2022 Car Launches and Pre-season Testing (March 10-12, Bahrain)

It's a difficult situation, given that we are talking about the entire car design.

Simply "copying" doesn't guarantee anything will actually work.

Besides, is such a thing even feasible considering the teams' own calculations during the season?

I mean, maybe not this year, but over the next few seasons, we'll probably finally see what the perfect car design actually looks like...
The real kicker with these new regulations is how much you have to nail the engine development right out of the gate, since that whole segment is pretty much locked down until 2025. (If I'm remembering that correctly...)

cosmicmoose2 said:Ferrari did a solid job with those upgrades last season. That’s basically how they managed to edge out McLaren in the end.

Another plus side is that the car looks reliable. From what I can tell, they didn't run into any major reliability issues during testing, and they put in plenty of mileage.

If the car is actually "there," their biggest headache will be race strategy and whether they can stay consistent with their pit stops.
It’ll also come down to whether Charles Leclerc has finally matured or if he's going to keep pushing it right to the ragged edge—which would give us more races like Monaco.

Anyway, I can't help but notice everyone is feeling pretty optimistic. I'm not used to this kind of vibe after the last couple of years.
Back in the Vettel era, Ferrari would consistently top the preseason testing charts. We all know how that story usually ended.

Strategy is going to be a different beast this year, too.
Since the performance gap between cars is shrinking, pit lane errors are going to hurt way more. A bad stop will cost them much more than it used to.

Roger Wright94 said:I must say, I find myself struck by this sense of optimism. It is an experience I haven’t truly felt in perhaps the last year or two, if I am being honest.
Back during the Vettel era, one could almost count on Ferrari sitting right at the very top of the preseason testing standings, though we all know exactly how those seasons tended to unfold thereafter.

The strategic landscape is also poised for a significant shift.
Given that the performance gap between the cars will likely be much narrower than what we have seen in the past, the impact of pit stops will become increasingly critical; essentially, any error made during a tire change or a pit stop will carry a much heavier price tag than before.

The fundamental issue facing Ferrari is that they currently lack both the elite strategists and the world-class drivers required to dominate. Their only realistic path toward a championship is if the car itself is simply built to be significantly faster than everyone else on the grid.

graniteharbor502 said:The issue with Ferrari is that they don't have the top-tier strategists or the elite drivers. Their only real shot at a championship is if the car itself is just significantly faster than everyone else on the grid.

If the Scuderia had actually possessed a dominant machine like Mercedes did from 2014 until now, they might have managed to snag maybe two constructors' titles and one drivers' title... perhaps...

cosmicmoose2 said:The real kicker under these new regulations is engine development. That’s the one area locked down until 2025, if I recall correctly.

That is a massive point, yet it's being completely overlooked. Everyone is obsessing over sidepods, floor designs, and aero packages instead.

This season, cars have to run on E10 fuel—gasoline with 10% ethanol.
Up until now, they've been using E5 (5% ethanol).
Based on current projections, we're looking at a power drop of roughly 5-10%.
That's a range of about 40-80 HP. Quite significant, isn't it?
Whoever manages that transition best will hold a massive advantage.

Think back to those easy wins for Ferrari at Spa and Monza 2019. Back then, an extra (allegedly) 50-70 HP turned a decent car into a total powerhouse.

Though, let's be honest: if a team finds a way to cheat the system during engine adaptation, the FIA will likely find a way to level the playing field again.
We've seen it happen before.

Richard Ross11 said:If the Ferraris had a dominant car like the Mercedes, from 2014 until now they’d probably have maybe two constructors' titles and one drivers' title... maybe...

You mean from 2007 to today...🙂
Honestly, regardless of how much better and more experienced their drivers were compared to today, the sheer incompetence of the geniuses on the pit wall meant they would’ve screwed up every single potential title without hesitation.
They might have even stumbled into one championship by some freak miracle, just like that one Kimov title they somehow managed to snag...

In 2008 they had the best car, yet they still managed to blow everything through that "perfectly executed" pit strategy in Singapore. 🙂
In 2010 they basically had the title in the bag, but they blew it purely because of tactics—acting like total idiots by following the car ahead into the pits when that car had absolutely trashed tires and a busted rim. 🙏
Look, realistically, Alonso should have won it anyway. Petrov wasn't exactly an idiot who was going to go out of his way to ram him if he forced the issue...
But of course, the geniuses on the radio kept coddling him, telling him there was plenty of time, that Petrov would definitely pit, and insisting their strategy was flawless when it clearly wasn't.
They probably pumped his pressure up to max, which is likely why he didn't try to push while he actually had the grip and the time left to do it...

And that was back when they actually had to try because their car wasn't dominant. Even then, they acted like everything was easy.
Imagine if they actually had a dominant car. The sheer volume of moronic decisions and tactical blunders would have been on a whole different level.
I'm pretty sure they would've managed to ruin 2014 too if they’d had a Mercedes-level car with Alonso behind the wheel; the poor guy probably would've had a breakdown by the end of the season.

I watch the Live Timing during races, and it's hilarious. Every time a window opens for Ferrari to make a perfect pit stop, they inevitably dive in way too early or way too late. 🤦
To get in and out cleanly, you need at least a 23-second gap, ideally 25 to be safe. They’ll spend laps building a lead of maybe half a second or a full second, then they'll dive in with only a 21-second gap and wonder why they're stuck behind someone 😍 and sitting there looking completely clueless about what went wrong.
Or it's the opposite: they have a 25-second lead, the tires are dying, and the gap is shrinking. Instead of pitting while they still have over 23 seconds, they wait until the tires are completely shot and the gap drops to 10 or 15 seconds, then act surprised when they get overtaken in the pits. 😁
Watching them is honestly comedy gold. I get the feeling all their monitors are unplugged and they can't find the power switch. It's like they can only see one single car on their screens—usually the one right in front or right behind—and everyone else on the track just doesn't exist until they suddenly find themselves stuck in a massive pack. 🤦

Roger Wright94 said:Strategy is going to be a whole different ballgame too.
Since the gaps between the cars are shrinking, pit stops are going to matter way more—one bad call or a botched tire change will cost you everything.

So yeah, we might as well write Ferrari off as title contenders right now...

stormybadger8 said:So yeah, we can basically write off Ferrari as title contenders right now...

I’ve got zero faith in Ferrari either. Honestly, I get the feeling they went out of their way to mess up pre-season testing just to fuel all that hype about how they're gonna be absolute beasts this year. Nah—it's still Ferrari. Even if they were handed the championship on a silver platter, they'd somehow find a way to drop the damn thing.

Alonso really needed to push a bit harder to overtake Petrov and snatch that title, especially after getting such a raw deal from the pit wall.

Looking at the current Ferrari lineup, both drivers are absolute top-tier talent. If they ever find themselves with the best car on the grid, we’re going to see an internal rivalry just like Hamilton vs. Rosberg.

James Harris34 said:Alonso needed to step it up if he wanted to pass Petrov for that title, especially after getting totally screwed by the pit wall.

Exactly. But honestly, before he could even dream of a shot at it, he had to jump ahead of him first just to give himself a chance to fix the mess they made...
The craziest part? They didn't even try. The crew didn't even attempt a tactical pivot; they literally just froze up and called it a day...
They see they've messed up, but instead of actually trying to salvage the race, they just focus on calming Alonso down. Their only real priority seems to be deciding who they’re going to throw under the bus after the race to save their own skins.🙂

These guys have spent years doing "reorganizations," scapegoating people like it's somehow just one guy's fault for a season full of blunders, nonexistent tactics, pit lane disasters, and a car that was slow to begin with and somehow got slower with every single upgrade...
And every single time, they axe the people who were actually the backbone of the team, while keeping the dead weight and hiring ten more idiots to replace them.
Thinking back to that era, the only person who actually knew what they were doing—and the only one who should have stayed—was Domenicali. But of course, those geniuses were among the first to kick him out, then spent years cycling through absolute nobodies to fill the boss seat.🙏

Regarding the current Ferrari lineup, both drivers are elite. If they ever end up with the best car on the grid, we're looking at a massive internal showdown, something straight out of the Hamilton-Rosberg days.

I wouldn't go that far. Sainz might have a shot because the kid is consistent...
Leclerc? Not a chance. Regardless of how good he is, Hamilton and Rosberg were both drivers who mastered consistency; they could bank huge points and reliably deliver 1-2 finishes...
On the other hand, Leclerc is more like an Alonso type (he just needs to eat a lot more burgers to reach that level). He can pull off miracles and overachieve massively, but he can also completely blow it—one minute he's killing it in qualifying, the next he's crashing into a wall during the race or finishing a pathetic 7th, 8th, or 10th.

Back in the day, drivers like that could actually win titles because the points system allowed it. In today's world, it's all about being consistently in the top three rather than grabbing brilliant wins and then throwing away points by messing up.
Last season was the perfect example: Leclerc looked better than Sainz most of the time, yet he ended up trailing behind him—and even Norris...
The exact same thing would happen in a title fight...
Brilliant, masterful, blah blah blah—but ultimately, you finish second or third.

Sainz and Leclerc really need to step up their game significantly if they ever hope to become genuine contenders. They have never truly fought for a championship title before, you know? And when you consider that the pressure intensifies exponentially once you're actually in the hunt, it makes you wonder. The only way they could realistically claim a world championship is if Ferrari becomes absolutely dominant, much like how the Mercedes used to be. But, quite frankly, I find myself deeply skeptical about that happening.

graniteharbor502 said:Sainz and Leclerc still have a massive mountain to climb if they ever want to be actual contenders. They've never even come close to fighting for a championship.

People said the exact same thing about Max, though. He just took his shot and ran with it.

James Walker57 said:isn't that exactly what they said about Max? He simply seized the moment when his first real opportunity presented itself.

If we look at the trajectory, Max is quite clearly the most gifted driver of this entire generation; even before he secured those back-to-back titles, he was consistently sitting in third place in the standings, essentially acting as the "best of the rest" right behind the Mercedes drivers. In my estimation, neither Sainz nor Leclerc possesses that same level of sheer caliber.

graniteharbor502 said:Max is easily the most gifted driver of his generation. Even before clinching back-to-back titles, he was sitting in third place in the standings, basically just the "best of the rest" behind the Mercedes drivers. Neither Sainz nor Leclerc are even in his league.

I don't think Sainz is any less talented than Max. He actually proved that when they were teammates. The difference is just that Max plays much dirtier—he’s more aggressive and arrogant. In plain English, he's willing to force his way through anything, but that doesn't necessarily make him a better driver.

James Harris34 said:One might argue that Sainz isn't actually any less capable than Max, a point he arguably demonstrated during their time as teammates; the distinction, if one exists at all, is simply that Max operates with a much filthier, more aggressive, and arrogant style—which, if we are being honest, essentially means he is far more willing to force his way through a corner, though does that truly make him the superior driver?

49-18 in favor of Verstappen. At that particular juncture, Verstappen was only 18 years old while Sainz was 21. Ultimately, Red Bull opted to let Sainz go and promoted Verstappen to the top seat. I believe that speaks for itself.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are genuinely top-tier drivers. I mean, looking at Leclerc's track record in the junior categories, nobody on this grid comes close to his stats... he’s in a league of his own...
The issue isn't the drivers; it's just the Ferrari strategy and the car itself...

When you're looking at how Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz perform, you have to remember their car isn't actually that much faster than the McLaren. They’re basically having to squeeze every last drop of performance out of a machine just to stand a chance in qualifying or during the race.
If they had a dominant beast under them—something like the Mercedes used to have during the hybrid era—maybe Charles wouldn't feel the need to go so hard... or at least he wouldn't be slamming into the wall quite so often.

Just look back at that one lap from Max Verstappen where he was dancing right on the edge, driving absolutely flawlessly until he eventually smashed into the barrier...
So yeah, even the guy everyone calls the "biggest talent" in Formula 1 is still making mistakes when he's forced to drive a car that's pushed way past its limits.

cosmicmoose2 said:When evaluating Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, one really ought to consider the fact that their car wasn't significantly superior to the McLaren, which meant they were frequently forced to extract every possible ounce of performance just to stay ahead during qualifying sessions or actual races.
If the car had been truly dominant, much like how Mercedes operated during the hybrid era, perhaps—or quite likely—Charles Leclerc wouldn't have felt the need to take such extreme risks, thereby avoiding those frequent instances where he finds himself crashing into the barriers.

One might recall, for instance, that breathtakingly precise lap from Max Verstappen, where he drove with absolute perfection right up until the moment he collided with the retaining wall.
Thus, even this supposed "greatest talent" currently in Formula 1 is prone to error when he is compelled, or simply believes he must, drive at the absolute bleeding edge of what the car can provide.

That represents a single mistake in a twenty-two race season, yet we must acknowledge that Max Verstappen had to drive on the razor's edge in every single race if he hoped to contend for the championship. Charles Leclerc lacks that specific level of consistency, while Carlos Sainz lacks that raw speed. In a trio of cars with nearly identical performance, the hierarchy remains Max > Lewis > Charles Leclerc. But let us wait and see; perhaps the Ferrari drivers will prove me wrong.

cosmicmoose2 said:When you're looking at how Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz stack up, you have to remember their car wasn't exactly pulling away from McLaren. They were constantly fighting just to squeeze every bit of performance out of it just to stay ahead during qualifying or the race itself.
If they had a dominant machine—think back to how Mercedes used to roll through the hybrid era—maybe Charles wouldn't feel the need to take those massive risks? Or maybe he just wouldn't hit the wall quite so often.

I mean, just look at that one lap by Max Verstappen... driving right on the razor's edge, absolutely perfect, until he eventually slammed into the barrier.
So, even this supposed "greatest talent" in Formula 1 is going to make mistakes when he’s forced to push a car to its absolute limit.

To me, Charles Leclerc feels a bit like Alessio, you know? A huge talent who was actually holding his own against Senna while driving that underdog Tyrell. During his time at Ferrari, he's definitely given it his all, but man, does he make mistakes.

Charles Leclerc makes plenty of errors too, and honestly, he doesn't seem much faster than Carlos Sainz. If I had to bet, I think Sainz would grab the title first. It's a long season, isn't it? At some point, you realize it's more about collecting points steadily than living life on the edge.

graniteharbor502 said:It’s literally just one single mistake in a 22-race season, but Max had to drive like his life depended on it every single weekend just to stay in the title fight. Leclerc doesn't have that level of consistency, and Sainz just isn't at that speed... In terms of pure car performance parity, it's Max > Lewis > Leclerc. But hey, let's wait and see. Maybe those Ferrari drivers will actually prove me wrong...

I don't know about that, man. I can't say I totally agree. Red Bull Racing definitely had weekends where they were absolutely dominant...
Basically, Mercedes made their move with that engine from the USA—they were looking seriously dominant there.
Look, I'll give you this: Max is a better driver than Leclerc or Sainz. Period. But that doesn't change my mind about the Ferrari guys. If they were sitting in an equivalent Red Bull Racing or Mercedes car, they'd look way more consistent because they wouldn't be forced to push the absolute limit and take insane risks every lap just to keep up.

As for the Ferrari drivers themselves? I'd say Leclerc has the higher ceiling in terms of raw talent, but Sainz is the steady one. Honestly, the way he stepped into a new team so fast was pretty impressive...