The 2022 Formula 1 regulations are the first time the rules specifically limit what teams can put on the car regarding the number of aerodynamic devices. In previous regulations, teams were restricted in dimensions, frontal area, or a certain amount of curvature, but they were not defined in the number of devices. For 2022, the FIA defines a specific flow field and wake pattern they want the cars to have, and they want to prevent the teams from developing outside of that. The FIA has tried to do the same thing in the past, and teams have come up with outwash devices and wholly gone around the rules.
Now teams cannot add anything other than what the technical rule book explicitly states. Because of this, the differences between the cars moving forward will be much more subtle. The simplification of the rules will force teams to be more efficient when designing elements and ask more of their engineering choices, rather than just adding as many features as possible to extract performance. CAD rendering of 2022 Formula 1 car. Credit: Michael Masdea

Front wing
The previous generation of Formula 1’s technical regulations allowed the front wing to be designed within areas bounded by boxes with minor limitations within those. Now, the rules specify surfaces that define the planform that the wing must take. Up to four elements are allowed. Historically, Formula 1 teams have always maximised the number of elements on the front wing and minimised the numb...