What Do the Differences Between the McLaren, Aston Martin & Haas Challengers Tell Us About the 2022 F1 Season?

Until 2021, most of the Formula One cars had very similar looks with regards to the dimensions and the overall body shape albeit with some noticeable variations to the front wing and other aerodynamical components. However, marching into 2022, there seems to be a wide range of differences between each of the F1 machines.

Let’s not consider Red Bull into this, considering their 2022 challenger was nothing but a show car. Instead, let’s take a look at the remaining three cars that have had their covers off since last week. Haas started off the proceedings by launching the VF-22 followed by McLaren’s MCL36 and Aston Martin’s AMR22.

All of these cars looked entirely distinct from each other with the biggest variation of all visible around the bonnet and belly. So, what led to such major differences between the design of the cars? Well, according to Formula Passion, the changes have everything to do with the cooling system.

McLaren, Aston Martin, and Haas have relocated the cooling system on their cars which consequently led to the differences in overall dimensions and body shapes.

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Why Aston Martin, McLaren, and Haas F1 cars are dissimilar

Until 2021, the first part of the cars had a special place allocated to the cooling systems around the side-pods. However, come 2022, the higher prioritization of venturi channels has forced the teams to relocate the cooling systems citing the regulation changes.

They are indeed a huge deal because Venturi channels basically produce an estimate of at least 50% of the aerodynamic load in the high-downforce 2022 cars.

“The designers had to find the ideal compromise to combine the ‘poles’ with the attempt not to lose the speed with which the air flows are directed towards the rear and the diffuser. Haas has tried to maintain a downward ‘ramp’, even if it is not comparable to that of the 2021 VF-21. Aston Martin has tried to combine all the needs listed so far by directly lifting the entire cooling system, including radiators.”

“McLaren, on the other hand, followed another path by drawing inspiration from the Alpine A521 by placing parts of the radiators in the area of ​​the bonnet behind the air-box/roll bar.”

Overall, there are more launches scheduled later this month, including that of Ferrari and Mercedes. Hence, after having across very obvious differences in VF-21, MCL36, and AMR22, could the rest of the pack deliver more surprises?

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