Early days
The 2022 Formula 1 cars adorned with the long-awaited, and then Covid-19 postponed, technical regulation changes finally arrived at the Circuit de Barcelona-Cataluña for pre-season testing at the end of February. At the initial test came the first glimpses of the challenges the teams face in this new era of the sport, and for the teams, the first chance to explore the potential of their radically re-designed machines.
With the regulations being a case of revolution rather than evolution, designers started from a clean sheet of paper, working with rules that have simplified the aerodynamics, emphasising the underside of the car, and accounting for larger diameter, low-profile tyres.
The only carryover from the previous seasons is a team’s ability to produce a competitive car. This was no different for Scuderia AlphaTauri and its AT03, which took to the track for the first time in Barcelona, providing a huge eye-opener for the team.
Of course, the chassis is the core element around which the entire AT03 is built, able to absorb more energy than previous generation Formula 1 cars in front, rear and lateral impacts. The nose section is also longer to further protect the driver from frontal impact.
‘Within a new regulation set, you’re forced to learn some new tricks, understand the rules and see where you can optimise the weight’
Jody Egginton, AlphaTauri’s technical director
The 2022 design brief requires the power unit to separate from the chassis in a crash without damaging the fuel cell. These changes have seen the car’s minimum weight increase by approximately five per cent to 798kg.
Design philosophy
The new chassis regulations allow for very different design philosophies to be used, and teams across the grid have chosen their own paths to follow. The AT03 is relatively conventional and conservative in both its design and layout. The side impact structure supports
