For the three teams which finished at the bottom of the 2021 world championship standings, Formula 1’s new rules offer a vital opportunity for them to gain ground on their rivals.
Mercedes-powered Williams plus Ferrari customers Alfa Romeo and Haas all diverted resources early to their 2022 projects for that very reason. While their cars inevitably bear some similarities to those which share the same power units, there are noticeable differences which are much more than just cosmetic.
Williams
The Williams team and car looked strong out of the box, completing a decent number of laps on the board during pre-season shakedown. Considering that they were not able to have a complete car at pre-season testing in 2019, the Grove-based team has made great strides under its new ownership and management.
The most eye-catching feature on the Williams is the sidepod. Their design fully focuses on creating a downwash to aid the flow over the top of the diffuser with the curvature of the top side…