The Australian Grand Prix of 2020 was the first Formula 1 event to be cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was a sudden cancellation, literally at the ‘eleventh hour’. The state government has forced its cancellation as the pandemic worsened and it started the ball rolling for other organizers to also cancel.
The Australian round has traditionally been the opening round of the season for many years so for the 2021 calendar, it was again placed at the start. However, the strict entry conditions at the start of 2021 made it difficult and uncertain for teams, so the organizers asked for their round to be postponed towards the end of the year when, hopefully, conditions would ease. But they did not (and would not till this year) and so the event had to be cancelled altogether.
This year, the Australian Grand Prix can finally be run although it could not regain its season-opening position and was scheduled as Round 3 of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship. The circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne has changed and the entire track has been resurfaced. Some of the turns have been widened and a chicane has also been removed. The latter change is intended to provide a good overtaking spot, something which gives spectators the excitement to watch.
According to Brembo, the brake suppliers for all teams, it is one of those tracks with a medium level of difficulty for brakes. Since it is usually used for daily traffic, the track is slippery on Friday but, session by session, the asphalt is increasingly rubberized, also improving braking performance. This also translates into greater pad and disc wear, as they reach extremely high temperatures due to the increase in grip.
With the long experience Brembo has accumulated in Formula 1 since 1975 when they supplied to Ferrari, they have a range of solutions for the calipers that contribute to the heat dissipation of the entire braking system. One of these solutions is the Brembo pads with ventilation holes, something that is anything but simple to achieve because of their small dimensions and the materials the pads are made of, starting with carbon. Thanks to these holes, air circulation is greater and this staves off the overheating of the pads and the calipers themselves.
In 2022, the technical regulations ban having these holes in the pads in order to limit the cost of the component, but the teams are already on the hunt for cooling features that will improve this aspect without breaking any rules, such as fins or other processes to at least increase the exchange surface.
The minimum cornering speeds and gears used by the Mercedes-AMG drivers at Albert Park.
For Pirelli, the tyre people, there are a few unknowns because of the new track surface and changes, so past data cannot be entirely referred to. “There is a completely new generation of cars and tyres that the drivers are still trying to learn about. All these factors mean that there will be a lot of work to do for teams and drivers in the free practice sessions. We decided to opt for the step in the compound nominations because we noticed that there was a relatively small performance gap between the C3 and C4 compounds during development testing, and we believe that Albert Park – with its new asphalt and layout – is a good place to try out this option,” said Mario Isola, Pirellis’ Motorsport Director.
“We had to deal with a lot of new things compared to the last time that we raced here. The track is completely different from what it used to be: it’s definitely faster and the new tarmac feels totally different in terms of grip as far as I can remember,” said Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
The first two rounds of the championship have seen Ferrari and Red Bull Racing outpacing the Mercedes-AMG team. It’s still early days and the reigning champions are trying hard to address issues with set-up but still some way to go to match the pace of the frontrunners.
The Albert Park circuit is one of those where Lewis Hamilton has not had a notable record of wins (only two) even though he started from pole position a record 8 times. It is Michael Schumacher who has had the most wins with 4 wins, followed by Sebastian Vettel who has won 3 times. The McLaren team has had the most victories in Australia with eleven to date, with Ferrari having two less.
Ever since Liberty Media acquired the Formula One Group in 2016 (paying US$4.6 billion for it), the American media company has been changing the character of the sport. There has been a bigger push in commercialization and expanding the sport’s global footprint. It has also increased the number of rounds for the championship and has not ruled out going to as many as 30 rounds in future. That’s something many teams and drivers are not in favour of because having to be on the move all the time, not only putting the pressure on logistics but also affecting personal life.
Not surprisingly, Liberty Media has been keen to have more rounds in America and has announced that Las Vegas will be a venue in the 2023 calendar. The city, well known for its casinos, has hosted Formula 1 before in 1981 and 1982 when a racetrack was created in the carpark of the Caesar’s Palace hotel and casino (yes, the carpark was big enough for a track within it). It was considered one of the worst circuits in F1 history.
The circuit in the Caesar’s Palace carpark used for the F1 rounds in 1981 and 1982. Drivers had to go round for 75 laps and it was considered among the worst circuits in F1 history.
F1 races in America
Other American cities which have had Formula 1 rounds in the past have been Detroit/Michigan (1982 – 1988), Los Angeles/California (1976 – 1983), Dallas/Texas (1984), Riverside/California (1960), Sebring/Florida (1959), Watkins Glen/New York (1961 – 1980), Indianapolis/Indiana (2000 – 2007), and Austin/Texas (2012 – 2019, 2021). In total, there have been at least 50 rounds of F1 held in America though it is not so apparent. In 1982, it became the first country to host 3 rounds in one season. This year will see Miami being added to the list when it is run for the first time on May 8.
While the last circuit was laid out in a carpark and the drivers had to go round the 3.6-km course for 75 laps, the 2023 one will have a very different layout (31 layouts were considered). While there will be 14 corners like the 1982 circuit, the new track will have 3 long main straights and a total lap length of 6.12 kms.
Night race
The racing cars will certainly be going much faster than those in the 1980s and should reach 340 km/h as they speed along the Strip past the buildings. The race will also be held at night, a feature of the sport since the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix when the first night race was held.
The second round of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship has not been smooth running since the weekend began. First there was the missile attack on an oil depot just 11 kms away from the Corniche Circuit and although many drivers were reluctant to continue through the weekend, they were convinced to do so after assurances from the Saudi Arabian authorities that they would be safe. The Houthis were also said to have assured that they would suspend attacks for 3 days, perhaps understanding a bit about global perception if anything were to happen to F1 participants, even accidentally.
Then there was the nasty accident when Haas F1’s Mick Schumacher hit a wall and had to be hospitalized. Fortunately, he’s okay but he can’t race. And then for Scuderia AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (already placed last on the grid as he did not qualify), his race ended before it even started as his car lost power while he was driving it to the start.
When the race got underway, Sergio Perez got off the a good start as his Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen raced past Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz leaving the grid. Many were watching Lewis Hamilton who had been in 16th place after qualifying, and then repositioned two places up after McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo was given grid penalities. Hamilton had also made a good start and moved 2 places up in the early stages of the opening lap. Alfa Romeo’s Zhou, however, seemed to slip backwards a place or two at the start, bumping into Ricciardo as well.
On lap 5, the two BWT Alpine drivers began fighting each other to move into sixth place. Fernando Alonso had attempted to get past his team mate who was unwilling to let him through. Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas was closing in and watching the tussle and looking to take advantage of it to get past but Ocon held him back too. That little battle between Ocon and Alonso can’t have pleased the team boss.
The Alpine battle was helpful for Mercedes-AMG’s George Russell who had moved one position up from starting sixth. He was about 12 seconds back from the next car (Sainz) and could concentrate on steadily moving closer with a 10-second gap behind him on lap 12. By then, his team mate Hamilton had moved into 11th place.
Zhou had managed to get up to 13th but on lap 13, he had overtaken Williams’ Alexander Albon whose rear tyres were gone. The pass was done off the track and the Stewards spotted it and gave him a 5-second penalty for that.
Lap 16 saw the first accident as Williams’ Nicholas Latifi went into the barriers near the final corner. This brought out the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) and many drivers took the chance to head to the pits for a tyre-change. Perez too came in, which let Leclerc take over the lead as the VSC was replaced by a real Safety Car to manage the flow while the damaged racing car was removed. At least 3 cars (Hamilton among them) did not come in and they had all started on Hard tyres.
The Safety Car left the track on lap 20 and racing resumed with Leclerc in the lead and Verstappen almost in his slipstream. A frustrated Perez was third, also not far from the front and although he tried, he was unable to stop Sainz from getting past as well and instead watch out for Russell coming up. Incidentally, both Ferraris had switched to Hard tyres when they came in.
Magnussen didn’t give up trying even after Hamilton had passed him and interestingly, both cars were still on their starting Hard tyres after more than 30 laps as they had not gone in during the Safety Car period for a change. Aston Martin’s Nico Hulkenberg, running in 14th, was the only other driver who was still running on starting tyres.
As lap 37 started, Alonso’s car seem to drop back with a noticeable reduction in speed. After having made it past Magnussen, he very quickly slipped back down the field and then radioed that the Alpine had no power. He tried to roll back to the pits but could not and parked so the VSC came out.
Then Ricciardo also reported that his McLaren had lost power and he had to stop right at the pit entrance, blocking it to Hamilton who was planning to come in. Bottas had come in earlier and not departed so he too retired. The VSC was kept active for another few laps as efforts were made to clear the Alpine.
9 laps remained when the VSC went off and Hamilton rushed into the pits to get Medium tyres. When he rejoined, he was just behind Magnussen who was in 11th.
On lap 43, Verstappen went into attack mode and swept past Leclerc, but the Ferrari driver did not give up easily and fought back to regain the lead. Behind, the other Red Bull with the Mexican in it was also duelling with Sainz. Much drama as the race was in its final laps.
There was last-minute drama as Albon and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll came into contact and the yellow flags came out. But it was a close fight as the leaders exchanged positions and Verstappen seemed to hold the lead better. And then it was over – Verstappen got across the finish line half a second ahead to win the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Race starts in Jeddah at 8 pm/1 am (Monday) in Malaysia
While the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 caused cancellations and rescheduling of the rounds of Formula 1 World Championship, there have been many other times when certain rounds have not been run in the past. However, they were not due to conflicts or political issues in the host country, with the exception of the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix which was cancelled when anti-government protests (inspired by the ‘Arab Spring’) led to concerns about security for the F1 participants.
This year, the conflict in Ukraine has seen the termination – not just cancellation – of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi by Formula 1 as a response to the invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday, the second round of the 2022 championship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was also the subject of security and safety concerns after an Aramco oil storage facility just 11 kms from the circuit was attacked by Yemen’s Houthis. However, after much discussion with government agencies and the teams, it was announced that the race would go on as there were sufficient assurances of protection.
“We have received total assurance that the country’s safety is first,” said Formula One CEO, Stefano Domenicali. “So they have in place all the systems to protect this area, the city, the places where we are going. So we feel confident and we have to trust the local authority in that respect.”
“The attacks had targeted economic infrastructure and not civilians. We have the assurance from a high level that this is a secure place, the whole thing will be secure and let’s go on racing,” added FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
This second round of the 2022 championship is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and it is the second time the event is being run at Jeddah where the 6.174-km long Corniche Street Circuit has been created. Like the Bahrain round last weekend, this 50-lap race will be run after sunset with over 600 lights providing illumination (connected by 200,000 metres of cable and fibreoptic lines).
Very fast circuit
The young circuit has proven to be one of F1’s fastest circuits (and it also has the most corners this year). At an average speed of 253.9 km/h, Lewis Hamilton’s pole lap last year is second on the current calendar, behind Monza. It trails the Italian track, Silverstone (pre-2010 layout) and the Osterreichring in the all-time list.
A number of revisions have been made, mainly at improving the sight-lines for the drivers. This has been done by moving the barriers further back. The track at the final Turn 27 has been widened to 12 metres, and that could mean a quicker lap time than last year.
However, as will be the case at every track this year, the redesigned cars for 2022 will require understanding of the new demands. With the walls close and the stakes high, judgment and precision will be key factors for victory.
Haas F1’s Mick Schumacher was going flat out in the second qualifying session and crashed into the wall at Turn 12. He was conscious when extracted from the car and taken to hospital.Cornering speeds and gears used by the Mercedes-AMG W13 racing cars for the 27 corners of the circuit.
“The Jeddah circuit marks a completely different challenge compared to the opening Grand Prix in Bahrain due to the diverse track characteristics, both in terms of layout and asphalt. Drivers will also use a softer range of compounds this weekend to cope with the specific demands of the track, which is nearly as quick as Monza. The teams have no experience of these tyres and cars on the circuit, and conditions could be somewhat different from last time in Saudi Arabia just 4 months ago – with the race now being held at a different time of year and a few track modifications in store,” said Pirelli’s Motorsport Director, Mario Isola.
Brembo supplies all teams
The Brembo Group is supplying all the teams with its calipers, the first time since 1975. All 20 cars will have new nickel-plated and machined from billet 6-piston calipers, the maximum number allowed by the regulations. Five of the teams will also use by-wore units to manage rear braking, allowing balancing of braking forces between front and rear wheels.
Brembo engineers have also worked with each team to customize many of the brake systems because each racing car is set up differently. Some teams opt for lighter and less rigid calipers, while others choose stiffer, heavier set-ups; so the weight/stiffness ratio has to be optimized for each brake caliper. In-wheel sensors keep the team’s engineers informed of the disc and caliper temperatures at all times so they and the drivers can regulate and optimize braking performance.
Some of the new regulations have affected brake disc design. Until 2021, discs could be pierced with up to 1,480 holes of 2.5 mm diameter. This year, the requirements allow for between 1,000 and 1,100 holes at the front and around 900 at the back, compared with 1,050 holes previously. The updated rules also impose a new minimum diameter of 3 mm. This means that while disc thickness stays the same, there will be fewer and larger holes, reducing cooling ability.
Perforated brake pads have also been banned this season, so Brembo is offering teams a choice of two alternative configurations. In terms of weight, the 2022 braking system is around 700 gms heavier per wheel, adding almost 3 kgs to the total weight of cars compared to last season.
Changing dominance?
The new era of F1 has already lived up to expectations that the dominance of Mercedes-AMG and Red Bull Racing can be challenged by others, and Ferrari’s victory in the first round showed this. While the reigning champions Mercedes-AMG will be looking to do better than third (and not from the misfortune of others), Red Bull Racing has revealed that the sudden power failures to both its cars in the closing laps was because of a fault in fuel delivery which they do not expect to happen again.
Haas F1 had a surprising performance without Nikita Mazepin around (not that he contributed any points last year) as Kevin Magnussen finished fifth, and Mick Schumacher was just one position short of the top 10 finishers. George Russell also did well in his first official drive with the Mercedes-AMG team (second if you include the stand-in drive last year), while the tenth placing by newcomer Zhou GuanYu was commendable for his very first F1 race.
The first race of the new Formula 1 season started as the sun disappeared and the lights came on around the Bahrain International Circuit in the Sakhir Desert. Unusually, there was no car with the Mercedes star at the front row, and it was a red Ferrari with Charles Leclerc in it occupying pole position. Alongside Leclerc was Max Verstappen, the World Champion, and his arch-rival was further back in the fifth spot – ironically alongside his former team mater, Valtteri Bottas who is now in Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN.
As the lights went green for the first time in the 2022 season, Leclerc used his position to sprint forward ahead of Verstappen as the rest of the pack followed. While Hamilton managed to move up a couple of positions, his old buddy Bottas lost ground and fell further back before Turn 2.
The two Haas drivers were not having an easy time getting into the ‘groove’ as Kevin Magnussen locked up his tyres and Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, who had fallen down to seventh (due to a poor start), got past him, while Mick Schumacher had an ‘incident’ with BWT Alpine’s Esteban Ocon which got the attention of the Stewards. The latter was given a 5-second penalty but both cars were able to remain in the race.
By the time the first tenth of the 57-lap race had passed, Leclerc and Verstappen were steadily pulling away from the rest, separated from each other by about 2 seconds. Third place was being contested by three drivers – Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), Hamilton and Perez, while Geroge Russell was pushing hard to get closer to his new team mate in the Mercedes-AMG team.
On lap 8, it appeared than McLaren’s Lando Norris was pushed wide by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (which also caused Daniel Ricciardo to have to go wide) and after the Stewards looked into the incident, it was decided that no action or penalty was necessary.
By lap 13, Verstappen and Hamilton were frustrated with quickly diminishing grip from their tyres as degradation was faster than expected. Hamilton chose to come in for a change to Hards. When he rejoined, he was down to 11th and then 12th when the Alfa Romeo of newcomer Zhou sped past him – but he was ahead of the 7-time World Champion only briefly.
Other drivers began to come in after that, with Leclerc – still leading – coming in on lap 16 together with Perez. However, where the Ferrari driver switched to Softs, Perez got Mediums. Leclerc’s departure from the track was short and quick and he kept his lead position but with less than a second’s separation from Verstappen as he rejoined.
Once Hamilton got his tyres warmed up, he began to move up but it was a long way to the leaders who were about 18 seconds away. He made it up to fifth and then there was a 5-second gap to Perez which was going to need a lot of effort to close. Russell was next in line but 7 seconds behind and steadily working his way forward, mindful of Magnussen pursuing.
On lap 19, Verstappen made a strong effort going into Turn 1 but miscalculated and locked up, not making t pass the Ferrari. In the process, he flat-spotted his tyres and had to back off a bit to let the brakes cool down as well. While he was doing that, the other Ferrari driver, Sainz, was moving closer but had to watch out for the other Red Bull as well.
As the race reached the halway point about 50 minutes after the start, Hamilton came into the pits to switch to Mediums. As he rejoined, he slotted between Pierre Gasly and Ocon to take eighth place. The other drivers who had also come in a second time to change tyres were Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda.
Verstappen came in on lap 31 and Ferrari brought Leclerc in right after that. The pitstops dropped the Dutchman to fourth and Leclerc to third, while Sainz inherited the lead with Perez about 3 seconds behind.
On lap 34, Sainz and Perez departed from the race to get their tyres changed and Leclerc got back his lead, with Verstappen 2 seconds behind and told by his team that he could go all out.
By lap 38, the frontrunners were encountering the slower cars and Sainz had a scare as he passed Alexander Albon and the Williams driver almost collided with him. Actually, the Thai driver was not up to speed as he had just come out from the pit lane. However, no contact occurred and the Ferrari managed to quickly speed away.
The two McLarens were way down the field (almost at the end), unable to move up and Lando Norris tried to do with just one stop but couldn’t, while Ricciardo was having problems with his radio. Tsunoda was trying his best to keep his tenth place as Alonso kept trying to take it from him.
Magnussen was showing that Haas should never have dropped him and given his place to Nikita Mazepin who didn’t do anything positive for the team in 2021. On his first race back with the team, he was able to move into a secure seventh by 15 laps from the end, almost certain to collect points that Haas never saw at all last year.
On lap 46, as Verstappen was reporting steering problems, Gasly’s car suddenly caught fire and he quickly pulled to the side and managed to get out safely. The Safety Car was quickly sent out to lead the racing cars and Leclerc took the opportunity to get into the pits, switch to Softs and have fresh tyres to fight better in the remaining 11 laps. As he sped back to take his place, he almost rammed into the Safety Car! Unhappy that the Mercedes-AMG was not going fast enough, Leclrc complained to his team, hoping they would pass on the message that it must go quicker and not cause him a ‘big disadvantage’.
The Safety Car came in on lap 50 and Leclerc was ready to slingshot away from the Red Bull which was just behind. However, Verstappen could not focus too much on the car ahead as he had another Ferrari in his mirrors as well. Perez and Hamilton were also jostling for fourth and perhaps in desperation, Hamilton almost collided with the other car.
Verstappen’s race ended suddenly as he pulled into the pits on lap 55 and the last conversation heard over the radio was something about the battery, which his engineer said was not the problem. He had been having steering problems but was not informed what exactly was the fault.
The departure of Verstappen left the way open for Sainz to close in on his team mate and give Ferrari not just its first win since September 2019 but also a 1-2 finish. Perez also began having loss of power and before he could get around Turn 1, his car spun and the other cars had to avoid it. For Hamilton, at least the sudden retirement of the Rd Bulls allowed him to get onto the podium, while Russell finished just behind in fourth. That’s racing… it isn’t decided till the finish line is crossed by someone.
The 2022 Formula 1 World Championship starts a new season this weekend in Bahrain which, as in 2021, was the venue for the season-opener and replaced Australia (which had complications due to its pandemic restrictions and requirements). This is the 18th time Bahrain has hosted a round of F1 and has done so every year since 2004, except in 2011.
Although the last race at the Bahrain International Circuit was at the end of March last year, the drivers have fresher memories of the track as they had test sessions there just last month. The circuit at Sakhir is located in the middle of the desert (on what was formerly a camel farm) and has no less than 1,120 palm trees around the site. But while it may be located in a desert, sand doesn’t present much of an issue for the teams and cars, and the track surface cleans up quickly.
The majority of the F1 races held in Bahrain have used the 5.412-km Grand Prix layout, but on one occasion in 2010, the 6.299-km Endurance layout was used. It was not a popular switch as drivers found that the additional corners did not offer passing opportunities, so the GP circuit was used thereafter up till today.
The Bahrain Grand Prix is a twilight race, starting at sunset and finishing after dark when 495 lighting posts are switched on to bring daylight onto the track. Despite the new F1 weekend format, FP1 and FP3 still take place in daylight, while FP2.and qualifying take place in the evening. FP2 is therefore a crucial session for all the teams as it is the one chance to run the car in similar conditions to those experienced in qualifying and the 57-lap race.
Because of the various changes to the weekend format, there is less time for mechanics to work on the cars and less engineering time, due to the earlier curfew. So, more emphasis is put on hitting the ground running with good preparation and simulation work, hence more emphasis being on the pre-weekend preparations.
By now, racing fans will know that this year sees major changes in technical regulations to the extent that even wheel sizes have been increased. So this first round will be very interesting, and everyone will be watching to see how the changes affect performance. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes-AMG team boss, expects the performance of the cars through the corners will change. “For example, we expect the cars to take Turn 4 in Bahrain at 115 km/h in 2022, compared to 135 km/h last year. Similarly, a high-speed corner like Turn 12 will now be taken at 240 km/h, compared to 265 km/h,” he said.
“The teams had the chance get familiar with the 2022 18-inch tyre range, having spent a total of 6 days of testing with all the compounds, although not always in representative conditions. We know from the past that track temperatures can play an important role in Bahrain, affecting tyre degradation, and that’s something we noticed at the recent test as well. During the race temperatures should be milder compared to FP1 and FP3, so the teams will have to focus on their data from FP2 and qualifying. It’s still hard to predict the race strategy as, in the past, Bahrain has been a multi-stop race, but it will be interesting to see if anyone will try something different this year,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director.
The official tyre-supplier has chosen the hardest compounds in the new low-profile range. Removing the requirement for the top ten to start the race on their Q2 rubber will, however, alter the established pattern in which the teams choose their tyres during the weekend.
The No. 5 Aston Martin won’t be in the race and instead, you’ll see No. 27 which is the number for Nico Hulkenberg. He takes over Sebastian Vettel’s place as the German driver tested positive for COVID-19.Zhou GuanYu, the first F1 driver from China, will be racing for Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN, alongside Valtteri Bottas.
2022 sees former driver Kevin Magnussen returning to take Nikita Mazepin’s place in the Haas F1 team, while Thai-British Alexander Albon gets another go at F1 with Williams Racing, along Nicholas Latifi. Joining Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN is Zhou GuanYu who is the first F1 driver from China, and he will partner Valtteri Bottas who has moved over from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Team. You’ll notice Nico Hulkenberg listed with the Aston Martin Aramco COGNIZANT Team and that’s because Sebastian Vettel cannot take part due to being tested positive for COVID-19.
This weekend sees the start of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship in Bahrain, and it will be a bit different from previous seasons. The cars will be new, not just upgraded from the previous year, to meet the biggest technical changes in F1 regulations in some four decades. The changes made include a switch from 13-inch wheels to 18-inch wheels, which has also meant new custom brake systems.
As before, Brembo is the main supplier of the brake systems, and the engineers are starting off the season on a circuit known to be one of the most demanding for brakes. On a difficulty index scale of 1 to 5, it is a 4 – exactly the same as legendary tracks like Monza and Spa-Francorchamps, albeit with very different characteristics than these.
The Bahrain GP will be a test bench for the new systems, partly because of an asphalt that is usually extremely abrasive, with the sand clearing off lap after lap and where the wind often plays a determining role. Furthermore, the race will start after sunset, so temperatures will change as well However, this year the presence of lenticular wheel covers, also brand new, will keep spectators from enjoying the view of the incandescent carbonfibre discs during braking at the end of the straights.
Disc size and hole size change
The increase in wheel diameter from 13 inches to 18 inches provides more space in the wheel corner for the carbonfibre disc. This has allowed their diameter to increase from 278 mm to 328 mm for the front and from 266 mm to 280 mm for the rear.
The thickness of the discs is now identical for both axles, 32 mm, compared to last year when the rear discs did not exceed 28 mm. However, the architecture of the discs has also changed because the new technical regulations impose a minimum diameter of 3 mm (0.12 in.) for the ventilation holes whereas, in the past, Brembo pushed the envelope as far as 2.5 mm.
Brembo has researched the shape of the ventilation chamber in brakes for over a quarter of a century. The use of thermo fluid dynamic calculations allowed the best choice between traditional fins and pillar ventilation for each disc type. The latter, ideal when there is not a constant airflow within the disc, are arranged on three circumferences along the braking band with geometry designed to ensure the best performance for fluid dynamics. In these conditions, the pillars increase resistance to thermal cracking by up to 30%, ensuring longer life for the discs which can reach 1,200°C in the racing cars.
4 hard braking sections
On each lap of the Bahrain track, the drivers use the brakes 8 times for a total of 16.5 seconds, although a large part of this time is spent on the 4 hardest braking sections which require the braking system to work for just under 2.9 seconds on average. On the other hand, on 3 turns, the braking time is less than 1.5 seconds and the braking distance is 90 metres.
The twisty nature of the circuit is best represented by the fact that there is only one point where speeds reach well above 300 km/h. Nevertheless, there are 6 braking sections with maximum deceleration of almost 4g, with a peak of 4.6g on the first turn.
131 metres to decelerate 248 km/h
Of the 8 braking sections at the Bahrain GP, 3 are classified as very demanding on the brakes, 4 are of medium difficulty, and the remaining one is light. The most difficult time for the brake system is at the first turn because the cars are coming off a 1.1 km straight. The drivers will hit the brakes at 328 km/h and the speed must drop to 80 km/h in just 131 metre (429.8 feet). To achieve this, the drivers brake for 2.95 seconds and experience a 4.6g deceleration.
A tip for videogames
Tackling Turn 1 on the Bahrain International Circuit in the Formula 1 videogame only takes a few things: you have to start braking with the wheels straight at the end of the section where you can use the DRS, using the 100-metre sign as your point of reference. You should reduce the pressure on the pedal progressively and then move to the right, but without touching the curb in order to avoid being unbalanced, which would make you lose power.
As in 2021, the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship will have Official F1 Safety and Medical Cars from two brands – Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin. The cars will be used during different rounds and for the first round on March 18, it will be the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series for the Safety Car and GT 63 S 4MATIC+ Medical Car. It will be the first time that the estate model (previously the C 63 S AMG Estate) is not used since Mercedes-AMG began supplying F1 Official Cars in 1996.
“Recent years have seen Mercedes-AMG celebrate a huge number of amazing successes in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Eight constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles in the last 8 years speak emphatically for themselves. Added to that is the extensive and widespread transfer of technology and image from this greatest of all motorsport stages and our series-production vehicles. Motorsport means so much to us, as does the best possible level of safety. There was absolutely no question that, after more than 25 years, we would extend our commitment as the provider of the safety car and medical car – with two absolutely outstanding vehicles from our line-up,” said Philipp Schiemer, CEO of Mercedes‑AMG GmbH.
As in 2021, the Official F1 Safety Car and Official F1 Medical Car will have distinctive red paintwork. The striking colour is a match not only for Mercedes‑AMG but also for CrowdStrike (a cybersecurity company), which continues their sponsorship of the Official F1 Safety Car.
Extensive equipment for F1 job
From a technical standpoint, both cars are almost entirely standard. However, they have extensive equipment specific to their respective jobs on the track. The most noticeable feature of the Official F1 Safety Car is the absence of the usual light bar on the roof, which would have interfered with the carefully refined aerodynamic balance of the AMG GT Black Series.
Instead, development engineers at Mercedes-AMG came up with something completely new. At the front, the obligatory signalling has been incorporated into the upper area of the windscreen, while the rearward-facing lights have been elegantly integrated into the rear spoiler. All signalling functions are delivered via fast-reacting and energy-efficient LED lights.
At the front, three small orange light modules and one large green module are positioned on each side of the AMG logo, level with the sun visors. In the main upper blade of the rear spoiler are 13 orange lights – 3 on the outer edges on either side that shine steadily, and 7 more lights in the centre that flash when required. There are also 4 wider, green LED modules.
Two tiny video cameras are installed into the spoiler strut on the right-hand side and their images displayed inside the car. One camera serves as an electronic rearview mirror for the co-driver (small monitor in the headliner to the right of the conventional rearview mirror), while the other transmits a live TV stream. As a service for the spectators in the stands, there is also a light module in each of the rear side windows which displays ‘SC’ (for Safety Car) in orange when the car is in action.
The rear number plate is also illuminated in either orange or green in synch with the safety lights. Likewise, the headlights and rear lights have an important role to play in the signalling. Whenever the safety car is on the track, their rapid flashing draws even more attention.
AMG Track Package
The interior of the Safety Car is the same as that of the standard AMG GT Black Series with the optional Track Package including roll-over protection. The lightweight roll cage made from bolted tubular titanium consists of a main frame, a belt-fixture brace, two rear braces and a diagonal cross at the rear. The system increases the already excellent vehicle stiffness even further and thus has a positive influence on vehicle performance. It also improves passive safety.
The only new features are the 6-point safety harnesses stipulated by the FIA and two tablets in the centre console and instrument panel in front of the passenger seat. They enable the co-driver to monitor the situation on the track. Displayed on the left tablet in the centre console is the international TV signal, while the right monitor can be switched between the animated representation showing the current position of the racing cars on the track or the current lap times.
Same telemetry systems as F1 cars
Further additional FIA-specific systems are also installed and are identical to those in every F1 racing car. They include the transponder system for time-keeping, the high-resolution GPS and the telemetry. Likewise integrated is the ‘marshalling system’ which uses three coloured LEDs in the instrument binnacle and in front of the co-driver to show the flag signals for the respective section of the track. In addition to that, there is the ‘medical warning light’: in the event of an accident on the track that exceeds a critical g-force threshold, the LEDs flash several times. This provides the crew in the Safety Car with an additional warning to prepare for action.
Developed for demanding service
High cornering speeds, dynamic sprints and fast lap times – the FIA sets a demanding job profile for the Safety Car. The bottom line is that it must be able to lead the racing cars safely around the track in extreme situations (often in rain). The Safety Car cannot drive too slowly either as that could lead to the tyres and brakes of the racing cars cooling down too much and cause their engines to overheat. If necessary, the Safety Car can reach up to 325 km/h.
The AMG GT Black Series has all the necessary credentials for the tough job with its V8 biturbo dry-sump engine which produces 730 ps. No other road-legal AMG model is currently closer to motorsport than this. That includes the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7G dual-clutch transmission to the twin-pipe exhaust system made from thin-gauge stainless steel with a titanium silencer.
The suspension specialists have engineered a set-up in combination with the Pirelli P Zero tyres that offers the best possible solution for all racetracks and weather conditions. The standard-fit AMG ceramic high-performance composite brakes are exactly the same as those in the regular AMG GT Black Series. The same applies to the finely tuned aerodynamics with a large front skirt, additional flaps, a bigger front splitter and the vertical tear-off edge on the rear skirt. Together with the two‑blade rear wing with an additional, electronically controlled flap, the aerodynamics provide the AMG GT Black Series with optimum downforce and balance.
The new Official F1 Medical Car
The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4MATIC+ makes its Formula 1 debut as the second official car – taking over from its predecessor, the C 63 S AMG Estate. With an equally important role, it is on standby for rapid emergency response and is crewed by up to 3 medics, including the FIA’s Medical Rescue Coordinator, Dr. Ian Roberts. Occupying the back seats are either one or two local medics who come from a specialist clinic close to the racetrack.
The medical car follows the racing cars as they take off at the start and around the track during the first lap. This is because the cars are particularly densely packed in this critical phase of the race. In the event of an incident, this ensures the doctors can reach the accident site as quickly as possible and immediately start administering first aid. During the race, the Medical Car will be on standby in the pitlane alongside the Safety Car.
To make sure no time is lost in the event of an emergency, the new Medical Car has maximum performance capabilities. Its 4-litre V8 biturbo engine delivers 639 ps and can accelerate the 4-door coupe from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, with a top speed up to 315 km/h. Unlike the C 63 S which had only rear-wheel drive, the new Medical Car has fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive which guarantees optimum traction, especially in wet and slippery conditions.
In terms of appearance, the medical car differs from the standard production car largely due to the distinctive FIA and F1 logos and the light bar on the roof. It is mounted on a carbonfibre scoop designed to offer the lowest possible wind resistance. At the same time, it optimizes the airflow towards the fixed rear wing.
Inside the spacious boot is the full set of emergency equipment, including defibrillator, breathing apparatus, rescue cutter and two handheld fire extinguishers. When the rear lid is open, additional flashing lights signal a warning to the racing cars if they are still circulating on the track behind the Safety Car.
All F1 racing drivers wear special gloves equipped with sensors in the pinkie finger to monitor their vital signs. In an emergency, the paramedics in the Medical Car can receive information in real-time on one of the screens telling them the current pulse rate or blood-oxygen level of the casualty. This enables them to coordinate effective and targeted first-response measures.
Alfa Romeo is one of the older names in Formula 1, having been in Grand Prix races even before the championship began in 1950. Unlike Ferrari, its presence has not been constant although whenever it has been present, it has been enthusiastically supported by fans. Its longest presence as a team was in the 1980s when it participated for 6 years and ceased after the 1950 season. Then in 2019, the name returned when Sauber was rebranded as Alfa Romeo marking the factory’s return to the sport as a constructor. They contracted Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi as drivers until 2021.
In 2022, they will have 10-times race winner, Valtteri Bottas, coming from the successful Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS team as well as GuanYu Zhou, the first F1 driver from China and the only rookie on the grid this year. Robert Kubica will be the reserve driver for the team.
The drivers for 2022 will be Valtteri Bottas (centre) and newcomer Zhou Guanyu (left), with Robert Kubica as reserve driver (right).
The team has maintained the Sauber convention for its racing car designations, starting with C38 in 2019 car so for 2022, three years later, the new car is designated the C42. The official team name will be the same as before – Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN – with the title sponsor again being the Polish petroleum company.
The C42 has eye-catching livery, a stunning yet subtle nod to the past, recalling historical designs of years past and the heritage of Alfa Romeo and Sauber Motorsport. It is the 30th year of F1 for the Sauber Motorsport team which is based in Hinwil, Switzerland.
Created by the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, the new livery gives the car a powerful, recognisable identity. The paintwork is a perfect blend of the two dominant colours, red and white. The engine area is painted red, with a diagonal cross-section that conveys the dynamism of the car’s body. The historic Alfa Romeo lettering fits into the diagonal as a reference to the early 20th century, having made its debut on the brand’s racing cars in the 1920s.
‘Tonale’ can be seen below, the name of a new SUV model that has recently been unveiled. The Quadrifoglio symbol of sportiness can be found in the upper section, alongside the diagonal dividing line between red and white. The Italian flag is included on the back of the spoiler, proudly featuring the wording ‘Alfa Romeo’.
As with all the other F1 cars for 2022, the C42 has been developed and built under the budget cap regulations and for the new era of F1 which sees significantly new technical regulations. These regulations, which cover aerodynamic aspects, have required the design to be a radical departure from the past.
It embraces the possibilities dictated by the new ground-effect floor, updated aerodynamic package and larger 18-inch, low profile tyres. The C42 is powered by a new and improved Ferrari engine, and has been designed for the closer racing and competitive fighting which the new regulations are expected to create.
“The 2022 championship promises to be the most compelling one in recent years. The new regulations, the new driver line-up and a brand-new car represent a veritable revolution for F1 and especially for the team. At Alfa Romeo, we are intent on grasping all the opportunities that will arise. Also for Alfa Romeo, 2022 represents a year of ‘metamorfosi’. With Tonale, the brand looks ahead into the era of electrification and connectivity, remaining true to its DNA of noble Italian sportsmanship dating back to 1910. That’s why we were clear about putting the ‘Tonale’ name on the single-seater. We can’t wait to see the red light go out to kick off an exciting F1 championship,” said Jean Philippe Imparato, CEO of Alfa Romeo.
The actions of Russia in the conflict in Ukraine have been condemned by much of the world community and where, in the past, military actions by other countries would have been initiated – making the conflict even worse – the approach today is to use other non-military means to ‘persuade’ Russia to stop. Economic sanctions are one powerful approach which has had an effect on Russia and various organisations have also taken actions to alienate the country.
The motorsports community has also taken a stand, which started with many of the drivers in Formula 1 expressing an unwillingness to take part in the Russian Grand Prix scheduled as Round 17 in September. The Formula 1 organisation has gone further and terminated the contract with the organisers of the Russian Grand Prix – and not just for this year. The official position is that there will no longer be a F1 event held in Russia although that can well change in future.
The Russian Grand Prix was first run in 2014 and held for 8 years until 2021. The races have been run on a street circuit in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The Mercedes-AMG team has won every year, with Lewis Hamilton winning 5 times, Valtteri Bottas twice and Nico Rosberg once.
Will there be a replacement?
The slot for the cancelled Russian Grand Prix could either be left empty, which means a 2-week gap betwee the Italian GP in Monza and the Singapore Grand Prix. If the organisers must have their 23 rounds, then they would either look for another venue in Europe or even consider one in Asia. Vietnam was preparing for its first-ever F1 race but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it and it may well try again to be a host. And don’t forget Malaysia also has a F1-ready track…
FIA’s decisions
The FIA – the governing body of international motorsport – has also announced a number of decisions made in relation to the Ukraine conflict. In accordance with the International Olympic Committee recommendations, motorsport events will not be allowed (until further notice) to take place in Russia and Belarus, and no flag/symbol or anthem of Russia/Belarus is to be used in international/zone competitions.
Drivers, competitors and officials are also affected by the same decisions as no Russian/Belarusian national teams can participate in international/zone competitions (eg FIA Motorsport Games). However, Russian/Belarusian drivers, individual competitors and officials are still allowed to participate in international/zone competitions only in their neutral capacity and under the ‘FIA flag’, subject to specific commitment and adherence to the FIA’s principles of peace and political neutrality. The FIA also forbids any display of Russian/Belarusian national symbols, colours, flags (uniform, equipment and car) or the playing of associated anthems at events.
Additionally, representatives from Russian/Belarusian FIA Members are to step aside temporarily from their roles and responsibilities of elected officers/commissions’ members. No FIA grant will be awarded to the Russian/Belarusian FIA Members, and no existing FIA grant funding will be paid to them as well.
“I want to thank the Council members for their prompt action in deciding these measures in the interests of sport and peace. We stand in solidarity with Leonid Kostyuchenko, the President of the Federation Automobile d’Ukraine (FAU) and the wider FIA family in the country. The measures taken today recognise the authority of the FAU in Ukraine and are also aligned with the recommendations recently made by the International Olympic Committee. We are in active discussions with our members as we continue to extend our compassion and support in their time of need. We sincerely hope for a peaceful resolution to their intolerable hardship,” said the new FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, after chairing an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.
URAKALI and Nikita Mazepin
Among the current teams taking part in Formula 1, there is one Russian driver and one major sponsor – Nikita Mazepin and Urakali, which is a major sponsor of his American-owned team, Haas F1. Understanding the sensitivity of association with anything Russian, Haas removed Urakali’s name from its racing cars before the final day of testing in Spain. Incidentally, Urakali, a fertilizer company in Russia, is owned by Mazepin’s father.
The URAKALI name disappeared (below) from the Haas F1 racing car on the final day of testing in Spain. URAKALI is a Russian fertilizer company owned by Nikita Mazepin’s father.
Nikita Mazein, 23, may not get a chance to continue racing in F1 after having started last year.
Mazepin’s future with the team has also been uncertain. There are rumours that the 23-year old driver who began driving in F1 last year will likely be dropped by the team although the FIA has stated that it is possible for him to race as a ‘neutral’ party. If he is removed, his place alongside Mick Schumacher could be taken by Pietro Fittipaldi, the team’s reserve driver.
