Holm86 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:50 am
Speaking of the length of F1 cars, does the 2022 regulations have the same incentive for creating long wheelbase cars, as the 2017 regulations did?
2017-2021 cars had flat floors, and the cars got longer to increase the surface area for the low pressure underneath to act on, they also got longer because of the outwash philosophy, effectively increasing the time you had to get rid of the dirty wake, before it reached the rear of the car.
In 2022 we don't have flat floors, and outwash is practically impossible, so will we actually see a short wheelbase concept by one or more teams?? To have the upper hand on tighter tracks???
It will also depend on the tire performance and the weight distribution.
Is the 2022 weight distribution the same as 2021 or more rearward/forward?
And will the width of the front tires be reduced or not? there seem to be conflicting infos about this.
Anyways, teams will probably still want to have the narrowest sidepods and coke bottle, so they'll still want narrow and long fuel tank and Gbox IMO ---> so they'll go for maximum weelbase IMO
Edit:
2021
The weight applied on the front and rear wheels must not be less than the weight specified in
Article 4.1 factored by 0.455 and 0.535 respectively at all times during the qualifying practice
session. Rounding will be to nearest 0.5kg.
2022
With the car resting on a horizontal plane the mass measured at the front and rear axles must
not be less than the mass specified in Article 4.1 factored by 0.440 and 0.540 respectively at
all times during the qualifying practice session. Rounding will be to nearest 0.5kg.
Then weight bias will move rearwards. So maybe teams will have more confidence in achieving the mandated weight distribution even with a shorter wheelbase, thanks to the increased minimum weight too