Favorable opinions from drivers on the 1 version of Formula 2022

This was THE big question this season. The new single-seater regulations were eagerly awaited by drivers, teams and enthusiasts. With vast promises regarding improving the quality of racing and the competitiveness of the grid, the Formula 1 2022 carried a lot of hopes.

After the first 13 Grands Prix of the season, the results are already rather positive. The 2022 version single-seaters fulfill the promises placed in them, with often competitive races and great battles on the track. Perhaps the most notable example was this five-way fight during the British Grand Prix in July between 5 different cars.

With the summer break in full swing, the drivers have given their thoughts on the first six months with these new cars. And the least we can say is that the reactions are unanimous: the 2022 single-seaters are satisfactory. “I think it's better when we follow each other, so it's positive, said Max Verstappen, leader of the championship. It's hard to really say how much better it is, but in my opinion we have better opportunities to fight. But again, on some tracks it is still very difficult to follow. It's also in combination with tires overheating for example, so there are several factors to look at. »

“Exciting”, “fun”: drivers excited about 1 Formula 2022

To Valtteri Bottas, new regulations have made the mid-grid battle “exciting”, both in qualifying and in the race. “It's like every qualifying round counts: you're either in or you're out and I like that. All the qualifying, you really need to get a perfect round. It's the same in racing, everyone is so close that it's always good battles and good races. (…) [The regulations] are clearly working, and I hope that the mid-table teams will eventually move closer to the top too. »

Same story at Daniel Ricciardo, who finds the new single-seaters “fun” to pilot. “Obviously, when it’s tight, it’s nice, of course. It would be even more fun to fight for victories, podiums, but the battles we have are good. (…) Everything is so new, we are still learning. Teams naturally design their cars to have strong points in certain places... On fast tracks, there are a few teams that go fast, and on tight, twisty tracks, the others will be stronger. »

Some regrets about the unchanged hierarchy

If the new Formula 1 cars are pleasant to drive in the battles within the grid, the drivers are on the other hand disappointed that the new regulations have not upset the hierarchy. This season, the three top teams are still at the front, followed by a tandem Alpine-McLaren like in 2021. “ It was already like that in 2017 and 2018, dropped Esteban Ocon. “You always had three teams at the top and then the others fighting at the back. I think we're closer to where we were back then, but it's still too far away. It has to be closer to properly have a different podium, different winners sometimes. We always see the same guys on the podium. »

The Frenchman, however, hopes that the budget cap and wind tunnel development restrictions will rebalance the field. Kevin Magnussen also gave his views on the new regulations, after being barred from Formula 1 in 2021. " It's really good. It seems like it's very close and every weekend you can arrive thinking you can have a good result. » The various teething problems, including porpoising and the use of 18-inch tires, will therefore not have affected the drivers' opinions on the new F1 cars. It remains to be seen whether with the new developments to come, the single-seaters will be able to follow each other during the next Grands Prix.

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