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“Not as slow as we expected them to be”: New 18-inch Pirelli tyres are expected to make the F1 cars faster by the end of 2022

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"Not as slow as we expected them to be": New 18-inch Pirelli tyres are expected to make the F1 cars faster by the end of 2022

The new Pirelli 18-inch tyres will reportedly make the F1 cars faster by the end of 2022, contrary to what was initially predicted. 

The 2021 season is done and dusted. An exciting battle for the Championship between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went down to the wire in Abu Dhabi last Sunday. The former passed his rival on the race’s final lap to win his first World Championship.

But all that’s in the past. Formula 1 enters a new era from the 2022 season onwards. The sport will undergo a massive regulation change, and the teams have already started working for it.

The main aim of these changes is to improve racing by altering the aerodynamics of an F1 car. ‘Dirty air’ produced by the previous cars made it difficult for others to overtake. The new cars are expected to have a simpler front wing and rear wing that reduces the amount of dirty air produced.

This new change promises better racing and more overtaking opportunities. A budget cap for teams has also been introduced, which they have to comply with.

Also read: Kimi Raikkonen will miss Formula 1 but is looking forward to living a ‘normal’ life

The 2022 F1 cars were originally expected to be 2-3 seconds slower

We have also seen the last of the 13-inch Pirelli tyres in F1. All cars will use new 18-inch tyres made by the Italian manufacturers. These tyres are predicted to last longer and overheat less.

The teams initially thought that the new tyres would slow their cars down by at least 2-3 seconds. During post-season testing in Abu Dhabi, they didn’t show much pace, but it was more than predicted.

According to the teams’ programs and Pirelli’s data, the new cars could reach within 5-tenths of the 2021 cars at the start of the season. Towards the end, they could even be quicker than the current ones.

The likes of Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo, George Russell and new World Champion Verstappen all got a taste of the new tyres during Tuesday’s testing session at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Also read: Red Bull claims F1 needs to rethink after Abu Dhabi GP’s controversial end

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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