Prominent F1 Journalist Clears the Air Surrounding Mercedes’ Failed 2022 Test Reports With a Simple Explanation

As we step into February, the month full of car launches and the jumping board into the next season with the pre-season testing, the 2021 rivals, Mercedes F1 and Red Bull, were dealt a heavy blow, quite literally. This is because both the teams were reported to have failed their frontal crash tests.

And on top of that, the Silver Arrows also reportedly failed “a side impact test,” adding to their misery.

This is a cause of concern for two reasons for both teams, especially Mercedes. Because not only have most of the other teams passed this test, but failing to pass means the team won’t get a green light to take part in the pre-season testing.

Report: Mercedes Await the FIA Homologation After Failing F1 Crash Test Like Red Bull

But according to F1 insider, Sam S Collins, some of the German team’s misery is simply a misunderstanding floating around in F1 circles. “There are a whole bunch of tests but there isn’t a side impact test. There are load tests and push off tests but no impact test,” Collins wrote on Twitter.

Conflicting reports around the new Mercedes F1 car

After the various reports of the German team not passing the frontal test, and so forth, one report claimed that Mercedes have already passed the test.

“We completed homologation several weeks ago,” Mercedes said according to GP Blog. The report also suggests that the Brackley-based outfit has already received approval from the FIA.

So if that is indeed the case, then all the other reports of Mercedes having to rely on a Plan B, pushing their car launch date, and even not being able to take part in the pre-season testing on time, are false.

And that’s something one would expect from a team that was more prepared than anyone the last time Formula 1 entered a new era.

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