Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr says next year’s models are behaving differently in simulators compared to 2021 cars.
“I think there starts to be a tendency in the paddock, and the drivers, that we are all going in the direction of: ‘wow, this is quite different and quite far from where we are, and from how the car feels now,” he told Autosport.
With the 2022 season having all-new regulations, teams are scrambling to prepare – some but have already put models in to their simulators.
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McLaren star Lando Norris suggested recently that the 2022 version was ‘not as nice’ to drive as current machinery, a sentiment which Sainz agreed with.
“We know how our car feels, and between drivers we are like, ‘how does yours feel?’
“It is going to be a big change, and maybe we are, between each other, kind of starting to accept that this is going to be quite a change.
“And the rumour around the paddock is really starting to go quite in that direction: without having to tell you anything basically [about the car], because I cannot talk about it.”
Changes in aerodynamic design will alter how the cars handle, especially on corners.
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“I’ve been driving it since January or February and I’ve been on top of that car a few times this year,” Sainz said.
“The last session was last week.
“Also after every Pirelli test that we’ve done this year with the tyres, we’ve tried to go back and check the tyre model, and tried to put it on the car.
“There’s a lot of work being done on this 2022 project, the whole factory is working as much as they can. It is flat out and we see it at Ferrari as a good opportunity.
“Will we be able to win or not? This is a different question. But the will and hours and intention for sure is not lacking.
“And obviously from the driver side neither, because I’ve been on top of that car in the sim a few times already.”