F1 2022 Season - "Big Wheels"

[samoht]

F1’s new era is coming!

With the seats for 2022 now falling into place and plenty of technical changes, it feels like time to start a new thread for the 2022 season.


Aero: much more prescriptive aero regulations, aiming at clean shapes, less sensitive airflow, and much reduced turbulent wake for a following car. Complemented by the abandonment of the flat floor in favour of two ground-effect tunnels either side of the cockpit.

Wheels: 18” wheels instead of today’s 13” items (as per F2 now)

Testing: Increased differentiation of testing allowances by championship position (twice as much as this year, so a 5% reduction per place gained in championship standings)

Engines: Teams can introduce a new engine for 2022, which spec will then be frozen and used unchanged for 2023/24 also. Honda are understood to be preparing a final 2022 engine as a leaving gift for Red Bull.


Drivers:

Mercedes	Hamilton / Russell
Red Bull	Verstappen / Perez
McLaren	Norris / Ricciardo
Ferrari	Leclerc / Sainz
Alpine	Ocon / Alonso
Alpha Tauri	Gasly / Tsunoda
Aston Martin	Stroll / Vettel
Williams	Latifi / Albon
Alfa Romeo	Bottas / Zhou
Haas	Schumacher / Magnussen

Italics for the moves that appear likely but haven't yet been announced.

Thoughts on expected/hoped for driver moves? Predictions for who'll do best with the new regs?