Your guide to the 2022 F1 cars we’ve seen so far…and what to expect

We’ve seen six out of ten cars (in some form) that will make it to the 2022 Formula One season.

While Ferrari and world champions Mercedes are still coming, we’ve seen some striking differences in the three ‘real’ 2022 cars that have had their lids broken so far, while the three teams have chosen just to show us their new color scheme (livery) for the new season.

Here’s a look at who’s done what so far and what we’re expecting from the final four teams’ launch event.

What we have seen so far

Haas

Drivers: Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin

Vehicle name: VF-22

Real item or show car?: Digital images of early development

Haas has timed the launch well in terms of launch ahead of everyone else, hitting the market a week before the first three launch events are scheduled.

Since nearly every year happens in the year when it sponsors the Rich Energy title – a deal that famously fell apart before the season ended – Haas searched for a computer-generated image for the event. its launch. It means livery is the only thing to note and it’s not a huge change from last year. While it might not be the most exciting from a fan perspective, it ticked all the boxes that Haas wanted to tick at this stage. It was low key but it got their car out before anyone else, rather than risking a lost display image between proper launch events.

Like several other teams, the first official look at the car will likely be when F1 arrives in Spain for its first test.

–Nate Saunders

Red Bull

Drivers: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

Vehicle name: RB18

Real item or show car?: Car showroom

Red Bull’s launch is more of a headline-sponsored launch than a livery reveal or 2022 car reveal. But then, when you’re celebrating a new deal worth $500 million, why not? Red Bull’s new signature partner is the American tech giant Oracle, and the company’s name will be featured prominently on its cars and bibs this year.

As usual with Red Bull in pre-season, the team won’t show us anything really until test opening day, so we’ll have to wait and see Adrian Newey and co explain the details. What are the new regulations? Once launched, the car is likely to continue to go strong until the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 20.

Although many people online claim that the paintwork is identical to last year’s, some notable tweaks have been made around the chassis and engine cover. Red Bull also has a strong brand identity and is one of the most prominent in the field – a classic case in point is that if it doesn’t break, don’t fix it.

The launch also gives fans a chance to see Max Verstappen’s car with the number one on the front. No defending champion has worn number one in his car since Sebastian Vettel in 2014, with Lewis Hamilton always choosing to stick with number 44 and Nico Rosberg retiring after winning the title in 2016.

–Nate Saunders

Aston Martin

Drivers: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll

Vehicle name: AMR22

Actual thing or car show: The real thing

The AMR22 was the first genuine F1 car to be revealed this year, and it did not disappoint. Ever since the Union flag was launched, it was Obviously Aston Martin is something a little different and F1 Twitter responded appropriately with hundreds of heart emojis.

Aston Martin has a kickstand unlike any other concept car F1 launched last year as well as a relatively tall nose and front spoiler – proof that not all 2022 cars have to be the same. . Fifteen windshields are cut into the top of each sidepod, prompting comparisons with cheese grinders on social media as well as more authentic questions about the radiator layout and system. cooling system under the body.

The team has committed to a relatively early launch date so that they have time to prepare for the next day’s Silverstone takedown and leave enough time to fix any teething issues first. during pre-season testing. As a result, the AMR22 is the first new car to start and spin on the track this year, looking just as good in motion as it does in still photography.

Those nice looks are helped by a new paint job, which features a more TV-friendly metallic blue while removing the old BWT sponsor’s pink highlights and replacing them with green stripes. lime tree. The result is a paint job that is instantly recognizable as Aston Martin while adding the curves of one of the most unusual cars on the grid.

–Laurence Edmondson

McLaren

Drivers: Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo

Vehicle name: MCL36

Real item or show car?: The real thing

McLaren followed the launch of Aston Martin with a launch his own real caralthough there are a few “sensitive” spots that are obscured from the bulb and lens of the viewing medium.

In what will likely be a recurring theme in 2022, the launch has given us a glimpse of a different design philosophy than that of Aston Martin. Technical director James Key said his team looked at the distinctive and covered sidepods that their group of fellow Mercedes customers used, but opted for a narrow packing design instead. more of it.

The team also chose to arrange the front suspension in the form of a tow bar instead of the push rod suspension commonly found in the front of F1 cars according to the final set of regulations. At the rear, it changed to a pushrod form, different from the usual F1 pull rod designs of the past decade, creating a stir in F1’s engineering community.

On the livery side, McLaren splits opinion. The team used extra Gulf blue to combine with their traditional papaya orange, and it definitely looks more striking than any of the photos the team has circulated since.

–Nate Saunders

AlphaTauri

Drivers: Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda

Vehicle name: AT03

Actual thing or car show: Digital rendering of a car