The 2022 Formula 1 World Championship is the ultimate form of motorsport, taking place on the most famous race tracks in the world, with the single-seater cars that epitomise the pinnacle of technology and speed. Scuderia AlphaTauri taking part in the Championship with the new AT03, in the hands of Frenchman Pierre Gasly and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda.

Rule changes

The 2022 season sees one of the most significant changes to the technical regulations in the history of Formula 1. The futuristic look of the new cars is down to a new aerodynamic concept. The regulations have been drawn up specifically to allow closer racing, making overtaking easier, thus providing a greater show on track. Technically, it’s the floor of the car that takes on greater importance, which is why the phrase “ground effect” is making a comeback.

The wheels and tyres are also completely new, moving up in size from 13 to 18 inches. The tyres boast a new lower profile and stiffer construction.

This year’s Pirelli tyres have a different construction and are heavier, to better deal with the forces exerted on them by the current F1 cars. There are five different compounds on offer for the 2021 F1 Championship: the C1 is the hardest, going through to C5, the softest. For each race weekend, Pirelli supplies three compounds, easily recognisable through the coloured bands around their circumference: white is the hardest, yellow medium and red the softest.

Overall, the new technical regulations mean that the minimum weight of the cars has increased to 795 kg.

The 2022 calendar

This year’s championship features the most races ever seen on the calendar, packed with 23 rounds, starting on 20 March in Bahrain, with the grand final taking place in Abu Dhabi on 20 November.