Ex-F1 driver backing Red Bull as team to beat for 2022

Former Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson is backing Red Bull to be the team to beat in 2022, as he feels they will be able to ace the new aerodynamic regulations better than any other.

The 2022 season could be one of the most exciting in the sport’s history – though 2021 will obviously take some beating – with new rules and regulations being swept in and the cars set to look drastically different from anything we have seen in the sport before.

Indeed, a swathe of new aerodynamic changes are being introduced whilst ground effect is also returning at the base of the car in an attempt to generate closer racing and negate the impacts turbulent air have on a driver following the other.

That all said, you might expect some interesting changes to the running order as it’s all about which teams interpret the rules best but, for Johansson, it could still be the case that we see a familiar name leading the way:

“Had the rules remained the same for next season, I think the grid would be even tighter,” said the 65-year-old Swede in his blog.

“I keep saying it but the easiest way to even up the field and get close racing is rules stability. Eventually the smaller, less well-resourced teams will catch up. We’ve seen that many times over the years.

“But as soon as the rules change, you’ll have one, maybe two teams that have the resources and talent to get it right out of the gate. The rest spend the next three years catching up again.

“I’m worried we will have the same scenario again. My gut tells me that with the drastic changes in aerodynamics for next season, Red Bull will probably be the team that gets closest to where it needs to be the fastest.”

Max Verstappen will certainly be happy if this comes true as he looks to defend his