Red Bull and Mercedes 'will have been caught up' in 2022

Where Formula 1 teams already seem to be fairly evenly matched in 2021, this will get an extra boost with the upcoming rule change next year, predicts Jock Clear, the much experienced Formula 1 expert and Driver coach at the Ferrari academy, where he has Mick Schumacher among others under his wing.

Looking at the current balance of power between the 10 teams present on the grid, Clear argues that a relatively unique situation is already occurring. He explains, as a guest on the Beyond the Grid podcast: "These teams are separated by a tenth. You can look at qualifying [in Hungary] for example, teams are not separated by seconds anymore. Its not like the guys in P20 are five seconds off the pace, people in P20 are 1,4 seconds off the pace and everybody else is in between."

Clear continued: "If you look at where all the teams are, you have to have huge respect for all of them at the moment. They are very, very capable, and that’s a testament to the sport itself, that’s how it should be."

No more top teams

Looking ahead to 2022, Clear thinks this situation will be exacerbated, which could result in as many as five teams asserting themselves in the title fight. "For the difference of one tenth, you can be P5 or P10. but next year it might mean the difference between P1 and P5. I think the two frontrunners will have been caught up and will be in that mix. But it’s going to be desperately close", said Clear.