Andrew Shovlin, the Mercedes F1 team’s trackside engineering director, says the new generation of F1 cars for 2022 has created more predictable racing.
This year’s Formula 1 cars were built under a set of new technical regulations aimed at allowing closer on-track racing and better competition.
However, Red Bull Racing are close to winning both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, holding a sizable lead in both places.
Red Bull Racing has won 12 of its 16 grands prix so far this year, with Ferrari winning the remaining four.
The Mercedes F1 team, which swept the turbo hybrid era that began in 2014, has not yet reached the top of the podium in 2022.
Andrew Shovlin acknowledges that chasing rivals around corners is easier than it used to be, but says the new rules have so far failed to create tighter competition. talk.
“It just got a little easier to follow,” said Andrew Shovlin.
“There are some circuits, like Budapest, where historically there has been little overtaking, and the racing there is a little more interesting.”
“It also has the effect of resetting the competitive order when new rules are introduced and completely new rules like this set.”
“It’s not a close race right now. It looks like Red Bull has emerged as the clear frontrunner.”
“So the race is probably a little bit more predictable than it was at the end of last year.”
“But it’s a small step in the right direction and a very big change to get there. And maybe the big thing we wanted, which I don’t think we’ve seen yet, is that the field is going to be even. Thing”
“As you know, the front-to-back distribution of the teams is still broadly similar.”
