F1 is entering a new era with a major overhaul in regulations, arguably the biggest one since 1983. Teams have built the 2022 F1 car from the scratch, with a bunch of new components replacing the old ones. One major difference is the top-body aerodynamics and a more neutral front wing. These new FIA regulations intend to tackle the ‘dirty air’ and encourage close battles on the track. Now, the official pre-season shakedown is underway at the Catalunya circuit in Barcelona and F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, opened up about the new car.

The primary aim of all the teams is to get mileage under their belt in these new-generation cars. Though Alfa Romeo and Haas had a sticky start on day 1, other teams returned happily to the paddock. There is still a lot to explore about these new machines, but prima facie they lag little in terms of performance. However, the cars’ visibility might be a bigger issue. This is due to another major change in the fundamentally new cars.

The 2022 cars have less temperature-sensitive 18-inch Pirelli rubbers, with the addition of over-wheel winglets. In the last generation of cars, balloon-style 13-inch were present, which performed in quite a distant way. After initial shakedown, one issue that drivers are vocal about is the visibility in these cars.

Ricciardo and Perez express their visibility concern

F1 drivers are back on the track after two months to lay their hands on the all-new 2022 cars. Initial inputs from pre-season testing have been mostly positive but there is one major concern. The visibility issue in the 2022 cars is out in open and is one of the most discussed aspects of the new-generation cars. In a recent update, McLaren star Daniel Ricciardo pointed it out in an interview.

“I took a few laps here as part of filming with the new car the other day. It’s definitely a bit of a hassle to drive. You have a lot of things ahead of you. F1 is different. But despite that, there are too many cameras on the vehicle and you see much more,” said the Aussie as reported by Motorsport.com. (Quotes are translated using Google Translate)

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“We’re seeing less again this year, but we’re getting used to it. We get used to the reference points and this sort of thing happens. It’s something that gets easier with time, but we’re not in great shape compared to when they were sitting just in front of the old car and much higher up,” added Ricciardo.

Moreover, Red Bull driver Sergio Perez also backed his opinion. “I really don’t have much to add. It’s just a matter of time. We definitely need to get used to less visibility. We need to figure out how we can get more, but in terms of driving position you can’t do much,” said Perez.

Lewis Hamilton differs with Ricciardo and Perez on the visibility debate

Moving ahead, 7-time world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton also shared his thoughts on the much-discussed visibility issue. “I think the visibility will be similar. I’m probably sitting a little low, so I see a lot of the sky right now. I’m going to get something like a cushion to sit a little higher,” remarked the Mercedes man.

We are in the closing phase of the Barcelona testing. The teams will regroup again in two weeks in Bahrain for the second and ultimate round of testing. Meanwhile, fans are expecting a thrilling season as the drivers seem confident about the new era cars. Tell us your bold 2022 F1 predictions in the comment section below.

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