Red Bull presented this Wednesday (9) the RB18, the team’s new car for the 2022 F1 season. The vehicle of reigning champion Max Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez is the first to be revealed to the public after the major changes to the regulations in the category.
The aerodynamic design of the cars from this year onwards promises to allow drivers to ride closer to competitors on the track, which should increase the number of overtakes. For this, the changes were designed to reduce the effect of turbulence generated by vehicles.
The new regulation – initially planned for 2021, but postponed because of the pandemic – also brings back the concept of the “wing car”. Designed in the shape of inverted airplane wings, it uses elements of the “ground effect”, responsible for accelerating the air that passes under the car so that there is more grip and speed.
The chassis surface is noticeably simpler and has fewer aerodynamic appendages, which creates less turbulence for overtakers. In addition, the category will have 18-inch wheels instead of the 13-inch wheels used in the championship in recent decades.
The wheels will also have caps to help divert airflow, which increases downforce and contributes to aerodynamics, in addition to reducing turbulence.
“We don’t know what to expect so I’m excited to see how the car performs on the track for the first time,” said Verstappen. “We’ll need some time to get used to the car, it’s not like you just go in and it’s an update from last year.”
Mexican Perez said he expects more balance this season. “All of us on the grid are starting from scratch this season so it’s going to be an exciting year.”
Despite Verstappen’s title in 2021, Red Bull lost the Constructors’ World Championship to Mercedes. The team of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton added 613.5 points against 585.5 for the Dutch driver’s team.
The 2022 F1 season starts on March 20 with the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain. Before, the drivers go through two pre-season sessions. The first one in Barcelona, ​​between the 23rd and 25th of February.
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