McLaren has presented its new car built to the heavily revised technical regulations for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
To illustrate the scale of the changes between this year’s cars and last, we’ve lined up a few pictures of the new McLaren MCL36 and its race-winning predecessor, the MCL35M.One significant change for 2022 makes these comparisons trickier than in past seasons. The 13-inch wheel sizes F1 clung to for decades have been replaced with more modern 18-inch rims. The tyre sizes have also increased, from 660mm to 720mm, so that useful reference is gone. Instead these images have been compared using the Halos, the dimensions of which are unchanged, for reference.
The new rules force teams to use much simpler aerodynamic surfaces, as can be seen from the front and rear wings which are much more intricate on the older car. The most dramatic difference can be seen from the side of the car, where the hugely complex bargeboards from last year have disappeared.
This remains a sensitive area of the car, however, as the entrance to the ‘tunnels’ which run under its length begin here. These will be hugely important for generating the downforce which has been lost elsewhere on the car, and McLaren have been careful not to reveal too much of them.
Not all changes on the car are a direct consequence of the new rules, however. At the front of the car, McLaren have switched from a push-rod to a pull-rod suspension; Aston Martin had the former on the AMR22 which they revealed yesterday and ran for the first time at Silverstone today.
Take a closer look at the differences between this year’s McLaren and last year’s using the sliders below.
Use the sliders below to transition between images of the 2022 and 2021 McLaren F1 cars.
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Note these images may have been altered for ease of comparison and should not be used as a reference for measurements.
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amian
11th February 2022, 22:22
Keith, was it F1 or has each team come up with a standard for doing those presentation pictures so that cars can be compared each year from the exact same perspective? It’s a wonderful thing.
The increase in tyre diametre is indeed huge. I wish the front tyres were a bit smaller.
Dan Rooke (@geekzilla9000)
11th February 2022, 22:30
Yes!!!
I’ve been hoping for this, the sliding comparisons on Racefans.net are one of my favourite things on the internet!!!. This is a gorgeous car, I love the big fat tyres, they look so ‘mean’.
Tomcat173 (@tomcat173)
12th February 2022, 0:30
Agree these side by side comparisons are very cool, particularly this year given the regulation change.
There was a time where there would be virtually no changes year on year, which was like playing spot the difference.
SteveR
11th February 2022, 22:55
Is the wheelbase shorter? Sure looks like it. They certainly trimmed down the width at the front suspension pick up points; hope the pull rod works better than Ferrari’s did a few years ago.
CheeseBucket
12th February 2022, 11:58
It definitely is shorter, I believe the Mclaren was already a short car, should make it even more nimble I believe. I’m interested to see if everyone keeps off the kerbs also this year, I’m sure going over kerbs could ruin the downforce.
Matt
11th February 2022, 23:01
This is great. I hope the pit crews have been working out, those wheels will make a difference. The new car looks really nice, much cleaner
Mark (@blueruck)
11th February 2022, 23:23
Really nicely done Race Fans team – that was fun to use.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
11th February 2022, 23:31
No wonder cars with even bigger wings, lower rear wing and a bigger underfloor, are not going to be any slower. Fia says one thing, the opposite gets approved. I hope these clone cars end up racing better but they won’t race any slower.
Chris
11th February 2022, 23:37
… did I miss the ‘Coca Cola’ stickers somewhere? …
Lewisham Milton
12th February 2022, 0:02
It’s a lighter blue for sure
grat
12th February 2022, 1:40
To me, the new cars look far more flowing and integrated as an overall design– last year’s cars look almost patchwork, and cobbled together from bits.
Reminds me of the days of streamlined road cars, and art deco.
Now, if they can race close to each other, the only thing left to hope for is that the three drivers (Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel) who remember what it was like with an F1 car that could race wheel to wheel, show the new kids what real wheel to wheel racing looks like. ;)
Adam Tate
12th February 2022, 6:44
Agreed in full. These new cars look so much better. The old ones really do feel cobbled together and disjointed whereas the new designs feel so much more organic and flowing. This is the F1 I’ve been waiting decades for.
Great comparison to streamline and deco design. That was a great era in car design, and architecture.
Ben (@scuderia29)
12th February 2022, 7:16
The 2022 cars are already making the last generation cars looks old, the new cars have look so much better than the FIA spec car. The big bulky engine covers are gone, the awkward front wings held to the nose by toothpicks are gone, they’re shorter, they look much more “F1” than the cars we had been accustomed to for the last 5 years. Finger’s crossed for a competitive era of f1
The Dolphins
12th February 2022, 11:02
It’s striking in these interactive comparisons just how much more forward the side pods are in this new generation. That must alter both the aerodynamics as well as the weight balance quite a bit.
SteveR
12th February 2022, 15:43
Is there still the mandated front/rear weight balance? I never did understand the need for it.
SteveR
12th February 2022, 15:46
Answered my own question. From the 2022 Technical Regulations:
So much for changing the balance…..
Asanator (@asanator)
14th February 2022, 11:59
No Brake Ducts
TSmith
14th February 2022, 19:42
“Brake ducts are only necessary if you plan on braking”.
-Pastor Maldonado