TIME FOR NEW TYRES

In a world of huge alloys, it always felt odd that F1 persisted with 13in wheels. That’s changing in 2022 as it embraces trendy 18in wheels with lower-profile tyre sidewalls. And that’s not the only change, as drivers who progress to the third and final qualifying session will no longer have to start the race on their Q2 tyre. As a result, you should see far more teams running the softest compound in Q2 in the hope of making it through to the shootout for pole.

Some things haven’t changed, though: Pirelli remains the sole tyre supplier and there will still be five compounds of slick available (C1 to C5; hard to soft). As before, teams will be given the choice from three of the five on any weekend, along with wets and intermediates. Each driver gets 13 sets of slicks per weekend.

The tyres are much taller now, so certain apexes will now be blind, and the tyre warmers are set at a lower temperature (this will further reduce year on year until electric blankets are scrapped from 2024). As such, the driver who can get his rubber up to working temperature the quickest will win a significant bonus.