Aston Martin became the first F1 team to unveil a ‘real’ 2022 contender yesterday. Its AMR is due to complete a shakedown at Silverstone today before heading to pre-season testing in Barcelona which begins in less than two weeks time.
With the second pre-season test scheduled so close to the first race, Aston Martin was confident in showcasing a car that will bear a close resemblance to what it intends to run at the beginning of the season.
The AMR22 is an all-new design with “little carry over from last year’s car”, according to technical director Andrew Green. However, some key features seemed to have stuck around.
Notably, the roll hoop and intake seem to be largely unchanged and the ‘bulge’ on the engine cover is carried over. The distinctive bump in the cover is likely due to the Mercedes HPP Powertrain configuration: A stipulation for a ‘blister’ was added in the fourth draft of the 2022 (previously 2021) rules.
While there had been rumours about front…