Alfa Romeo announced earlier this month that it would be formally launching its car after the first three-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, making it the last on the grid to hold an official unveiling. Drivers Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou took part in testing earlier this week using a black-and-white camouflage livery, but […]
Month: February 2022
How no DRS and heavy fuel load disguised Alpine’s F1 test progress
Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon had a low-key week at the first Barcelona pre-season test, before running was cut short by an hydraulics problem on the final day. But even though the team never featured near the top of the timesheets, Alpine thinks a combination of factors meant its true potential was never going to […]
Andretti reveals details of F1 team plan as ‘clock ticks’ on FIA call
The American’s Andretti Global operation has applied to enter F1, and needs to get a green light soon if it is going to have enough time to get things up and running. Although there is no formal timeline for new entry deadlines in to F1, Andretti is clear he cannot wait much longer for the […]
What we learned from F1 Barcelona pre-season testing
Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes 1-2 on the final day despite the W13 showing signs of porpoising down the main straight – a problem other teams also experienced at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr showed encouraging pace as did McLaren McLaren duo Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, while […]
Ferrari confident it has got on top of F1 porpoising problems
The Italian outfit was struggling at times with excessive car bouncing down the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya straights, and a video released by F1 showed the phenomenon as Charles Leclerc was experiencing it. But as the first test came to a close on Friday, Ferrari believes that it made some good progress on the issue and […]
Reduced F1 slipstream effect could compromise passing
After testing the new cars in Barcelona, drivers have reported that as planned the new aero package has made it easier to follow other cars through a corner and onto a straight. However, Russell says that the aero characteristics of the new cars generate a tow that is less powerful, and thus it could potentially […]
Mercedes set for Bahrain F1 upgrade as it chases porpoising solution
The Brackley-based squad was affected this week by the bouncing car phenomenon that struck a number of teams throughout the first pre-season test at Barcelona in Spain. And, as Autosport.com’s exclusive photograph below shows, it was only able to overcome the problem on the final day by adding some stiffening stays to its floor to […]
Mercedes had to overcome “obstacles” in F1 test
Although the seven-time world champion topped the times on the final day of running, the three days of action have not been completely smooth for his Brackley-based team. In particular, Mercedes has battled the porpoising phenomena that most teams have faced to a greater or lesser degree, and it still faces some work in trying […]
Leclerc spots blip in ability of 2022 F1 cars to follow closely
After the first three days of testing with their new cars in Barcelona F1 drivers have confirmed that the regulations have achieved what was intended and made it easier to follow a car ahead. However Leclerc says that the ability to follow dropped off as he drew to within a second of the car ahead […]
First call would go to Fittipaldi if Mazepin cannot race in F1
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, Haas announced it would be removing the branding of title sponsor Uralkali from its car ahead of the final day of testing in Barcelona. The team’s livery typically resembles the colours of the Russian flag, but was replaced with an all-white design on Friday. Uralkali is co-owned by […]