All the latest news from the racing world!
F1
It is rumoured that 2 F1 teams have found a Brawn style innovation for the 2022 regulations. How anyone can be this sure about it, and know only 2 teams have it, is unclear, and raises some doubts in my mind, however, it is likely we will see some big differences in the cars next year. Each team may try and exploit the rules differently, and some will surely work better than others, so don’t expect everyone to be really close on pace.
Horner will stay as the Red Bull team principal until 2026, which is not surprising given the success of their campaign this year. He may be an emotional character, who doesn’t always say the right thing, yet he does fit in rather well with the team, and the ethos of Red Bull. I do think he may get another title before this contract runs out, although it may take the team a year or two to get their head around the low rake rules.
IndyCar
There has been an extension of the contract with Dallara, who have been the sole supplier of IndyCar chassis since 2009. They have done a good job in terms of safety and reliability, as IndyCar is probably the toughest proving ground for their technology. The only issue with a single make of chassis is the high price to buy one, given the monopoly of the market.
Hinchcliffe has been confirmed as the new NBC analyst for IndyCar and IMSA. He should be a great addition to the team, as he is a very witty and entertaining person, and did a very good job when he subbed in for Townsend Bell in 2020.
O’Ward has said he sees a two year window for him to switch to F1, and said he will do all he can to make it happen. This could be seen as a slap in the face for IndyCar, however, it could also be an opportunity to show that IndyCar can be used as a gateway to F1, which might bring more drivers and money to the sport. I personally think despite his enormous talent, he will find it hard to get a seat, as Norris and Ricciardo might be at the team long term, and other seats are hard to obtain, especially not coming from F2.
Formula E
A budget cap will be introduced for the Gen3 era of the sport, initially set at €13 million per season, before increasing to €15 million for the 2024-25 season. This does sound mediocre compared to F1, but remember they are spec cars, with very little development, so almost all the spending will be on personnel, equipment, and freight. Powertrain manufacturers will be allowed to spend an additional €25 million to develop the Electric drivetrain, which will be where most of the innovation is.
MotoGP
Stoner wants the MotoGP bikes to be harder to ride, saying that the aerodynamics and electronics have made is too easy nowadays for the riders. I can see what he means, as there does seem to be less fighting of the bikes in the past few years, however, they should not go too far the other way either.
Other News
The provisional calendar for Extreme E has been dropped for 2022, with 5 rounds, starting again in Saudi Arabia, before going to Italy, Chile, and Uruguay, with Scotland and Senegal fighting over the 5th and final place on the calendar.
NASCAR has confirmed that the high horsepower and low downforce package will be used for most of the season in 2022. This should be a huge win for the racing we see next year, with the drivers having to work harder to control the beasts, and with less dirty air, passing should be easier.
-M
Meaning of Motorsport 