Formula One unveils full-scale model of the all-new 2022 car

Ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix, Formula 1 has unveiled a full-scale car that will be introduced in 2022 when a new era of technical regulation comes into force.

The sport is set to introduce a new set of technical regulation that will lead to completely different-looking cars. The all-new cars are expected to promote better racing by allowing drivers to follow their rivals in a closer distance.

The new era was due to bring fresh air into the sport at the start of the current season, but the coronavirus pandemic forced Formula One to postpone its introduction until 2022.

The new cars will feature a completely redesigned aerodynamics. Among the new features are over-wheel winglets that are aimed at controlling the wake coming off the front tyres.

Formula One’s sole tyre supplier Pirelli will also add to the spectacle by introducing 18” wheels with low-profile tyres for the first time. The Milan-based tyre manufacturer hopes that it can reduce the amount the tyres overheat when they slide. The new cars will also features wheel covers for the first time since 2009.

The 2022 F1 cars will feature totally redesigned wings. The front wings will be much simpler and their shape will prevent the wings from achieving the outwash effect, meaning that they will be unable to send the wake, the turbulent air outbard. The rear wings that will have a different shape and position will still feature DRS, the overtaking aid system.

Formula One thinks that the new cars will lose significantly less downforce in turbulence air. The sport’s Motorsport team estimates that cars will lose only 4% of their downforce when running three car lengths behind a leading car compared to the current 35% which is the result of the ground effect that will be re-introduced in the sport.

While the new cars will use the current generation of power units in 2022, they will run on fuel containing 10% bio-components compared to the current fuel that includes 5.75%.

Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsport at Formula 1, commented: “It feels like a very long time ago the FIA officially unveiled the regulations for the future of the sport, but after the one-year delay due to the pandemic it’s only 170 days to go until the start of 2022 when we will see the next generation of Formula 1 cars take to the track.

“There is huge excitement ahead of this new era, and while 2021 has been a great battle we still have cars struggling to follow each other during the race. The regulations for 2022 will address this problem and create an opportunity for closer battles and more wheel-to-wheel racing," Brawn concluded.

FIA single-seater technical director Nikolas Tombazis said: “2022 will herald a new era for the FIA Formula One World Championship, with the introduction of one of the biggest changes in regulations in the history of the sport.

"The FIA has led a superb collaborative effort with Formula 1 and the teams to identify the areas we feel will have the biggest impact on the ability of the cars to race each other closely on the track, and in combination with the Financial Regulations that are already in place, these new Technical Regulations should have a great positive impact on the spectacle but also on the sustainability of our Sport.”