F1 cars surprisingly different
Mercedes shocks opponents with a spectacular update
03/10/2022, 7:39 p.m
During the final test drives in Bahrain, Mercedes surprised the competition: The car driven by record champion Lewis Hamilton looks very different from the first tests in Barcelona. The approach creates a powerful vortex. Sebastian Vettel also caused a stir – with a message of peace.
Mercedes caused a stir at the start of the final test drives for the new Formula 1 season in Bahrain. The car driven by record champion Lewis Hamilton has received a spectacular update compared to the first tests in Barcelona. Not only were the underbody and front wing new on the Briton’s Silver Arrow, but the sidepod was also designed noticeably differently than in comparison to the first test in Barcelona – at the top close fitting to the chassis of the W13, then wider at the bottom.
In Red Bull’s competition for world champion Max Verstappen, this approach immediately caused a stir under the regulations that were completely new this year, but team boss Christian Horner had a critical quote withdrawn via his press department. Formula 1 sports director Ross Brawn said: “There are some very extreme interpretations of the regulations that could lead to a lot of discussion. We didn’t expect the Mercedes concept.”
“It’s not about how the car looks”
Verstappen was relaxed about the matter. “All cars look different. None of us understand them well enough to be able to say what works and what doesn’t,” said the 24-year-old. “We can only focus on ourselves.” Hamilton’s teammate George Russell was pleased that the Mercedes “draw a lot of attention this morning”: “I’m proud to be part of a team that drives innovation forward. But it’s not about how the car looks – it’s about it how fast it is.”
The fastest on Thursday was Pierre Gasly (1:33.902) in the AlphaTauri, but the Frenchman drove differently than his pursuers on the softest tire compound. The test times are rarely particularly meaningful anyway, but an impression was also strengthened at the start in Bahrain: Ferrari is doing well, Carlos Sainz (1:34.359 minutes) and Charles Leclerc (1:34.531 minutes) were only in spite of their actually much slower tires just behind Gasly in second and third place. The duo had already convinced during the first tests in Barcelona.
Former world champion Sebastian Vettel also used the test day to protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The 34-year-old drove his Aston Martin with the Ukrainian flag on his helmet, a peace dove and the “peace sign” painted on it, as well as the words “No War” and the lyrics of John Lennon’s legendary song ” imagine”.
Formula 1 is still testing in Bahrain until Saturday before the new season begins on March 20th, also on the desert circuit.