reliable Mercedes. 

A.T.