After the first three days of pre-season testing with the new cars in Barcelona, the Formula 1 drivers have confirmed what the 2022 regulations intended, which was to make it easier to follow the single-seaters closely.
However, Charles Leclerc claimed that the ability to drive close to the car in front diminished when he got within a second of the car in front, before attempting to get within five tenths.
Despite that apparent anomaly, the Monegasque said he was pleased with the overall improvement compared to the past: “It’s quite interesting, I’d say from three seconds to one, you can follow it more closely.”
“Then, from one second to five tenths, it would be something similar to the feeling I had last year, and when you are in less than that time, it is much better than in 2021,” he explained. “I’ll have to do a few more laps behind a car, but for now it’s looking good.”
His Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz was also optimistic about the improved tracking ability: “I’ve already noticed some differences, it’s pretty obvious, and I think they’re going in the right direction.”
The world champion, Max Verstappen, also gave his opinion in an encouraging way after his first experience in Barcelona: “I have been following some cars, and it seems that it is a little easier to fall behind.”
“At least you don’t have that weird loss of downforce feeling where all of a sudden you have a lot of understeer or oversteer,” said the Dutchman.
“Of course I don’t expect it to go away completely and be able to continue on the rear diffuser, because of the speeds we still have in Formula 1, but it all seems a bit more in control, the cars are fine,” he explained.
Alex Albon, who returns to Formula 1, was another of those who commented on the subject: “I’ve done a couple of laps behind Pierre [Gasly]. I haven’t raced in a long time, so it’s a little more difficult on that side. “.
“But I was surprised by how fast I was able to stay in turn 2 and 3, I almost expected something worse, but the initial feeling is positive,” settled the Anglo-Thai.
