This year, Formula 1 will introduce new technical regulations aimed at promoting closer and more interesting racing atmosphere.
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Nico Hulkenberg feels the new Formula One cars will still be ‘pretty damn fast,’ and wonders if it would be simpler to follow another driver. Hulkenberg hasn’t raced full-time in Formula 1 since 2019, with his last appearance coming as a stand-in at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, but he did spend 2021 as Aston Martin’s reserve driver. This year, Formula 1 will introduce new technical regulations aimed at promoting closer and more interesting racing, with the hope that the influence of foul air would be lessened. It sparked speculation that the new generation of cars would be slower than their immediate predecessors, but Hulkenberg disputes this.
“They aimed [the car] to be a bit slower, more challenging to drive, to have more focus on drivers that can make a difference rather [than having] car performance and aerodynamics dominate,” Hulkenberg wrote in a post on LinkedIn.
“From my initial experience however, the new cars are pretty damn fast and not necessarily slower than the last generation. The driving experience hasn’t changed that much either, at least in the simulator. It will be very interesting to see whether these cars can really follow the car in front better.”
“In the simulator, the cornering speeds are extremely high, so the risk of “dirty air” is still given and it´s difficult for me to imagine that following another car comfortably at these speeds will be easy. Anyhow, I hope we will be positively surprised. Once pre-season testing starts drivers and teams will find out how the cars really behave on track,” he added.
Hulkenberg, who spent the majority of his ten-year career in midfield, does not see a substantial shift in the pecking order in 2022.
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“I’m also looking forward to seeing which teams and drivers get off to the best start,” he said.
“Later in the year things can change because it will be a huge learning curve for everybody involved. The development race teams are in, will move the order in such a long season. It`s too early for predictions although I would be very surprised if the top teams from previous years will not be near the front.”
