F1 News

Does Ferrari want P2 or more wind tunnel time? 'That's priority number one'

10 November 2022 at 18:50
Last update 10 November 2022 at 20:14
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  • GPblog.com

As the 2022 Formula 1 season draws to a close, the big question is who will run away with second position among both drivers and constructors. Ferrari and Mercedes are battling for P2 among constructors, but third place also has its advantages. As for Carlos Sainz, however, there is no doubt which final position is preferred.

P2 or more wind tunnel time?

With the new rules regarding the time F1 teams are allowed to spend in the wind tunnel, it has been suggested here and there that they would settle for P3 in the final standings, as that would mean five per cent more time in the wind tunnel. Relative to Red Bull Racing, the move is even bigger: the Austrian racing stable has to make do with 12 per cent less than the number two and 17 per cent less than the number three in the championship.

On top of that, a higher finishing position brings more money, but the top teams will not be able to put extra money into development because of the budget cap. For smaller teams this does apply: Alfa Romeo, for example, has room left in its budget, which it can supplement with the prize money the team will receive.

So for teams like Ferrari and Mercedes, the time in the wind tunnel could be more valuable, but Sainz is not mulling over which he and his team would choose. "We would take P2. With things like this, they have to prioritise the position in the championship. Competition is priority number one," Sainz said at the press conference on Sky Sports.