3 Takeaways from Day One of Formula 1 Testing

With a new set of technical regulations, pre-season testing is more intriguing than in recent years, as we get our first look at the creative interpretation of the teams and wait to learn which teams got it right and which start on the back foot. Here at the Faceoff Sports Network, we are always expanding to more sports and sports betting content. Stay tuned for more Formula 1 content and my F1 Faceoff Podcast.

Side Pod Talk

Oftentimes when looking at F1 cars, they can all bleed together, seemingly looking identical apart from subtle differences. Not this year. Simply looking at each of the vehicles reveals significant differences in interpretation on how to maximize their performance.

For reference, the side pods lie behind the front tires and are meant to allow air to flow into the engine cover to keep the temperature under control. Traditionally, they have extended horizontally from the car, creating a somewhat triangular opening visible from the front of the car.

No team has shown more innovation than Mercedes, which has employed what is already being referred to as the “zero pod” design. Rather than having a large pod extending horizontally, they rotated the pod 90 degrees, extending vertically and remaining incredibly close to the vehicle. The concept here is to minimize the amount of air hitting the front of the car, thus reducing drag on the car and increasing speed.

Other teams have looked to address the issue of drag through different approaches, with some, such as McLaren and Williams, having a quick taper behind the side pods, and others, like Aston Martin and Alpha Tauri, leaving space beneath the side pod for air to flow through.

Over the next few days, we will find out which concepts work and what tweaks need to be had.

Continued Drama Between Red Bull and Mercedes?

If you thought a new season and new set of regulations meant the rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes would change, you were wrong. While it might calm down as racing gets underway and new teams emerge as challengers, it seems we may be in store for more conflict between the two teams that dominated the 2021 season.

In reference to the Mercedes side pods mentioned above, Christian Horner, team principal for Red Bull, has already reportedly made a statement questioning the legality of the Mercedes vehicle, suggesting they violate the “spirit of the rules.”

When asked, Horner denied the comments, suggesting he hasn’t gotten a good look at the Mercedes yet. Maybe Horner is simply trying to keep his head down early on, or maybe he’s trying to downplay everything while the team investigates internally. Or maybe the media is drumming up drama to keep the attention on Formula One.

Who knows? But if you’re used to Formula One, you know that this is the typical politicking that occurs early in the season. We will surely see this discussion, and this rivalry, continue to play out over the next several days. And surely, Red Bull aren’t the only team interested in Mercedes’ new concept.

No More Rake

If you’re new to Formula One, you may be asking, “what the hell is rake?” Rake is a term commonly used over the past several seasons to refer to the angle of a car, particularly the angle relative to the ground. In past seasons, many teams would “rake” the rear of their car up, creating a significant angle between the ground on the bottom of the car.

This would enhance the ability of the underside of the car to create downforce while also impacting the amount of drag the car created in straights and in turns. By raking the car, the vehicle would have a larger profile in turns, allowing for more drag, and thus more downforce, which enabled drivers to have more grip and move faster through turns. On straights, the vehicle would be pushed down, creating a lower profile, less drag, and more speed.

But this season, raking is no longer allowed, as cars are closer to the ground than they have been in years. This visually means there’s little air under the car, but practically means the drivers will be penalized more when running off track, particularly at tracks with gravel traps and significant curbs.

And more importantly, we will see a shift away from the decision to rake or not to rake playing a major role in the aerodynamic performance of cars, to the importance of the side pods and underside (or floor) of the car determining how cars perform.

3 Takeaways from Day Two of Formula 1 Testing