Formula 1’s launch season is in full swing, with the Haas F1 team launching the VF22. This is the first car of F1’s new era to break cover, with the cars now specifically designed to promote better racing. As in 2021, the Haas cars will have Nikita Mazepin, who’s sponsor Uralkali is again adorning the car, and Mick Schumacher at the wheel. The pair will be hoping that the VF22 is a big step-up on the VF21, which scored no points across the whole campaign last year.

Studying The VF22 Design

The VF22 gives us the first look at a new 2022 F1 car, specifically designed by a team and not a generic mockup. We must stress though this is a render of the car, so something will probably be different come the first pre-season test in Spain. Compared to the mockup F1 presented at Silverstone in 2021, the front wing of the car is a lot more aggressively sculpted, particularly as it joins onto the nose. The rear wing is flatter and less curvy on the main body, but the biggest differences come around the center of the car.

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Tiny Sidepod Outlets Are A Stark Contrast

Haas VF222 Rear View
via Haas F1 Team

Previous mockups of the 2022 car saw quite large sidepod outlets. The new Haas, however, sees very different looking sidepods. The outlets at the front are incredibly small. Absolutely tiny compared to the generic 2022 car. This perhaps gives some indication as to the cooling levels for the car’s Ferrari power unit. At the back, perhaps the most noticeable feature is that the exhaust is a lot more exposed than on the 2021 car, making it look much longer and prominent.

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More Aerodynamic Pieces Across The Side

Haas VF222 Side View
via Haas F1 Team

The side of the car provides another interesting detail for the VF22. It shows quite a blank area behind the front wheels, where the bargeboards would normally be. Bargeboards are now disallowed in the rules, but the Haas does have a bit more detail in this area, with an aerodynamic piece very different to the rather plain piece we saw on the F1 mockup. Overall, you can certainly see how much simpler F1's new era will be. But given this is not only a render, but the Haas car, we can probably expect more innovation and aggression with the next launches. Red Bull are currently next up, with their launch on February 9th.

Source: Haas F1 Team