Over the years, the minimum weight for Formula 1 cars has increased noticeably. For example, in 2009 – the last year with refueling during races – cars still weighed 605kg, while in 2021 they weighed at least 752kg.
Under the new 2022 technical regulations, this year’s single-seaters have once again increased their minimum weight, this time by 43kg. In this way, the F1 of 2022 will weigh a minimum of 795 kg, due in part to the change to 18-inch wheels and the improvement of the chassis safety requirements.
However, these changes have had a knock-on effect, making F1 cars heavier in other ways as well. This has made it difficult for many teams to approach the minimum weight, and not in a positive way, including Red Bull who currently have an overweight RB18.
“The only problem we have is the weight,” adviser Helmut Marko admitted to Motorsport-Magazin . However, he also pointed out that this problem is the same or similar for most of the teams on the grid. “Thank God the minimum weight has been increased even more, but there is still a lot of work to do before the first race.”
Could the minimum weight of 2022 F1 cars be increased further?
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18
Regarding the first version of the new technical regulations, the minimum weight has already been increased by twenty kilos, but that does not seem to be enough for some teams. However, in Red Bull they hope that the minimum weight of the cars will be studied again and with it cause a change.
“We will see if there is another increase,” Marko said before the teams met in Barcelona to discuss various issues, including that one.
Hopes of the minimum weight going up again are high, as Red Bull believes it is not alone in this problem: “Except for one, all the teams are struggling with a weight issue on their car.”
However, the real chances of a further rise seem slim. For it to be approved before the start of the season, eight of the ten teams, plus F1 itself and the FIA would have to agree. This may not be a problem as there are several teams struggling with weight problems, but on the other hand, some rivals could also try to take advantage of Red Bull’s problem.
It is said that the Austrian team has the biggest problems in this aspect and that with the arrival of the budget ceiling, it is now more difficult to solve than before. For that reason, some teams that are also above the minimum weight might be reluctant to increase it.
