F1 in 2022: What will change? When are the races? Who are your favorites? Important questions and answers for the new season

After the incredible drama of 2021, Formula 1 is preparing for more excitement in 2022 with new rules and cars that will only increase intrigue …; As construction continues, we will answer some key questions, summarize key dates, and look to the upcoming season.

So what exactly will change in 2022?

The revolution in the rules of the 2022 season means we are seeing a whole new generation of cars.

The concept, which represents one of the biggest technical changes in F1 history, has been revamped in recent years and is a fundamentally simplified but striking new-looking racing car after a drastic overhaul of aerodynamics. The car has a number of noticeable tweaks, but the headlines are larger and less technical front and rear wings, larger 18-inch wheels and a specially designed “ground-effect” floor.

Left: Introducing the Williams car from 2021. Right: Williams coloring in the 2022 car

And what effect will it have on competition?

New cars just don’t show up a lot different, but they should have a significant impact on the products on the track, in anticipation of a more exciting and competitive bike-to-bike race.

Why is that? Well, all the changes have been made mainly to remove the annoying airflow over and around the cars instead of making sure that more traction is generated under the car. This should help cars follow each other much closer without losing time in the “dirty” air of the car in front, making it easier for drivers to pass each other.

Sure, the 2021 season was one of the most exciting in the history of the sport, but F1 believes – and has strong evidence of their estimates – that the competition could be much better.

Who are the teams and drivers to be won?

Changes to the rules are always exciting for F1 teams because they basically reset the pecking order and give them an empty table to design a competitive car. This leads to unpredictability and can lead to surprises as teams often follow new rules from scratch – contact Brawn in 2009.

Despite this, Mercedes and Red Bull as well as Lewis Hamilton and new champion Max Verstappen are still starting the season as favorites, although beware of stables like Ferrari – Scuder has openly targeted this reset in recent years. – and other well-known outfits that have evidence, such as McLaren and Aston Martin.

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Former F1 World Champion Jenson Button says he expects Lewis Hamilton to return to fight amid rumors that he could quit the sport.

Is Hamilton definitely coming back?

After last year’s controversial end and crushing championship, Hamilton’s return is certainly not a matter of course, and his radio silence and social media cleanup have only added to speculation about his future. But it would be a huge surprise if F1’s most successful star wasn’t on the grid this year.

Not only has he signed a contract with Mercedes for another two seasons and talked incredibly enthusiastically about the new rules, but Hamilton is still breaking records. As Mercedes made clear in a hint earlier this month:

How many drivers change teams? Are there any new drivers?

Hamilton’s new Mercedes teammate is a big story for 2022 in terms of driver movements, and George Russell will finally have his chance after three brilliant Williams loan years. Valtteri Bottas has lost his place in the company of world champions, but not in sports, when a Finn who did not do a bad job at Mercedes is on his way to Ferrari to support Alfa Romeo for 2022.

There are two new drivers on the network; one returns to F1 and one newcomer. Alex Albon, a former Red Bull teammate from Verstappen, will join Williams instead of Russell, while Guanyu Zhou will rise from F2 to F1 alongside Bottas on Alfa. Zhou, 22, is the first Chinese driver in the sport.

When and where are the races?

A record 23 Grand Prix schedules have been unveiled for 2022, starting in Bahrain on March 20 and ending in Abu Dhabi on November 20. There is one new name on the calendar, Miami will host the first of two races in the United States. .

Every session and every race is live on Sky Sports F1.

When will the cars be released?

Those first cars presenting the pre-season represent some of the most eagerly anticipated dates of the season, especially in a year when the cars are so radically different.

Although the temptations have begun, no official dates have yet been announced. Cars are usually unveiled in early February, although we often get an anomaly in January.

When to test?

This year, there are six days to pre-test according to the reduced 2021 schedule. The first week of testing is in Barcelona from 23-25. while the second week in Bahrain – on the same Sakhir track that hosts the season’s opening – 10-12. March.

How many sprint races and when?

The Sprint format debuted last year in Silverstone, Monza and Interlagos, and F1 plans to double the number of these grid-setting Saturday races to six this year. Destinations are reserved for Bahrain, Imola, Montreal, Austria, Zandvoort and Interlagos.

Which other stars should you watch out for?

The ability of teams to rise in order can also allow drivers to consolidate their position in the race and possibly among the stars competing for the championship. Russell will obviously have to follow as he moves to Mercedes, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo – who are already winners of the race – can thrive alongside their impressive teammates Carlos Sainz and British Lando Norris.

If they have cars to compete, keep an eye out for multiple world champions Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine), as the Spaniard is particularly fast in 2021. Mick Schumacher also hopes to build an impressive junior age. Haas, no matter how competitive they are, remains to be seen.