The Milton Keynes team had a great battle for the constructors’ and drivers’ championship with Mercedes until the last race on the calendar. The Germans took the teams title, but the Austrians managed to make Max Verstappen world champion for the first time.
But while these two teams were fighting until the end of the year, others, like Ferrari, began to develop their 2022 car to face the entry of the new technical regulations as best as possible.
The advantage enjoyed by Mercedes and Red Bull could be reduced, and that other teams will face them in the next season. Combined energy drinks boss Christian Horner is optimistic about the balance they found between working in 2021 and developing next year’s car, although he is aware that he will only be able to judge whether they did the right thing in the first race. of 2022, when the rest also show their weapons.
“When Ferrari shows up with the fastest car and crushes us on the first date, it will have to be said that it probably [compromised us in 2021]. I think we all know there’s a big rule change coming and we’ve applied our resources accordingly.” Horner said.
“I’m sure that each team has done what they think is best, and that has put pressure on the organization, of course. But that’s where I think the team has been outstanding, because to keep developing with the new rules and to continue with the updates on this year’s car is a huge effort. The commitment shown by everyone has been phenomenal,” he explained.
“But we will only see when we come back in a couple of months, with completely new cars. They look different, they will feel and drive differently and who has done it right or wrong? It all starts again.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reckoned that, as well as rivals benefiting from earlier development of their cars, the wind tunnel hours system could further mix up the grid.
“We’re all working within the same budget cap, and the concepts are very new,” he said. “What has changed with the aerodynamic regulations is that, depending on the position in the championship, some have a little more margin.
“It is quite likely that some teams that did not compete at the maximum in the 2021 season, such as Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin or Alpine, will be able to come up with designs with more time than the rest and they can do very well.
“I think we have to expect a much tighter fight for the title and races than before, and that’s exciting,” Wolff concluded.
