Ross Brawn confident 2022 F1 regulations will fix Bahrain GP problems

Max Verstappen in gevecht met Lewis Hamilton tijdens de GP van Bahrein. — Photo: © LAT Images

Formula 1

Brawn confident 2022 F1 regulations will fix Bahrain GP problems

Following in dirty air was again an issue

Sam Hall

Tuesday 30 March 2021 14:50

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Ross Brawn is confident the 2022 Formula 1 regulation changes will negate the issues suffered by numerous drivers in the Bahrain Grand Prix.

For many years in F1 drivers have complained about the difficulty in following another car due to the dirty air that reduces downforce, as well as increasing tyre wear due to overheating and engine temperatures.

The new rules for next year will utilise ground-effect technology for the first time in F1 since the concept was banned at the end of 1983 for safety reasons.

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Unlike downforce that uses air to push the car onto a track, ground-effect technology creates an area of low pressure under it which pulls it down, so increasing grip, while the trailing air is less disturbed, making following easier and the tyres lasting longer.

"The rule changes over the winter appear to have closed the field up," said F1's managing director motorsports Brawn in his post-race column.

"With teams set to focus fairly soon on next year’s car, it may be that nobody pulls away to any degree and we have an epic season in front of us.

"When [Max] Verstappen caught [Lewis] Hamilton, he couldn’t stay behind and stay in the sweet spot for long enough to launch attack after attack because the tyres were overheating.

"That’s what we are trying to cure with the 2022 regulations, so the future is bright."

The problems of the current generation of cars, however, did nothing to slow down the charge of Sergio Perez through the field as the Mexican battled to recover from a formation lap problem which resulted in a pit lane start.

Brawn was left encouraged by Perez's performance and believes he will soon be up to speed and providing Red Bull with the two-pronged attack it hoped for when it signed him up.

"I left Bahrain feeling very optimistic," added Brawn. "It was unfortunate that Sergio Perez’s car shut down on the formation lap, but once again he showed his supreme ability to cut through the field as he rescued a fifth-place finish.

"He’s not up to speed at Red Bull just yet, but he’s learning quickly – and we know what a fine driver he is. Once he’s settled, the Mexican has the potential to be part of the action at the front."