Formula 1: Top 4 challenges of the new regulations

Unable to appropriately judge the most influential factors within the new 2022 regulations, let’s have a look at which changes have proven to be most troublesome for Formula 1 teams thus far.

Having only been able to identify and address a small portion of challenges in the new 2022 Formula 1 regulations in preseason testing, the 10 teams have each found their own set of unique challenges, given the wide variation in car design throughout the grid.

Between larger wheels, a completely new aerodynamic philosophy, and technical changes in the workings of power units, there is plenty for teams to tackle beyond just this season.

The 2022 campaign though will be the sole opportunity in which fans get to witness the true individual technical strength of each manufacturer as they work from minimal data and little to no influence from their rival’s designs, having already committed to their own ideologies.

With changes in almost every technical facet of the machinery in contrast to their high-downforce predecessors, what issues have been most imposing to teams at the beginning of this new era?

Formula 1 challenges: No. 1 – Tire degradation

Introducing new 18-inch tires for the 2022 season, Pirelli originally speculated the frequent occurrence of dreaded one-stop races throughout the season, despite targeting multi-stop races. Following the Bahrain Grand Prix, however, this has shown to be false, as teams targeted a two-stop race.

Red Bull even brought Max Verstappen in for a third stop under green flag conditions until the remainder of the field came in under the safety car caused by Pierre Gasly’s power unit failure.

Another high-impact factor many looked over entering 2022 was the reduced tire-blanket temperatures, which have made a tangible impact on drivers attempting the undercut. Lewis Hamilton made his first stop for fresh hard tires and found himself skating through the first sector, while Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou comfortably made his way past on worn soft tires.

Whether this was the fully intended result of the given regulations or not, the combination of factors now influencing the pit stop phases of the race have created an abstract strategic battleground that will only continue to develop and refine itself as the teams are slowly introduced to the softer compounds throughout the season.

Although nearly all engineers on the pit wall think alike, the FIA may have finally achieved conditions in which independent thinking thrives.