Horner: 2022 F1 season 'a clean sheet of paper for everyone'

Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner is keen to see which teams nail the 2022 rules given that "it's a clean sheet of paper for everyone".

Originally scheduled to be introduced this year, F1 opted to delay the introduction of major regulation changes until 2022, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

F1's new cars will feature a 'ground effect' aerodynamic concept and simpler front/rear wings, among many other changes. It is hoped that this will allow cars to follow much more closely and in turn promote wheel-to-wheel racing.

Horner stated that it's a "totally different philosophy" to work to and highlighted the importance of interpreting the rules efficiently to get a jump start on rivals.

"Not relying on wings for downforce reduces the 'dirty air' effect, which currently prevents following drivers from getting too close to the car in front," Horner told Luxury London. "Making the cars easier to follow will promote overtaking and is a totally different philosophy to what we have now.

"The governing body is ripping up everything we have done for the past five years and imposing budget caps to help the smaller teams. It's a clean sheet of paper for everyone. Some will get it right and others won't.

"It will be fascinating to see the first tests in Spain before the season starts. Usually somebody finds a different interpretation of the rules and gets a head start – you just hope it's your team."

F1 revealed a concept of the new 2022 cars back at the British Grand Prix, with recent reports stating that Ferrari have deviated from the show car design.