This yr marks a pivotal second in Components 1. After final yr’s epic climax (or debacle, relying on who you ask) a giant change in rules is bringing new innovation to the grid. Groups have been onerous at work to adapt to the brand new algorithm, which goals to lower aerodynamic efficiency and convey down lap occasions, whereas on the similar time enhancing the affect of a driver’s talent. The vehicles look fairly totally different from final yr’s, most noticeably within the extra flowing shapes of the bodywork and wings. So, as we’re gearing up in direction of the opening race at Bahrain, it’s time to undergo the 2022 grid and see which watchmaking corporations we will see within the coming season.
What’s new for 2022
Earlier than we go into the small print of who’s working/sporting what, let’s take a better take a look at the most important adjustments for the 2022 season. We’re not going into an excessive amount of element right here, as we solely contact on the most important adjustments.
The first change is the whole redesign of the aerodynamic package deal. From entrance to again, there’s nothing left untouched from final yr’s vehicles. New entrance and rear wings are designed to create much less turbulence, and the newly formed flooring is meant to scale back downforce considerably. The subsequent part of every automotive that has undergone a metamorphosis is the side-pods and bargeboards. every crew, will probably be very attention-grabbing to see how the totally different designs will play out throughout a race weekend.
The ultimate vital factor to notice is the introduction of 18-inch wheels. It’d sound bizarre, however for a really very long time, F1 relied on 13-inch rims fitted with a tire with a tall sidewall. So, altering the dimensions of the edges means altering the tires, which implies growing new suspensions techniques. And apart from that, wheel covers are allowed once more, however solely to restrict the aerodynamic disturbance of the wheel and tire, and to not improve downforce on the automotive as an entire.
All in all, it’s shaping as much as be a really attention-grabbing yr for positive, and I for one can’t watch for the entire circus to get underway, beginning with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March twentieth. The next video explains all of the adjustments intimately.
Crimson Bull Racing & Tag Heuer
The 2022 season can be a really difficult one for Crimson Bull but once more. Following the dramatic end result of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the crew is seeking to proceed within the wake of Max Verstappen’s championship-winning kind. As Honda are now not the formal engine provider to the crew, this yr will certainly have its challenges for the racing outfit from Milton Keynes. Max Verstappen, being topped champion final yr, will run with Nr. 1 as a substitute of Nr. 33. His teammate is Mexican driver Sergio Perez who put in a slightly stable efficiency final yr. When it comes to partnerships, Crimson Bull Racing continues its relationship with TAG Heuer and we’ll absolutely see a number of particular editions being launched over the yr.
Mercedes-AMG F1 & IWC
Mercedes is decided to battle again after final yr’s dramatic defeat within the World Driver’s Championship. Though it gained the Constructor’s Title, the crew was gutted in regards to the end result of the ultimate race and the season. It even resulted in a months-long media silence from 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. He can be joined by George Russel, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see how briskly the teen can take to battle to Sir Lewis and the remainder of the entrance runners. Watch-wise, IWC stays on as a accomplice so we will see these Large Pilot’s on the driving gloves throughout on-board pictures once more!
Ferrari & Richard Mille
Ferrari has arguably offered among the finest trying new vehicles of the 2022 grid. It seems to be very succesful and the crew is concentrated on clawing its method again to race-winning kind after years of points and drama. Traditionally talking, the crew has just about had the worst run of seasons to this point, largely due to its personal doing. And actually, it’s about time for a return to glory, proper? I imply, the Tiffosi desperately want one thing to cheer for and light-weight Monza ablaze once more! Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz stayed on as drivers and can be seen rocking these daring and technical Richard Mille watches once more.
Charles Leclerc with a Richard Mille on the wrist.
McLaren & Richard Mille
Richard Mille not solely has ties with Ferrari however with McLaren as nicely. The crew from Woking, England had a petty good season final yr and completed 4th within the standings. Effectively behind the highest three groups, but additionally nicely forward of the remainder. The shock win at Monza helped after all, however every so often the crew confirmed nice performances. With the skilled Daniel Ricciardo and golden boy Lando Norris behind the wheel, who is aware of what might occur this season! The brand new vehicles look nice, with a brand new livery and color scheme, and naturally “RICHARD MILLE” planted firmly on the facet of the nostril.
Williams & Bremont
Personally, I’m very completely happy the Wiliams crew remains to be known as Williams, after the late-great Sir Frank Williams. After severely struggling to search out its method again to haul in some factors over the last a number of years, the crew has slowly proven enhancements right here and there. George Russel recurrently made it into Q2 and typically even Q3 final yr. With Russel departing although, it’s as much as Nicolas Latifi and former Crimson Bull protegé Alexander Albon to proceed on that very same progressive path. British watchmaking firm Bremont joined Williams Racing as an official timing accomplice final yr, which continues into the brand new season.
Alpine & Bell & Ross
Again in 2016, Parisian circle-in-a-square watch model Bell & Ross joined then Renault F1 as official timing accomplice. Whereas the crew is now working below the Alpine identify for its second yr, Bell & Ross has stayed on as companions. The crew can depend on former World Champion Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon to pilot the brand new A522, hopefully to some podiums and potential a win. Yearly the crew has labored with Bell & Ross to current new watches primarily based on the crew colors, so I’m curious to see how they are going to embrace the pink of title-sponsor BWT. However given the model’s historical past, I’m positive they’ll make it work in some way.
Scuderia Alpha Tauri & Casio
Now, this can be a little bit of a wierd one, I’ll admit it. Again when AlphaTauri was nonetheless named Torro Rosso, it had a partnership with Casio (particularly Casio Edifice). This yr although, there’s no obvious sponsorship take care of the Japanese producer however AlphaTauri does promote some branded Casio watches via its on-line webshop. With Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly staying on as drivers, the crew is about to enhance on final yr’s efficiency. And who is aware of, perhaps a Japanese driver behind the wheel of what’s primarily nonetheless a Honda-powered automotive will lure in a Japanese watch firm once more.
Alfa Romeo & Rebel
Alfa Romeo is the one crew to have a very new duo behind the wheel. Valtteri Bottas has made the swap from Mercedes, and F2 begin Guanyu Zhou is making his Components 1 debut. For some time, it was rumoured that Mick Schumacher would be part of, however the crew opted for the proficient Chinese language teen as a substitute. Final yr wasn’t something spectacular for the crew so let’s hope this yr can be a giant enchancment. If seems to be are to say something, we may very well be in for a deal with! Rebel Timepieces, no stranger to the world of motorsports, has lately signed a partnership with Alfa Romeo F1 and will be seen on the wrists of Bottas and Zhou all year long.
Alfa Romeo driver Guanyu Zhou sporting a Rebel Re-Volt.
Aston Martin – Girard-Perregaux
Traditionally, these two names each have an in depth historical past of their respective fields of enterprise. In fact, Aston Martin in F1 is mainly the rebranded Racing Level F1 crew and is now working its second season solely. Below the possession of billionaire Lawrence Stroll, the Aston Martin crew seems to be to enhance after a troublesome 2021 season. The crew was recurrently struggling within the mid-field pack and completed seventh total, with about half the factors of AlphaTauri in sixth. 4-time world champion Sebastien Vettel, and Lance Stroll have remained the crew’s drivers for this yr. Girard-Perregaux joined the crew in 2021 as an official accomplice, which hasn’t turned into the brand new season. So we will most likely count on some British Racing Inexperienced colored GP’s once more.
Haas F1 & Cyrus
Haas F1 is the crew owned and funded (largely) by American racing icon Gene Haas. He’s the driving power behind the Stewart-Haas NASCAR crew for 20 years and is lively in F1 since 2016. After displaying a promising kind within the first few seasons, the final two or three years have been dreadful for the crew. And the brand new yr isn’t off to an ideal begin both because it broke ties with its important title sponsor and was pressured to chop ties with one in all its drivers too. Mick Schumacher is rumoured to be joined by Pietro Fittipaldi for the brand new seasons, each of which have household ties with former F1 World Champions. With regards to watches, Haas F1 has secured a partnership with unbiased watchmakers Cyrus, which was introduced on the Monaco Grand Prix final yr and continues into 2022.
Editorial Word: We maintain no rights to the photographs portrayed on this article. All photos concerning the 2022 Components 1 vehicles are sourced from RaceFans.web and Formula1.com, except acknowledged in any other case within the captions.
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