F1 rule changes: what’s new in 2022 and how have rules affected racing?

Anyone who has taken a glance at the new batch of Formula 1 contenders can see that things will be different in 2022.

The regulation changes are regarded as the biggest shift in F1 since 1983, but the aims of the new rules are relatively simple. A move away from complicated ‘overbody’ aerodynamic devices and the reintroduction of ground-effects (the creation of downforce using the car’s floor) are meant to reduce the impact of ‘dirty’ air.

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The problem of ‘dirty’ air has been a growing one since the 1980s. Essentially, the disturbance created by the car ahead means any car following has less air going over its wings and other downforce-generating surfaces. The following machine thus has less grip and cannot corner as quickly, even if it is faster. Overtaking has thus become more difficult.

As aerodynamics have become more sophisticated the problem has become worse, more than offsetting the gain of a slipstream on straights. The Drag Reduction System – which allows a chasing car to open a flap in the rear wing to reduce drag and boost straightline speed when within one second of the car ahead – is really an attempt to plaster over the crack.

Ground-effects cars are less affected by dirty air and the new rules have also been designed to fling the disturbance over following cars rather than at it. The result should be that cars can follow each other more closely.

The restrictive regulations, combined with the cost-cap and windtunnel limitations, are also designed to enable more teams to run at the front. More winners and closer racing are the hoped-for results of the new era.

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But how successful have