In the round-up: Lando Norris believes new wheel fairings on 2022 F1 cars could block drivers’ sightlines into corners on street circuits.
In brief
New wheel fairings could limit drivers’ sight at street circuits – Norris
Lando Norris has explained that the new 18-inch wheels on Formula 1 cars for 2022 and the compulsory wheel fairings may limit drivers’ sight lines into corners, especially at street circuits.With McLaren having launched the new MCL36 ahead of the new season, Norris said that drivers will have only three days each of running over two three day pre-season tests to get used to all the characteristics of the new cars.
“It’s not a lot,” said Norris. “It’s still three days to get back into the feeling of a Formula 1 car and to then get back into the feeling of a new one that’s going to handle probably very differently, feel very different when you’re driving and so on. Also look different – literally, you have to get used to these fairings on the tyres.
“For certain tracks, it might be extremely different like Singapore or Monaco. One of my friends who’s in F2 said that they have to put cones on top of the barriers in places because the barriers were lower than the new tyres that we have, and that they can’t actually see where the barrier is, because the car looks higher than the barriers. We’ll have to get used to the size of it, the front wing and how big that is and so on.”
FIA to report Abu Dhabi analysis findings to F1 Commission
The FIA will deliver the findings of their “detailed analysis” into the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the F1 Commission meeting in London today.
FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, directed the governing body’s secretary general for sport, Peter Bayer, to conduct a formal investigation into the controversial Safety Car restart on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The initial findings from the investigation will be presented today to the F1 Commission, a representative group of stakeholders connected to Formula 1, including some of the teams who represent the interests of all ten competitors in the championship.
The FIA will announce their final decisions and actions arising from the investigation at the meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Bahrain on Friday 18th March – the day of first practice for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
Final IndyCar preseason test gets underway at Sebring
The final preseason test ahead of this year’s IndyCar Series will begin today at the Sebring International Raceway in Florida.
All 26 full-season drivers due to compete in this year’s championship will participate over the two day test.
Not all teams will take part in the second day of running, with Andretti, McLaren SP, Chip Ganassi, RLL and Penske all set to run in today’s session only.
The IndyCar season will begin in St. Petersburg on Sunday 27th February.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
2 weeks ago I had to correct online rumours that @AstonMartinF1 wouldn’t be ready for the first test in Barcelona (see below); 2 days ago we became the first team to run our 2022 #F1 car on track. There are some great F1 journalists about, but don’t believe everything you read! https://t.co/DrsKIMYzsp
— Matt Bishop 🏳️🌈 (@TheBishF1) February 13, 2022
YEEESSSS 🤩 it’s P1 for @arthur_leclerc7 in the #FormulaRegionalAsia 👊
Well done!!#FDA @MumbaiFalcons pic.twitter.com/st5nRZ5I93
— FerrariDriverAcademy (@insideFDA) February 13, 2022
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Hamilton looks 'totally focused' on the 2022 campaign says Domenicali (Formula 1)
"From what I see in the picture he has posted, he seems to be totally focused on this year’s challenge that, sporting-wise, will be very interesting. We are all looking forward to seeing how the new cars behave and sure this will be as exciting as the last one."
Once again Max wins the Bathurst 12 Hour with Team Redline: 'Went super' (Verstappen.com)
"It was great to race, the car went super, just like last year even though we had a different car then. Our young protégé Luke drove a solid race, which is enjoyable to see. It is great that we could win this race together for Team Redline.”"
Five reasons why Williams Racing fans should be excited for 2022 (Williams)
"It’s a new dawn for the sport and there are plenty of reasons why fans should be giddy with anticipation for what promises to be an enthralling spectacle. We’ve rounded them up into five handy points so you know what to keep an eye out for this year."
Job listing: Social Media Executive (Mercedes)
"We have an exciting opportunity in our Communications Team to become Social Media Executive for one of the world’s leading sports franchises. We are aiming to set the standard in social media and across the digital ecosystem – and we are looking for the right candidate to deliver that ambition."
Max Verstappen invited to Stefanos Tsitsipas' party ahead of Rotterdam Open final (Express)
"Max, if you’re watching this, you’re invited. If he wins, come to Rotterdam. There I arranged it. Max is invited"
A Review of every Safety Car Deployment Since 2012 (AlexDoesF1Stuff via YouTube)
A YouTuber looks back at the last ten seasons of Formula 1 to analyse every instance of the Safety Car being deployed and how lapped cars were factored into restarts.
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
This weekend’s Caption Competition winner is @imcdnzl!:
So that’s where Lewis has been all this time…
Ian McDonald
Thanks to everyone who came up with caption idea this week and a special mention to JackySteeg, kartguy07, EffWunFan and Sonny Crockett who all came up with particularly good captions.
Happy birthday!
No RaceFans birthdays today
Lewisham Milton
14th February 2022, 0:33
Crunch! “Sorry mate, lost you behind my wheel fairing…”
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
14th February 2022, 2:51
Going to await the FIA report with interest. I suspect that at the end of the day nothing will change but there’ll be lots of words in the report that in essence will say “everything’s fine but we’ll keep an eye on things”
drmouse (@drmouse)
14th February 2022, 8:02
That’s what I’m expecting, too, though I’m keeping everything crossed that it isn’t a whitewash.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
14th February 2022, 14:05
I’m thinking it might be more along the lines that “we did absolutely nothing wrong, but anyway, here are some recommendations to ensure that this thing that did not happen never happens again”. Hopefully I’m wrong.
zack
14th February 2022, 7:34
Formula E drivers have more to complain about than this little fairing :)
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
14th February 2022, 7:37
Fair concern from Lando. The compromise on tyres thickness between FIA and the team already make it too high. I can accept mid season regulation change to get rid of that silly thing.
drmouse (@drmouse)
14th February 2022, 8:04
I seriously doubt that would happen. It would likely require pretty significant changes to every aero package on the grid if removed.
MacLeod (@macleod)
14th February 2022, 8:10
I think Max said also that the wheels blocking the apex making it harder.
Does Lando doesn’t drive for Redcline anymore?
Olav (@okersen)
14th February 2022, 9:03
I wonder if the fairings make the damage to the car more destructive should someone lose his front wing. They usually drive over it or it somehow gets stuck in the front wheels – now with the fairings the damage of losing a front wing might be greater and more hazardous?
David (@djarvis)
14th February 2022, 8:18
Mercedes referring to their team as a franchise made me do a little sick in my mouth. Gone are the days of Frank Williams and Colin Chapman etc
Mayrton
14th February 2022, 8:29
Luckily not all teams have Mercedes approach to the sport. Plenty teams that still do it for the love of and not for Marketing
anon
14th February 2022, 10:45
Extremely hypocritical for you to complain about Mercedes when you support Red Bull, given that the explicit reason for that team existing is for marketing a specific product. The cognitive dissonance is spectacular…
S
14th February 2022, 11:41
Who?
I’d suggest the three teams that entered in 2010 would classify as such, but they don’t exist anymore.
A few of the current teams used to be in F1 for love – but they’ve since been bought out and/or taken over for marketing purposes.
drmouse (@drmouse)
14th February 2022, 9:00
That’s in a job listing for someone in marketing. I seriously doubt many within the team consider themselves a “sports franchise”, but that’s the kind of language that those they want applying for the role will be used to.
MichaelN
14th February 2022, 9:35
It’s the language of the person they are hoping to attract. Marketing is full of these fluffy words.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th February 2022, 8:36
True, the 18-inches could limit sight to an extent, but I’m sure everyone can still keep pushing on the limit like before.
Matt Bishop is spot-on & I always keep reservations on rumors until a matter becomes official anyway, assuming a given rumor proves true in the end, which doesn’t always happen like here.
The SC review video is good, even though I’ve only taken a brief look thus far.
Kribana (@krichelle)
14th February 2022, 11:10
I read that Stroll said the grip on the tyres is immediate and with no warning. But time will tell.