Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer claims to have seen similar 2022 Formula 1 car designs that make him ask “how the hell did two independent teams come up with that?”
F1’s technical rules have been completely overhauled for 2022, forcing teams to design all-new cars from scratch.
While there has been significant variety in the sidepod area in particular amid what are very prescriptive regulations, Szafnauer – who has switched to Alpine from Aston Martin – has effectively questioned whether some teams are working closer than the rules allow.
He has not named any teams but is sceptical that the unspecified ideas have legitimately been reached through completely independent design processes.What we learned from Bahrain Grand Prix Friday practice Read more
“I’ve seen solutions on a couple of cars, that you think how the hell did two independent teams come up with that?” Szafnauer said when asked by The Race about concerns from some teams that there are alliances on the grid that could circumvent the FIA’s strict rules on collaboration.
“And I don’t know how to solve it. But I think an even playing field within Formula 1 is something that’s important.
“But we have to work with the FIA to solve that. Because like I said, you guys too can have a look out there and think, how do these two teams independently come up with that solution?
“Especially when there’s rule changes. Nobody knows what the solutions are going to be until you see them. So how did you come up with them?
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Szafnauer’s old team Aston Martin has a technical partnership with Mercedes and has used its windtunnel, which is allowed in the regulations as long as no data transfer takes place.
Part of the processes in place to prevent any crossover of information was for Mercedes to use the tunnel during the week and Aston Martin at the weekend, so personnel were not using the facility on the same days.
It has been suggested that some personnel from different teams, when in close proximity, meet to informally discuss design ideas and concepts.
