This weekend at the Azerbaijan GP we will see a lot of testing, but it is likely that the teams will decide on the lowest downforce configuration, so as not to be penalized on the long main straight where the new one starts and ends.
Most teams have brought in new low-downforce front and rear wing designs, while the overall development war also continues.
These are the parts that the teams have announced as new for the Baku street circuit:
Mercedes’ upgrades for the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Mercedes W13 rear wing
Detail of the front spoiler of the Mercedes W13
Mercedes has introduced a lower downforce front and rear wing version in Baku, with a smaller chord and reduced angle of attack of the front wing elements (see photos how they have trimmed the trailing edge of the upper wing) , while the upper elements of the rear spoiler take up less space in the permitted section.
Mercedes W13 mirror detail
The team also added a lower deflector under the side impact system fairing (red arrow), which it describes as part of the mirror mount structure, but has more to do with helping to correct the direction of any localized airflow. that is moving around the pontoon.
Red Bull’s upgrades for the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP
El suelo del Red Bull Racing RB18
Difusor del Red Bull Racing RB18
Red Bull had already modified its front brake caliper layout for Monaco and has made further changes in Baku with the aim of improving cooling. Meanwhile, to help with the increased loads the ground will be carrying, the team added an external cable to better support the section ahead of the rear tyre.
He also tweaked the radius of the ground surface to expose those charge-seeking fences, which led to changes to the edge of the flat bottom to further optimize performance across the board.
Interestingly, and not noted by Red Bull in its report to the FIA, it has switched to a single beam wing element as it looks for ways to reduce drag without drastically compromising downforce .
Ferrari’s upgrades for the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Ferrari F1-75 rear wing detail
Ferrari F1-75 mirror
Originally intended to have debuted it at the Miami GP, Ferrari fitted a rear wing which it describes as “powerless” wing profiles to better suit the Baku design quirks.
This weekend also uses a new rear-view mirror design on the F1-75 , which is a general development and not specific to Baku. The redesign features a new interior section with abrupt vertical and horizontal interaction, rather than smooth curvature, to improve downstream airflow path.
McLaren F1 upgrades for the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP
McLaren MCL36 rear wing
McLaren MCL36 front wing detail
McLaren has a new rear wing design to suit the demands of the circuit, while also developing a front wing to provide the appropriate balance adjustment range for the lower downforce rear wing assembly.
McLaren MCL36 rear detail
They have also made changes to the rear bodywork around the sidepods and engine cover in terms of cooling, reducing the size of the tailpipe for less drag.
Alpine’s upgrades for the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Alpine A522 rear wing
Detail of the side of the Alpine A522
Alpine has a number of elements on the A522 that aim to reduce drag, including a revised front wing design and a more custom rear wing design that not only reduces the size of elements in the upper bounding box, but also the size and shape of the supporting elements of the wing.
In one of the most interesting changes that is not specific to the circuit, but an improvement to the car in general, Alpine has revised the shape of the front sidepod section.
That now squarer intake design, which is similar to what we’ve already seen on the Aston Martin Racing and AlphaTauri, pushes the bodywork further forward, meaning the intake not only captures faster airflow, but also will deal with the wake created by the front tire first.
AlphaTauri upgrades for the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Rear detail of the AlphaTauri AT03
The AT03 has been fitted with a new rear wing assembly for Baku, featuring a new beam wing design to increase downforce and reduce drag.
As a consequence, the front wing has new rear elements to reduce the length of the chord and the level of incidence to help balance the car. You can also see how they’re using the rear cooling grille panel, which arches down around the engine cover.
Alfa Romeo upgrades for the 2022 F1 Azerbaijan GP
Alfa Romeo C42 front spoiler
Alfa Romeo C42 rear spoiler
The C42 has a new redesigned low-drag rear wing to complement the team’s medium drag package, which responds to circuit characteristics.
Alongside this, the two upper elements of the front wing have also been revised, with the elements trimmed and angled according to the balance required.
No major updates on other computers
Aston Martin , Williams and Haas have not informed the FIA of the use of any new components, although Haas has considerably trimmed the trailing edge of its rear wing upper flap in an effort to reduce drag.
The Haas VF-22 in the box
