Bahrain GP 2022: Talking Points and Hasty Conclusions

Summary by Krater

An analysis of the first race of the 2022 Formula 1 season at Bahrain, evaluating whether new car regulations improved following and DRS battles.

From the video

Answers: Are the new 2022 F1 cars able to follow each other and race better?

• 2022 Formula One season
• Bahrain Grand Prix
• F1 car following performance
• Tyre strategies and degradation
• Porpoising in F1 cars

What it concludes

• The new 2022 Formula 1 cars can follow each other much more closely through corners and wiggly bits without losing as much ground.
• Two-stop strategies proved effective for tyre management during the race.
• Cooler tyre blankets at 70 degrees caused reduced grip on out-laps, adding an extra challenge for drivers.
• Mercedes suffered heavily from porpoising, harming their pace in corners despite good front-running pace in the middle of the lap.
• McLaren solved their braking issues but lacked pure grip, leaving them behind in the competitive field.
• Teams are currently at the steepest end of the development curve, meaning performance gains will be made rapidly early in the season.