Formula 1: Way-too-early 2022 manufacturer power rankings

Still with no insight into the development of a new era of Formula 1, which teams project to be most successful managing regulations and a lowered budget cap?

Still in waiting for the new era of Formula 1 machinery to hit the tarmac, how can we evaluate the potential success of manufacturers for the 2022 campaign?

Unable to actively witness the development of the most important aerodynamic changes in recent history as well as any improvements to the carry-over V6-hybrid power units, teams can only be judged based upon a shortlist of criteria.

This power ranking will only be based upon the projected success of each manufacturer in developing the best race car. Evaluation of drivers and their translation to a new era of vehicles is a separate topic that has its own complications and insights.

Some of the attributes and characteristics that will determine the projected success of each manufacturer include:

• Historical success and/or failure handling major regulation changes
• Organizational strength and resources (as well as financial efficiency)
• Increased/decreased wind tunnel time
  • based upon previous season’s constructor championship
• Power unit supplier and development “momentum”
• In-season development of 2021 machinery

The recent implementation of increased wind tunnel time for back-marker teams is one of the most impactful elements instituted by the FIA in order to bring the field closer together and could potentially outdo itself, reversing the order of the field as long as backmarker development personnel are able to capitalize on the advantage.

Tremendous battles at the top-half of the grid also forced manufacturers to keep resources focused on the 2021 campaign, primarily the constructor battle between McLaren and Ferrari.

The majority of manufacturers switched their development focus from 2021 to 2022 during the summer break, excluding some backmarkers which elected to write off the entirety of the campaign.

So let’s start with number 10 and work our way to the top.