2022 - A Look Ahead [Archive] - Motorsport Forums

Fortitude

25th December 2021, 08:08

Ross Brawn on his way out of F1 in 2022
Editor
23 December, 2021

Ross Brawn, Formula 1 Managing Director of Motorsport, who has been integral in the introduction of the new aero regulations is set to exit the sport in 2022, reports have claimed.

Brawn who’s most recent role in F1, prior to becoming Managing Director of the sport, was team principal at Mercedes. The Briton left the team at the end of 2013 as part of a management re-shuffle with Toto Wolff taking over as team boss and the late Niki Lauda joining as non-executive chairman.

Brawn resurfaced in 2017 as Liberty Media hired him to manage to sporting aspect of F1 after taking over the sport, and has been in that role ever since.

However it has been reported by Autosport that Brawn, the former Ferrari technical director, was set to leave his role within F1 at the end of 2022.

Autosport has referenced the news to “a document issued by F1 as an update on future developments within the organisation”.

The report also mentioned that there are no clear plans whether the former Brawn GP team owner is set to retain any “honorary or consultancy role with the F1 organisation” and whether a successor has been lined up to replace him.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2021/12/23/ross-brawn-on-his-way-out-of-f1-in-2022/

Binotto: Team made significant innovations for 2022 car
Jad Mallak
24 December, 2021

Ferrari finished this Formula 1 season third in the Constructors’ Standings, but looks to make a breakthrough next year, with Mattia Binotto claiming the team made significant innovations with the 2022 car.

The 2020 season was one to forget for Ferrari, as the team endured a winless season on their way to a miserable sixth in the Constructors’ table with a slow car marred by an under-delivering power-unit.

Despite the limitations on car development this year, and the team announcing that their full focus and priority are towards 2022 and the car that is to be built under the new aero regulations, the team was able to recover some performance, introducing a new power unit mid season, and finishing third in the Teams’ Championships having beaten McLaren to it.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2021/12/24/binotto-team-made-significant-innovations-for-2022-car/

Bernie Ecclestone questions Toto Wolff's Mercedes future after Abu Dhabi heartbreak
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has claimed to be "disillusioned" with the finish to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and boycotted the annual FIA prize-gala in Paris this month
By Fraser Watson
Sports Trends Writer
14:03, 24 Dec 2021

Bernie Ecclestone has questioned Toto Wolff's position at Mercedes after Max Verstappen dramatically beat Lewis Hamilton to the F1 drivers' title.

…during a virtual press conference Wolff made his feelings on the matter clear, saying he and Hamilton both felt "disillusioned" by the outcome whilst confirming the pair were boycotting the annual FIA prize-giving gala in Paris.

And now Ecclestone, the former chief executive of F1, has cast doubt on Wolff's future with the British-based team.

"I don't know whether Toto Wolff, with a third of the team shares, is still in the same strong position as before," the 91-year-old told Swiss outlet Blick .

"But we will find out at some point."

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/bernie-ecclestone-toto-wolff-mercedes-25780550

Fortitude

27th December 2021, 09:21

McLaren staff ‘venting’ about 2022 F1 calendar
Date published: December 26 2021 - Jon Wilde

Daniel Ricciardo’s performance coach says some “venting” has occurred at McLaren about the hectic nature of next year’s record 23-race F1 calendar.

In 2022, the second half of the season after the summer break features two more triple-headers which are back-to-back, meaning six races in seven weeks – the first, of Belgium/Netherlands/Italy, looking a comparative doddle to Russia/Singapore/Japan that follows after only one weekend off.

Michael Italiano, who has worked as Ricciardo’s performance coach since the end of the 2017 season, says certain McLaren staff are not exactly relishing what has been laid out for them in 2022.

“There’s been a bit of venting in the garage about next year,” Italiano told Express Sport.

“I think there are three triple-headers and only three races that are on their own – the rest are double-headers.

“We start in February but finish in mid-November, so that’s earlier, but we are still doing one extra race. They have condensed the season.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-staff-venting-2022-calendar/

Ferrari’s 2021 recovery puts team on path to “final objective” – Binotto
2022 F1 season
Posted on
26th December 2021, 11:4526th December 2021, 11:14 | Written by Dieter Rencken and Will Wood

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says the team’s recovery in the 2021 season provides a solid foundation to chase their “final objective” of clinching its first world championship since 2008.

Following a miserable 2020 season in which the team slumped to sixth in the constructors’ championship – Ferrari’s worst finishing position for 40 years – they improved significantly in 2021 to take third place behind Mercedes and Red Bull.

https://www.racefans.net/2021/12/26/ferraris-2021-recovery-puts-team-on-path-to-final-objective-binotto/

Red Bull success no temptation for Honda backtracking
Sam Hall
Thursday 23 December 2021 17:00

Honda F1 managing director Masashi Yamamoto has revealed there were 'never discussions' to reconsider its exit from the sport despite Red Bull's 2021 success.

Honda will leave F1 at the end of the season, bringing to an end a brief seven-year stint that began with McLaren in 2015.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/73803/red-bull-success-no-temptation-for-honda-backtracking/

F1nKS

28th December 2021, 19:32

2021 Top 10 Drivers as picked by the Drivers

1. Max
2. Lewis
3. Lando
4. Sainz
5. Leclerc
6. Alonso
7. Gasly
8. Russell
9. Ocon
10. Schumacher

Fortitude

2nd January 2022, 18:02

Will Rich Energy return to Formula 1 in 2022?
Rich Energy founder William Storey has claimed that the energy drinks brand will return to Formula 1 as a sponsor in 2022.
by James Clifford
2 January 20222 January 2022

Is Rich Energy making a comeback in 2022?

In January 2021, Storey claimed that Rich Energy would be returning to the pinnacle of motorsport, in what he described as “the greatest comeback since Lazarus.”

“F1 incoming. The best energy drink in the world mounting the greatest comeback since Lazarus. Premium British performance,” Storey wrote in a tweet in early January 2021.

“But a friend of ours has agreed a deal for a majority stake in a Formula 1 team, and we will become a partner of that team for 2021. Once that acquisition is announced, we will become the title sponsor for 2022.

“I’m really looking forward to competing with our competitors on-track, I’ll be at the first race, March 28, in Bahrain,” he concluded.

https://formula1news.co.uk/rich-energy-return-formula-1-2022/

Formula 1 Wraps Up Historic 2021 Season

The 2021 Formula 1 season marked the best year yet for the iconic racing series, which has exploded in popularity since Netflix debuted “Drive to Survive” in 2019.

Liberty Media acquired F1 for $4.6 billion in 2017 from private equity firm CVC Capital and has since led the motorsports business to a meteoric rise.

• Across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, F1 averaged 934,000 viewers per race in 2021, a 54% increase year-over-year and its most-watched season yet.

• The 2021 season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on ESPN2 averaged 963,000 viewers, compared to an average of 523,000 viewers for last year’s finale.

• The most-watched race came in October at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, which averaged 1.2 million viewers on ABC.

• In June, the racing series announced a five-year, $100 million global partnership with Crypto.com.

https://frontofficesports.com/formula-1-wraps-up-historic-2021-season/

F1 2021 Abu Dhabi final lap battle, mashup
Dec 29, 2021

It's all in this one lap. Awesome.

Jean Costa
Man, this is a masterpiece. I've seen all those clips individually, but bringing them all together really makes it something so interesting to watch! Good job!

Paul T
Love it or hate it, NO ONE can deny that this was the most exciting last lap of any f1 race and season finale for years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJjiz8yXf0E

Lewis Hamilton vs Max Verstappen: Petition about season finale hits 40,000 signatures
By Neil Leverett
Published: 30 Dec 2021, 12:01

A petition for Lewis Hamilton to be crowned 2021 Formula 1 world champion after the event has now passed 40,000 signatures.

The conclusion of this season's most remarkable of campaigns is now almost three weeks past, but as the final bell tolls on another year, it seems F1 fans are not yet prepared to go quietly into 2022.

https://www.givemesport.com/1810274-lewis-hamilton-vs-max-verstappen-petition-about-season-finale-hits-40000-signatures

Fortitude

3rd January 2022, 11:13

RED BULL IN COURT OVER FALLOWS’ DEPARTURE
02/02/2022
Chelsea Bailey

Red Bull and departing aero chief Dan Fallows have made their first court appearance about the nature of Fallows’ exit from the team.

Dan Fallows was announced as Aston Martin’s new Technical Director for 2022, back in June 2021.

However, Red Bull indicated that they would not be letting him depart without serving an enforced period of notice.

Fallows accepted the offer from Aston Martin, with a desired start date of January 1st, 2022.

According to Red Bull, Fallows’ contract states that he has to serve a six-month notice period, which can only be triggered on December 31st, 2022 at the earliest.

This would mean that he wouldn’t be able to join Aston Martin until July 1st, 2023.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/red-bull-in-court-over-fallows-departure/

Timetable for VW F1 entry revealed by boss
January 2, 2022 · by thejudge13

The Germans Mick Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel are already competing in the pinnacle of motorsport that is F1. In addition, Mercedes is a German team in Formula 1, but another could follow in the form of VW (VAG Group).

And Hamilton’s team could have more competition in the future – this time from Germany. It is possible that VW will join the paddock, with the fact being revealed by Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali in an interview with Germany’s “Sport1” publication.

Revealing the likely timetable for their entry, the former Ferrari boss said:

“I think we have an important month ahead of us regarding the decision of the Volkswagen Group. Getting involved would be great, but I can’t speak on behalf of VW. I was part of this incredible group for a few years and I know how hard they are working on the future,”

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/02/timetable-for-vw-f1-entry-revealed-by-boss/

Bottas reveals mental blow when first asked to support Hamilton
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Monday 3 January 2022 08:00

Valtteri Bottas has revealed the mental blow he suffered in being asked to play a supporting role to Lewis Hamilton for the first time at Mercedes.

After five years with the F1 constructors' champions, the Finn has now left the Silver Arrows to link up with Alfa Romeo where his new task is to spearhead a charge up the grid for the ninth-best team from 2021 alongside Chinese rookie Guanyu Zhou.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74107/bottas-reveals-mental-blow-when-first-asked-to-support-hamilton/

Incredulous Hamilton ignores president, Verstappen zero sympathy
January 2, 2022 · by thejudge13

The new FIA president has no response from Lewis Hamilton despite several attempts to personally contact him. In what can only be described as an incredulous act of non-acceptance, Lewis Hamilton remains in hiding, rudely ignoring communication attempts from all.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the new president of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), told journalists at the Dakar that he had tried to contact Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time F1 world champion did not respond to his requests.

Jean Todt’s successor demands to hear the Mercedes driver’s explanation for his absence from the FIA’s end of year gala, which he was obliged to attend as runner-up in the world championship.

“I think he is not 100 per cent ready to respond at the moment.” says the new president, but concedes graciously that he “I understand his position,” he said.

Hamilton and his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff have reached new heights of self-importance, thinking that their pain is above the sport. To be clear, they both believe the British driver was unfairly stripped of the world title after the Abu Dhabi GP on December 12th. Both decided not to travel to Paris two days later to show their displeasure to the world.

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/02/incredulous-hamilton-ignores-president-verstappen-zero-sympathy/

New FIA President confident Hamilton will return in 2022
03/01/2021
Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he trusts that Lewis Hamilton will return to his Mercedes cockpit for the 2022 F1 season.
Author Thomas Maher

Newly elected FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem says he's sure that Lewis Hamilton will return to race in Formula 1 in 2022, despite the seven-time World Champion's radio silence since title defeat on the final lap of the final race of the 2021 Championship.

Rumours have swirled since that race weekend that Hamilton may choose not to return in 2022, rumours that Hamilton himself has not sought to dispel.

While there have been indications from Mercedes that their star driver will pick up the baton again in 2022 at the start of the new regulation cycle, the possibility remains that he may choose to walk away.

https://racingnews365.com/new-fia-president-confident-hamilton-will-return-in-2022

Binotto says 2022 Ferrari ‘Superfast’ PU has a lot of innovation
Paul Velasco
2 January, 2022

2020 was a toil for F1’s most successful team fallen on hard times. They finished sixth in the constructors’ championship that year.

But 2021 was better, and in fact, got better and better with every race, so much so Leclerc and Carlos Sainz managed to secure third in the 2021 F1 constructors’ title race, overcoming a similarly resurgent McLaren team.

Their great rivals are also on the up, both grand teams eager to again challenge for F1 world championships at the highest level.

Thus this past season Ferrari focussed all energy on developing the PU since the start of the season, with an eye on 2022. Chassis and aero, the last of this rules generation were mostly ignored to allow maximum focus on developing the ‘Superfast’ engine package.

Speaking to Motorsport-Magazin, Binotto explained the change of the backroom strategy: “Originally it was our intention to use this power unit, which we are developing for 2022, in the last races of the season, for example in the last three races.

But after the summer break, much earlier than expected, Ferrari began work on the new engine bolted to the SF21 and, according to Binotto, this was an important factor: “I think we’ve made a big step in PU.

“Because if you compare it to the past, in 2020 the Power Unit was our big weakness and we were a long way behind. If you look at where we are today, then the developments are obvious.”

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/02/binotto-2022-ferrari-superfast-formula-1-engine-has-a-lot-of-innovation/

Fortitude

4th January 2022, 19:37

Button: A shame McLaren didn't 'hang on' with Honda
Phillip van Osten
04/01/2022 at 15:09

Jenson Button believes its "a shame" that his former team McLaren didn't continue its partnership with Honda given the success enjoyed by the Japanese manufacturer with Red Bull in the past few seasons.

"And I think it's a shame that McLaren didn't hang on with them. It was very easy for them to point the finger when they weren't competitive and they pointed to the most unreliable part, which was the engine.

https://f1i.com/news/429844-button-a-shame-mclaren-didnt-hang-on-with-honda.html

Ex-F1 driver believes Alonso 'too impatient' with Honda
4th January 2022, ‎08‎:‎02

Anthony Davidson says Fernando Alonso must wonder what might have been, as Honda climbed to World Championship level after he walked away from a Honda-powered car.

Anthony Davidson reckons that Fernando Alonso proved a little too impatient about waiting for Honda progress, with the Spaniard infamously branding the manufacturer's power unit a "GP2 engine" as he drove for McLaren-Honda between 2015 and 2017.

With Honda and McLaren splitting as a result of their increasingly sour relationship, Honda partnered up with Red Bull's junior team in 2018 and joined the senior outfit in 2019. Race wins followed almost immediately and, in 2021, Max Verstappen won the title powered by Honda.

https://racingnews365.com/ex-f1-driver-believes-alonso-too-impatient-with-honda

2022 Could Williams turn things around?
By Andrew Hooper
January 1 2022

As we prepare for the start of the 2022 Formula One season time to look back at 2021. For me at the start of the year I had one simple question could the Williams Racing Team turn things around? With all the changes with new owners and new management could the team make any sort of progress in 2021. Thankfully we got to the end of the season and the answer was a positive yes. 2021 had been a far more encouraging season for the team ultlimately finishing eighth in the Constructors Championship. To come away from 2021 with a belief that the team could make progress was such a change from previous years. Now bring on 2022.

https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st202741.htm

Frank Williams' fighting spirit
December 22nd 2021
Author: Nigel Roebuck

Sir Frank Williams, who died in November aged 79, was a chief protagonist in the Formula 1 story, building a racing team alongside engineer Patrick Head that would take nine constructors’ and seven drivers’ titles. As Nigel Roebuck recounts, Frank’s was a turbocharged career, soured by tragedy, yet he never lost sight of the goal – the need to win

Back in the day, when life was in Technicolor and major companies were queueing to sponsor Formula 1 teams, Jackie Stewart used every January to organise a charity clay pigeon shooting event at Gleneagles. Most of the teams participated, and their backers gave handsomely to the cause. These occasions were savoured, not least because everyone involved – drivers and team owners included – was for once off duty, having fun.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2022/102/frank-williams-fighting-spirit

Fortitude

5th January 2022, 10:21

An update on the future of Lewis Hamilton
January 5, 2022 by thejudge13

This defeat was visibly hard to swallow for Hamilton who has since disappeared from the radar screen. The Mercedes F1 driver deleted his Instagram followers, hasn’t responded to media, didn’t show up to the FIA end of season gala, and even ignored the new FIA president’s attempts to communicate.

Some say that the seven-time world champion could stop Formula 1 and retire, he who is however under contract until 2023 with Mercedes AMG F1.
“Very little credibility”.

For the time being, it is still unclear whether Lewis Hamilton will be at the start of the first Grand Prix of the 2022 season in his Mercedes.
A journalist for Auto Hebdo, Julien Billiotte told Ouest France about the future of the British driver. Would Hamilton stop racing now?

“It’s not very credible. He is not going to crash Mercedes a month and a half before the winter tests at the end of February.

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/05/an-update-on-the-future-of-lewis-hamilton/

Bookie claims Masi ‘went rogue’, pays out on Hamilton and Verstappen bets
Sir Lewis Hamilton was denied his eighth F1 world championship in controversial circumstances at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
by Rob Kershaw
5 January 20225 January 2022

Paddy Power, an Ireland-headquartered bookmaker, have decided to pay out on bets placed on Sir Lewis Hamilton winning the championship following the extremely controversial end to the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

https://formula1news.co.uk/hamilton-verstappen-bets-masi-rigged-decision/

Lewis Hamilton warned of 'demanding' George Russell as thrilling partnership looms
LEWIS HAMILTON warned exactly what to expect from new team-mate George Russell
By CLAIRE COTTINGHAM
10:00, Wed, Jan 5, 2022 | UPDATED: 10:00, Wed, Jan 5, 2022

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1545079/Lewis-Hamilton-warned-demanding-George-Russell-thrilling-partnership-looms

Mercedes targetting new sponsors as long-term partner leaves
5th January 2022, ‎10‎:‎58
Mercedes will be without one of their long-term sponsors in 2022, but are confident of finding new deals for the new season.
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Thomas Maher

Mercedes' sponsorship portfolio could look somewhat different in 2022, as one of their long-term deals has come to an end.

Epson, a Japanese electronics and printer company, will not continue their sponsorship of Mercedes into 2022, calling time on their deal after seven seasons together.

Bose, another long-term partner, are yet to be confirmed as a sponsor and no longer appear on the Mercedes list of partners on their website.

However, RacingNews365.com understands that conversations between the audio equipment brand and Mercedes are ongoing, while the team benefitted from various sponsorship uplifts throughout 2021 that outweigh any departures.

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-targetting-new-sponsors-as-long-term-partner-leaves

Fortitude

6th January 2022, 09:19

Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton might actually be quitting
by Joe Capraro 6th Jan 2022

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton may actually be ready to retire after a crushing end to his 2021 season.

There have been stern rumblings from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff that Lewis Hamilton was outraged enough by the FIA’s decision making during his season-ending loss to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to walk away from the sport for good.

This isn’t the first time that Hamilton has supposedly been on the verge of quitting Formula 1.

It’s also not the pettiest reason for him being in this position; that dubious honor goes to his 2016 tantrum after a racing incident with teammate and eventual champion Nico Rosberg.

For their part, Mercedes seems confident, or at least hopeful, that Hamilton will return, tweeting a picture of their legendary driver with the caption: “Adversity causes some to break; others to break records.”

https://beyondtheflag.com/2022/01/05/formula-1-lewis-hamilton-quitting-2022/

Lewis Hamilton admitted move to Ferrari is 'a goal to be achieved'
LEWIS HAMILTON admitted driving for Ferrari is a "dream for anyone" and a "goal to be achieved" before his future at Mercedes was plunged into doubt.
By CHARLIE BRADLEY
15:21, Wed, Jan 5, 2022 | UPDATED: 17:12, Wed, Jan 5, 2022

Hamilton has been an integral figure for Mercedes during their dominant last seven years, but it seems Hamilton has also dreamed of driving for Ferrari.

In September, the seven-time champion admitted driving for Ferrari is a "dream for anyone" and a "goal to be achieved".

He told Sky Sports Italia: “For many years, when I came to Monza, walking next to the fans... I could hear them saying 'Come to Ferrari!'

“This warmed my heart, but it's pretty amazing that I've never driven for Ferrari in so many years. Because it is a dream for anyone, a goal to be achieved.”

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1545255/lewis-hamilton-news-move-ferrari-mercedes-formula-1-f1-retirement-spt

Formula 1: Aston Martin announce exit of team principal Otmar Szafnauer
His departure had been mooted during the Brazilian Grand Prix in November but he had denied at the time he had plans to step down.
Agence France-Presse January 05, 2022 20:04:17 IST

London: Otmar Szafnauer has stepped down as team principal of Aston Martin, the Silverstone-based Formula One team announced on Wednesday.

His departure had been mooted during the Brazilian Grand Prix in November but he had denied at the time he had plans to step down.

The 57-year-old American joined the team back in 2009 when it was Force India and was instrumental in navigating it through the financial struggles it faced in 2018 prior to its takeover by Lawrence Stroll.

The team was rebranded as Racing Point for the 2019 season and Aston Martin in 2021.

"We would like to thank him (Szafnauer) for the service provided to the team over the past 12 years and wish him well for the future as he will undoubtedly take on new challenges," said Aston Martin in a statement.

https://www.firstpost.com/sports/formula-1-aston-martin-announce-exit-of-team-principal-otmar-szafnauer-10261291.html

Ex-F1 driver reckons Liberty Media happy with Abu Dhabi GP controversy
The ex-racer also warned Formula 1 against becoming more of a sports entertainment promotion than a legitimate sport.
by Rob Kershaw
5 January 20225 January 2022

“I’m sure the folks at Liberty are not complaining as this has lifted F1 to a whole new level in terms of people following.

“But, if this is the direction it will continue, where the entertainment comes before the sport, I think we’re getting into a very dangerous territory, I would hate to see F1 turning into the Motorsports version of the WWF [now known as WWE], where it’s just a show and the sport is secondary to the entertainment.”

https://formula1news.co.uk/ex-f1-driver-liberty-media-happy-abu-dhabi-gp-controversy/

Exclusive: McLaren tech boss on why the 2022 regulations are such a tough challenge
05/01/2022, ‎07‎:‎30
McLaren Technical Director James Key has explained to RacingNews365.com why the 2022 regulations are the most challenging he's ever seen.
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

The 2022 technical regulations represent the most sweeping changes to the rulebook seen from one season to the next since 2009.

Almost every single element of the cars will change for 2022, with the only significant carryover being the same 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid engine formula.

In years gone by, the better-resourced teams could simply throw money, and personnel, at their designs. It caused disparity up and down the grid, favouring the teams which could simply spend their way out of trouble. To combat this, F1 introduced a budget cap in 2021 which limited the spending power of the teams to $145 million dollars.

This cap will shrink in 2022, down to $140 million dollars.

https://racingnews365.com/exclusive-mclaren-technical-boss-on-why-the-2022-regulations-are-such-a-tough-challenge

Fortitude

6th January 2022, 17:18

Red Bull on new engine: Performance not what it was in 2021
06/01/2022, ‎12‎:‎58

According to reports in German media, the 2022 Honda power unit is yet to match the performance of the 2021 iteration.
Author RacingNews365 Staff

Red Bull's new 2022 power unit, produced and manufactured by Honda, is yet to match the power output of the 2021 version, according to reports in German media.

For 2022, F1 switches to a new 'E10' fuel which will see an increase of the ethanol content to 10 percent, with 90 percent fossil fuel sources. This increase is causing a big headache for the engine manufacturers as they attempt to make up for the dip in horsepower that this is causing compared to the older E5 fuel.

Power outputs are estimated to drop by around 20 horsepower, although Ferrari and Alpine have both reportedly already compensated for the power loss.

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-on-new-2022-engine-performance-not-what-it-was-in-2021

Honda still ‘working massively’ on RB18 performance
Date published: January 6 2022 - Mark Scott

Honda may no longer be an official part of Formula 1, but they are still helping Red Bull with their RB18 performance – according to Dr Helmut Marko.

The Japanese engine manufacturer headed off into the sunset at the end of the 2021 season having helped power Max Verstappen to World Championship glory in his RB16B.

But Honda have handed over their Intellectual Property to Red Bull and will provide support to their new Powertrains department for the 2022 season and beyond.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/honda-still-working-massively-on-rb18-performance/

‘Significant innovations’ for Ferrari’s 2022 F1 car and engine concepts
F1
Lewis Larkam
6 Jan 2022

Ferrari has made significant changes to its car and engine concepts for the 2022 Formula 1 season, with its new design featuring “a lot of innovation”.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/995125/1/significant-innovations-ferrari-s-2022-f1-car-and-engine-concepts

Binotto: Ferrari aims to 'keep on growing', but targets wins in 2022
Michael Delaney
06/01/2022 at 10:52

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says F1's new regulations are "a clear opportunity" for the Scuderia, and one that should allow the Italian outfit to win races in 2022.

Ferrari has spared no effort to improve its performance this season, putting the full weight of its engineering and human resources into its 2022 contender.

From the development of a new V6 power unit to the design of an all-new innovative car that was approached with "an open mind" according to Binotto, the Scuderia has left no stone unturned in its bid to join the battle at the top of the grid.

https://f1i.com/news/429915-binotto-ferrari-aims-to-keep-on-growing-but-targets-wins-in-2022.html

Alpine experiencing ‘encouraging’ signs for 2022
Date published: January 5 2022 - Henry Valantine

Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski says he’s seeing “encouraging” signs at the team ahead of 2022, but admits it’s not yet possible to know where they stack up against others on the grid.

Budkowski praised the progress his team have made throughout 2021, and he added that it bodes well for how the team will be able to operate moving forward.

A win and a podium were highlights in an otherwise inconsistent season for Alpine, but the executive director said the way the team is working is positive for their future

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine-encouraging-signs-2022-car/

The real story: Aston Martin boss joins rivals
January 6, 2022 · by thejudge13 ·

The Aston Martin Formula 1 team confirmed on Wednesday that its chief operating officer, American Otmar Szafnauer, is leaving its F1 team. No replacement has yet been named but it appears Szafnauer will be joining the French Alpine squad as the real story unfolds.

For several months, the rumour of Szafnauer’s departure from the Aston Martin team has been touted by fellow journalists of AutoHebdo, a rumour quickly denied by the principal concerned himself. But on Wednesday, the British carmaker’s team confirmed that Szafnauer has left the company and his role in the Aston Martin team.

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/06/the-real-story-aston-martin-boss-joins-rivals/

Fortitude

7th January 2022, 10:29

5 bold predictions for the 2022 season – but how many will come true?
Senior writer
Lawrence Barretto
06 January 2022

1. Four world champions will finish inside the top six in the drivers’ standings

2. Every team will score a podium

3. George Russell will fight for the title and finish in the top three

4. Carlos Sainz will win his first Grand Prix

5. Yuki Tsunoda will score more than one podium

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.5-bold-predictions-for-the-2022-season-but-how-many-will-come-true.1K5BFzs3QmCpS93T05ymRU.html

2022 F1 GRID – All the drivers and teams racing this season
05 January 2022

A brand-new set of rules mean brand-new cars for 20 drivers on the F1 grid, with changes at Alfa Romeo and Mercedes plus one rookie. Here is how the 2022 F1 grid will line up.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2022-f1-grid-all-the-drivers-and-teams-racing-this-season.3L1E0DrPLfzmN9GNMZcE5m.html

10 things every Formula 1 fan should be excited for in 2022
Staff writer
Samarth Kanal
01 January 2022

1. Brand new cars.

2. Verstappen defending, Hamilton hunting.

3. A bumper 23-race F1 campaign.

4. Ferrari and McLaren stepping up to the plate.

5. Two rising titans aim to hit the front.

6. Williams continue their journey as Albon returns.

7. Zhou makes his debut.

8. Haas and Alfa's clean slate.

9. F2 and F3’s biggest season yet.

10. Welcome to Miami.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.10-things-every-formula-1-fan-should-be-excited-for-in-2022.7a4ZZGEqx829vn5JLKSHd0.html

Feature
HAMILTON VS VERSTAPPEN: Why their rivalry has the potential to be the greatest in F1 history
Special contributor
Edd Straw
29 December 2021

Sports comprise networks of rivalries. F1 is no exception, with the ever-shifting sands of battles between drivers and teams creating new and engaging storylines every season. But sometimes, a rivalry forms that towers above the rest, defining not just F1 in that era, but becoming a defining battle in sport as a whole.

That’s what the Max Verstappen versus Lewis Hamilton World Championship fight was in 2021. So intense, thrilling, controversial and dramatic was this battle that it can legitimately be considered as potentially one of the great rivalries, up there with Alain Prost vs Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher vs Mika Hakkinen, James Hunt vs Niki Lauda and the other legendary duels that define F1.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.hamilton-vs-verstappen-why-their-rivalry-has-the-potential-to-be-the.71aeZ3mOLHeW4BbHGGKY2H.html

Fortitude

7th January 2022, 17:14

BOLD F1 PREDICTIONS FOR 2022: HAMILTON'S LAST STAND PAVES WAY FOR RISE OF RUSSELL
Jonathan Brazeau
@JonathanBrazeau
December 31, 2021, ‎10‎:‎19‎ ‎AM

Hamilton will win his record eighth world championship ... and then contemplate his future

Hamilton is going to come back with a vengeance after having the world championship snatched from his grasp in the season finale.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/auto-racing/article/bold-f1-predictions-2022-hamiltons-last-stand-paves-way-rise-russell/

22 predictions for motorsport in 2022: Part 1
By Connor O'Brien
Saturday 1st January, 2022 - 1:32pm

1) Leclerc wins the Formula 1 drivers’ world championship

4) Alonso drives on into 2023*

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/01/01/22-predictions-for-motorsport-in-2022-part-1/

22 predictions for motorsport in 2022: Part 2
By Connor O'Brien
Sunday 2nd January, 2022 - 2:30pm

13) Ricciardo outscores Norris

17) Gasly on the move

20) Schumacher scores points, more than once

https://www.speedcafe.com/2022/01/02/22-predictions-for-motorsport-in-2022-part-2/

F1 2022 predictions: Ferrari’s rebirth, young Brits in the title fight and Verstappen vs Hamilton II
Here’s a taste of what we can look forward to when the next Formula One season gets underway in Bahrain
By Kevin Garside
Chief Sports Correspondent
December 16, 2021 4:02 pm(Updated 4:04 pm)

Here’s a taste of what we can look forward to:
Verstappen vs Hamilton II

Ferrari’s rebirth

Russell could be Hamilton’s biggest challenger

Expect Norris to be in the title fight (if McLaren get pre-season right)

Rule changes could level competition

https://inews.co.uk/sport/formula-one/f1-2022-predictions-ferrari-title-fight-verstappen-vs-hamilton-1351759?ITO=newsnow

F1 takes the US and Canada take Qatar: our bold sports predictions for 2022
Melissa Jacobs, Bryan Armen Graham, Andrew Lawrence, Tumaini Carayol, Oliver Connolly, Beau Dure and Hunter Felt
Sat 1 Jan 2022 10.00 GMT

On the heels of a sports year that was chock full of surprises, Guardian US contributors make their bold predictions for the months to come

Formula 1 will overtake Nascar and IndyCar’s US audience

It took a few decades, but F1 finally figured out the most direct path into an American TV viewer’s heart is through soapy drama. The messier, the better.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jan/01/f1-takes-the-us-and-canada-take-qatar-our-bold-sports-predictions-for-2022

Bagwan

7th January 2022, 17:41

Hey Fortitude , do you ever make a comment yourself , in your own words ?

I don't want to offend , but it would be nice to hear your opinion , rather than a group of articles from elsewhere .

What did you think of the season ?

Fortitude

8th January 2022, 09:55

Wolff explains why he ‘absolutely’ thinks Ferrari will be a threat in 2022
Ferrari improved to third in the Constructors' Standings in 2021, and Toto Wolff believes the Scuderia will be competitive in 2022.
by Rob Kershaw
4 January 2022

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is confident that Ferrari will cause disruption at the pointy end of the F1 grid in 2022, placing them among the teams that will be strong next year.

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-explains-ferrari-threat-2022/

Ferrari: ‘very naive’ to assume catching Mercedes and Red Bull will be easy
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
04/01/2022

Ferrari says it would be “very naive” to expect it can easily close the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes under Formula 1’s new technical regulations this year.

Mercedes and Red Bull’s season-long title fight meant neither team could afford to shift focus to their 2022 challengers, giving its rivals renewed hope it can challenge the pair for both championships this year.

But Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies doesn’t expect Mercedes and Red Bull to be left playing catch up this year, despite both teams developing their 2021 cars until late in the season amid their title battle.

https://readmotorsport.com/2022/01/04/ferrari-very-naive-to-assume-catching-mercedes-and-red-bull-will-be-easy/

Brad Pitt to star in $140-million Formula 1 movie
Editor
6 January, 2022

Hollywood appears to have been swooped up in Formula 1 mania in the wake of an epic 2021 season with Brad Pitt now reportedly set to make a big-budget Apple-backed movie with the sport as the theme.

The storyline is reportedly about an F1 veteran (Pitt) coming out of retirement to mentor a young upstart while trying to win a final World Championship.

Deadline reports that the budget for the project was in the $130-million to $140-million range “before above-the-line compensation” and adds that the big appeal is the star power of Pitt.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/06/brad-pitt-to-star-in-140-million-formula-1-movie/

Alonso: Alpine set ‘benchmark’ in off-track operations
Date published: January 7 2022 - Henry Valantine

Fernando Alonso believes Alpine are “almost a benchmark team” when it comes to how they execute their plans at race weekends.

The team finished mid-table in the Constructors’ Championship, with Esteban Ocon’s win in Hungary alongside Alonso’s podium from Qatar being the high points of their season overall.

While their on-track performance didn’t match up to their rivals overall, Alonso acknowledged the need to put themselves in contention for victories in 2022 – having shifted their focus onto their new car early in the season.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernando-alonso-alpine-benchmark-team/

Alpine experiencing ‘encouraging’ signs for 2022
Date published: January 5 2022 - Henry Valantine

Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski says he’s seeing “encouraging” signs at the team ahead of 2022, but admits it’s not yet possible to know where they stack up against others on the grid.

They pinpointed the need for their 2022 power unit to improve if they are to make a “big leap” in their performance. Away from the track, Budkowski credits behind-the-scenes changes in recent seasons beginning to “bear its fruits” for the team’s upturn, and hopes it will be able to continue.

“It has changed an awful lot in the last few years and that change is starting to bear its fruits. It certainly does at the track, and it certainly does at the factory, even though it is not visible yet because our focus for more than two years has been next year’s car.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine-encouraging-signs-2022-car/

Bagwan

8th January 2022, 15:49

So , you liked my post , asking you what you thought of the season , but you return it with more links .

I (and others , obviously ) am getting a touch tired of scrolling through your posts to get to a point , any point , made by yourself on the content of your posted articles .
I wander through a compiler of F1 sites before I come here , so I've seen much of what you post before I arrive , so I hope you can imagine how tedious it is to see it all again when I'm looking for debate or discussion about the current topic(s) .

Maybe it's handy for some , but I suspect many of the rest of us also roam the web to be informed before we arrive , so , not so helpful for the majority .

I will ask again .
What did you think of the season ?

Please answer without any links .

Fortitude

8th January 2022, 16:08

Audi and Porsche set to enter F1 as engine suppliers, McLaren to be sold
Porsche and Audi are said to have agreed a deal to power McLaren and Red Bull with brand-new powertrains from 2026.
by Rob Kershaw
8 January 2022

Audi and Porsche are set to enter Formula 1 as engine suppliers in 2026, according to Car Magazine.

Rumours circulated earlier in the season that Audi had agreed a deal to buy the McLaren Group, but these were quickly dismissed by the Woking-based outfit.

Car Magazine suggest that Lambourghini, Porsche and Audi will all benefit from the deal.

It has been reported that Porsche, meanwhile, are in talks with Red Bull about supplying them with powertrains in a few years’ time.

https://formula1news.co.uk/audi-and-porsche-set-to-enter-f1-as-engine-suppliers-mclaren-to-be-sold/

McLaren confident there’s “more to come” from Ricciardo in 2022
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on
7th January 2022, 0:017th January 2022, 10:29 | Written by Will Wood

In the round-up: McLaren’s Andrea Stella expects to see more from Daniel Ricciardo in his second season with the team in 2022
McLaren racing director Andrea Stella says he anticipates that Daniel Ricciardo will find more performance than he was able to show through the 2021 season.

https://www.racefans.net/2022/01/07/racefans-round-up-07-01-4/

How Vettel helped Aston Martin fix "little quirks" in 2021
Ian Parkes & Sam Hall
Thursday 6 January 2022 17:10

Former Aston Martin team principal Otmar Szafnauer has paid tribute to the confidence brought to the team by Sebastian Vettel that helped fix the "little quirks" of the AMR21.

Aston Martin struggled in 2021 and dropped down the order after a number of aerodynamic changes were made ahead of the season that affected the low-rake cars, including Mercedes and Aston Martin, more than high-rake cars.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74224/how-vettel-helped-aston-martin-fix-little-quirks-in-2021/

Vettel finds his mojo as Stroll means business - What we learned from Aston Martin in 2021
Ewan Gale
Friday 7 January 2022 11:15

The biggest plus for Aston Martin is the title-winning experience Vettel has brought to the team, with his knowledge an asset that could help to team build towards becoming a front-running outfit.

The construction of the team's new Silverstone facility finally began last year, with the new state of the art buildings suggested to be the most advanced F1 has seen.

That money, combined with the signing of Vettel for last year and the consistent hiring of new personnel, such as Dan Fallows from Red Bull and instigating the F1 return of former McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh, prove owner Lawrence Stroll is not associated purely as a hobby.

No, this team is aiming for the very top of F1 has set a target of the middle of the current decade to compete. What 2021 provided was a foundation, the beginning of the journey.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74278/vettel-finds-his-mojo-as-stroll-means-business-what-we-learned-from-aston-martin-in-2021/

Fortitude

8th January 2022, 17:12

Haas see little chance of 'doing a Brawn' but have high expectations for 2022
Ben Issatt

05 January 2022

Haas have high expectations for 2022 but believe repeating Brawn GP's 2009 fairytale is highly unlikely.

The American outfit spent the entirety of last season at the back of the grid after opting to focus all resources solely on the new regulations for this year.

That decision is reminiscent of 2008 when Honda put all their attention into the new 2009 design, and created the innovative double diffuser, which would go on to win both championships after Ross Brawn had bought the team when the Japanese manufacturer pulled out.

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15137-haas-see-little-chance-of-doing-a-brawn-but-have-high-expectations-for-2022

Haas crew "never gave up" despite struggles of 2021 F1 season - Steiner
F1 Connor McDonagh
5 Jan 2022

Guenther Steiner says he was “quite impressed” by how his Haas Formula 1 team "never gave up" despite its struggles throughout the 2021 season.
Haas was the only F1 team that failed to score points across the 22 races in 2021.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/995096/1/haas-crew-never-gave-despite-struggles-2021-f1-season-steiner

Williams get $35.7mn financial boost after legal battle
Williams ended their partnership with ROKiT ahead of the 2020 season despite previously agreeing an extension until the end of 2023.
by Rob Kershaw
7 January 2022

Williams have won a legal battle with their former title sponsor after it was found the team was not paid the money they were contractually owed.

ROKiT, a telecommunications company, became the Williams team’s title sponsor at the beginning of the 2019 season, with the British outfit in dire straits financially.

It was then found that an employee at ROKiT had sent Williams a document indicating a payment of $24.4 million, making it enforceable.

https://formula1news.co.uk/williams-financial-boost-legal-battle/

Russell details Button's positive influence at Williams
‎05‎ ‎January‎ ‎15‎:‎10
Author Anna Francis
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Jenson Button became a senior advisor to the Williams team at the beginning of 2021, and George Russell has explained how the former F1 driver contributed to the Grove-based outfit over the course of the season.

In terms of Button's Williams role, Russell has revealed how the 2009 World Champion had a visible presence within the team during the year, and admits that this was a valuable asset to have.

Williams saw an improvement in their fortunes in 2021. The British outfit finished eighth in the Constructors' Championship with 23 points, a significant step forward from having scored no points in 2020.

https://racingnews365.com/russell-details-buttons-positive-influence-at-williams

airshifter

9th January 2022, 06:19

Fortitude

9th January 2022, 09:48

Red Bull are Anderson’s pick to master 2022 regs
Date published: January 8 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Formula 1 designer and pundit Gary Anderson believes that if one team ‘aces’ the new 2022 regulations, it will be Red Bull.

The series is undergoing one of the biggest regulatory shifts yet with the 2022 cars, which will see a switch to a completely different aerodynamic concept, with the FIA then tightening up design freedoms to protect their aims of bunching up the pack, allowing closer racing and increasing the number of overtakes.

“If I were to put money on who would find the best solution to a new set of chassis and aerodynamic regulations, it would be Red Bull,” he wrote in a piece for The Race.

“There’s a good reason why it’s often said Adrian Newey (Red Bull chief technical officer) can ‘see’ airflow. Even though I don’t agree with that statement, it’s certainly true he has an inspirational vision and commitment to concept.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/gary-anderson-backs-red-bull-2022-regs/

Hill reveals what most surprised him about Verstappen during first interview
Damon Hill admits being taken aback by Max Verstappen when he first interviewed the Dutchman after he was given his debut opportunity in F1 at the age of 17.
Author: Anna Francis
09/01/2022, ‎08‎:‎40

Reflecting on his first experience of interviewing Verstappen with fellow Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham, Hill says he taken aback by how mature the then-teenage driver was.

"We interviewed him, and I just couldn't believe I was talking to this 17-year-old who absolutely had an answer for everything, and [he was] so just completely confident that his view was correct.

"He had confidence in his own views, and he had answers. Unbelievable."

https://racingnews365.com/hill-reveals-what-most-surprised-him-about-verstappen-during-first-interview

How Ferrari will 'dictate' driver seniority in new season
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Saturday 8 January 2022 13:20

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has confirmed Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be treated as equals this year but insisted the team's policy could change depending on championship position.

Despite his new surroundings, however, Sainz was able to beat Leclerc and both McLaren drivers to secure the 'best of the rest' spot of fifth in the standings.

With Ferrari hopeful of a championship charge during the upcoming season in which F1 rule changes are likely to shake up the order, Binotto was asked, in a media briefing including GPFans, whether clear outlines of number one and two drivers had been discussed.

"In terms of drivers, as we often say, that it is on the track that we dictated it," insisted Binotto.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74271/how-ferrari-will-dictate-driver-seniority-in-new-season/

Ferrari "cannot be confident" of title charge despite 2022 focus
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Friday 7 January 2022 12:30

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has conceded he "cannot be confident" of a title charge this year despite a priority being put on the 2022 car last season.

"First, I cannot be confident," replied Binotto.

"The reason why it seems [like] that [is] if I look at the gap [to Mercedes and Red Bull], it's still significant, showing that those teams are very strong.

"The fact we have put a lot of effort on the 2022 [car], putting the priority [on it] was for us a necessity because we knew that if we would not have done that, it would have been difficult for us to have a good car or a competitive car in 2022. So for us, it was more a necessity.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74270/ferrari-cannot-be-confident-of-title-charge-despite-2022-focus/

F1nKS

10th January 2022, 03:54

Definitely changes coming. Aston Martin shakeup. Fuel change (more ethanol) and Red Bull is reporting it has impacted their engine performance.

Hamilton in a full social media blackout.

Gasly goes public with his annoyance with Red Bull.

Fortitude

10th January 2022, 09:51

2022 F1 Predictions
written by Rahul Saha January 6, 2022

History suggests one or two teams would unearth some groundbreaking innovation and blow away their competitors like Brawn GP in 2009 or Mercedes in 2014, while the rest would play catch-up throughout the year. Experts and the community, in general, feel it will again be a “Mercedes v Red Bull” two-horse race for the World Constructors’ Championship, while there is renewed optimism around Ferrari to deliver their first title since 2008.

Teams like Alpine and Aston Martin could spring a surprise and be front-runners come Bahrain, while the silence around Haas and Williams make them one to watch when the cars hit the track on February 23.

Alfa Romeo will be the biggest gainers

Alpine will be in the mix for regular podiums

Ferrari will challenge for both WDC and WCC

Lewis will show Russell his place

Aston Martin will be 2022’s dark horses

https://sportskhabri.com/2022-f1-predictions/

F1 2022 predictions: Ferrari’s rebirth, young Brits in the title fight and Verstappen vs Hamilton II
Here’s a taste of what we can look forward to when the next Formula One season gets underway in Bahrain
By Kevin Garside
Chief Sports Correspondent
December 16, 2021 4:02 pm(Updated 4:04 pm)

Verstappen vs Hamilton II

Ferrari’s rebirth

Russell could be Hamilton’s biggest challenger

Expect Norris to be in the title fight (if McLaren get pre-season right)

Rule changes could level competition

https://inews.co.uk/sport/formula-one/f1-2022-predictions-ferrari-title-fight-verstappen-vs-hamilton-1351759

Analysis: Which teams could gain the most from F1’s 2022 rules revolution
RacingLines
Posted on
10th November 2021, 12:0011th November 2021, 9:12 | Written by Dieter Rencken

Virtually every discussion about the 2022 Formula 1 season with team personnel – whatever status they occupy within their organisations – ends with optimistic noises about the opportunity presented by the coming overhaul of the technical rules.

Yet overlooked in all this bullishness is the inescapable fact that for every team that progresses, another most go backwards.

Mercedes
The team has amongst the best facilities and resources and enjoys the momentum of a seven-year hegemony. Only a brave gambler would bet on a sub-top-three placing

Red Bull Racing
With a technical director (Adrian Newey) who is an ace aerodynamicist… …and the most committed driver on the current grid (Max Verstappen)… …Red Bull could again be in the mix for top honours.

Ferrari
Having Rory Byrne, who designed Ferrari’s record-setting 1998-2007 cars, aboard as consultant is Ferrari’s ace card. …there are no doubts that Ferrari is on the way up.

Alpine
On the plus side it has the vastly experienced Pat Fry as technical director, while Fernando Alonso’s dogged determination, supported by the zest of Esteban Ocon, occasionally takes the team to places it has no right to be.

AlphaTauri
Will the team move up from 6th next year? That will prove a major challenge…

Aston Martin
Strengths are Sebastian Vettel’s development ability, intensive recruitment of senior technical personnel… …and the sourcing of complete Mercedes back-ends, which has basically proven bullet-proof.

Williams
Capital expenditure investments made by new owners Dorilton have given the team a new lease of life… Williams should move up… The questions are: how far, and who will slide down?

Alfa Romeo
Signing Valtteri Bottas, who has run Hamilton close on occasion, is a coup which should pay dividends on the race and development sides… …the team is confident of moving up.

Haas
Team boss Guenther Steiner told RaceFans in Mexico, “we can’t go further back,”…

MORE DETAIL HERE;

https://www.racefans.net/2021/11/10/will-f1s-2022-rules-revolution-put-a-different-team-at-the-front-of-the-field/

Five Predictions for the 2022 F1 Campaign
Troy Francks
20 December, 2021

Edge of Your Seat
The best vehicles and drivers will still thrive, but the races themselves could be spectacular, unpredictable events that will only build on the brilliance of 2021.

Red Bull’s Wings Clipped?
They have deep pockets and a background well versed in aerodynamics, so let’s not be too hasty to write them off.

Back-Up Brit
For many who watched the up-and-comer’s ascent, great things are anticipated. Whether that’s the case as soon in 2022 remains to be seen…

Prancing Horse Hot to Trot
There are those who believe that Ferrari will be amongst the teams that benefit the most from the 2022 rule changes. …it’s expected that better days are around the corner for Ferrari.

Consistent Norris to Improve Further
If McLaren kicks in in 2022, Norris looks set to be the chief beneficiary.

MORE DETAIL HERE;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2021/12/20/five-predictions-for-the-2022-f1-campaign/

Fortitude

11th January 2022, 16:40

Lewis Hamilton only ‘50-50’ to return to F1 for 2022 season, Alain Prost claims
Hamilton was left ‘disillusioned’ after he was beaten to the title by Max Verstappen and has yet to give an update on his future plans
Sports Staff
11/01/2022

There is only a “50-50” chance that Lewis Hamilton returns to Formula One for the 2022 season, according to four-time world champion Alain Prost.

In withdrawing their appeal of the race result, Mercedes confirmed they would “actively work” with the FIA to “build a better Formula One” but there have been reports that Hamilton is now considering taking a sabbatical, with just over two months ahead of the start of the 2022 campaign.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/f1-lewis-hamilton-latest-2022-season-b1990782.html

Hamilton "took a hell of a blow to the head" - Prost
Tuesday 11 January 2022 12:04

Alain Prost believes there is only a "50-50" chance Lewis Hamilton will return to F1 this season.

"He took a hell of a blow to the head, but it would be really sad if he wasn't here this season."

Prost is hopeful the new rules for the coming season, with the cars sporting different aerodynamic architecture in a bid to promote closer racing, will be enough of a lure to Hamilton, who has two years remaining on his Mercedes contract.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74411/hamilton-took-a-hell-of-a-blow-to-the-head-prost/

Ecclestone responds to claims Hamilton was ‘robbed’ at 2021 Abu Dhabi GP
Max Verstappen bear Sir Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 championship on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in controversial circumstances.
by Rob Kershaw
10 January 202210 January 2022

Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has rubbished claims that the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was “manipulated”, insisting that Max Verstappen beat Sir Lewis Hamilton “fair and square.”

“About being robbed, it’s complete and utter nonsense,” he told Sky Sports.

He cited the first lap incident at Turn 6, in which Verstappen attempted a diving move down the inside of the Mercedes driver, making slight contact with his rival.

“Lewis wasn’t punished at all for this so he shouldn’t be complaining too much.

https://formula1news.co.uk/ecclestone-responds-claims-hamilton-robbed-2021-abu-dhabi-gp/

Ecclestone: It's a problem there aren't any more Kimis on the grid
11/01/2022, ‎13‎:‎02
Author Thomas Maher

Bernie Ecclestone has said that it's a bad thing there aren't any more drivers like Kimi Raikkonen on the grid.

Having spent 20 years racing at the top level of motorsport, he was almost as famous for his no-nonsense nature that constantly frustrated the media in interviews as he was for his speed and talent.

It's that unwillingness to become a PR-friendly "robot" that impressed former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, who was at the helm of the sport for the first three quarters of Raikkonen's F1 career.

https://racingnews365.com/ecclestone-its-a-problem-there-arent-any-more-kimis-on-the-grid

Fortitude

12th January 2022, 15:58

Should we be worried about the 2022 Formula 1 car?
F1
January 12th 2022
F1 has placed a lot of faith in the new technical regulations making the racing better but Chris Medland says even if they don't, the reset can be a good thing
Author
Chris Medland

During the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, Pirelli’s head of car racing Mario Isola told me that the latest simulations and data from teams suggested the new generation of car is likely to start the season within half a second of the cars that ended 2021, and therefore could well be quicker by the final race.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/should-we-be-worried-about-the-2022-formula-1-car#

Good News! Audi And Porsche To Enter Formula 1
by Sebastian Cenizo Formula One

And they'll be backing McLaren and Red Bull.

The report claims that the Volkswagen supervisory board's approval is all that's standing in the way of Audi and Porsche joining the sport, with Audi said to be interested in taking over McLaren assets, including its motorsport division and automotive arm. The report further continues that the diligence phase has not yet begun but that lawyers on both sides are in talks. One of the main stakeholders at McLaren, Mumtalakat Holding Company, is apparently willing to sell the cash-strapped automaker.

So how would F1 fit into the plans? It seems that Audi and Porsche will join the sport as powertrain suppliers, with Audi powering McLaren and Porsche said to be working on an arrangement with Red Bull Racing, likely to commence after the latter's consultancy with now-retired engine supplier Honda comes to an end.

https://carbuzz.com/news/good-news-audi-and-porsche-to-enter-formula-1

Formula 1 teams could 'play a few tricks' to exploit new regulations in 2022
There is room for some teams to bend the new technical rules which are coming into force for F1 cars in 2022, according to one engineer
By Daniel MoxonSports Writer
16:12, 11 Jan 2022

F1 teams could use some creative "trickery" to make the most of the new technical regulations which will come into force for the upcoming season, a McLaren engineer has said.

But the new rules for the 2022 campaign will, it is hoped, shake up the order and lead to more teams battling for pole positions, race wins and perhaps even the world championship.

Those rules will lead to some major changes in the way the cars look, with larger wheel rims and new lower-profile tyres, revamped aerodynamics and more simplified front and rear wings.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/formula1-new-2022-car-rules-25916761

Tragedies That Changed Formula 1 Forever
Bharat Bhushan - Jan 11, 2022, 8:00am CST

There have been countless F1 racing accidents over the years that have resulted in the implementation of new safety measures. Unfortunately, these changes often follow the tragic loss of life. Here are some of the most heart-wrenching tragedies that shook the F1 world and shaped it into the sport it is today.

https://www.slashgear.com/tragedies-that-changed-formula-1-forever-11706353/

richomaro

14th January 2022, 08:21

Good News! Audi And Porsche To Enter Formula 1
by Sebastian Cenizo Formula One
And they'll be backing McLaren and Red Bull.
The report claims that the Volkswagen supervisory board's approval is all that's standing in the way of Audi and Porsche joining the sport, with Audi said to be interested in taking over McLaren assets, including its motorsport division and automotive arm. The report further continues that the diligence phase has not yet begun but that lawyers on both sides are in talks. One of the main stakeholders at McLaren, Mumtalakat Holding Company, is apparently willing to sell the cash-strapped automaker. So how would F1 fit into the plans? It seems that Audi and Porsche will join the sport as powertrain suppliers as wetten.com (https://wetten.com/ca/) mentioned in their latest Formula 1 post, with Audi powering McLaren and Porsche said to be working on an arrangement with Red Bull Racing, likely to commence after the latter's consultancy with now-retired engine supplier Honda comes to an end.
https://carbuzz.com/news/good-news-a...nter-formula-1

I'm really looking forward to it, should it come to pass that Audi and Porsche want to be involved in the F1 world. But what experience do they bring with them?!

Fortitude

14th January 2022, 08:25

Video
WATCH: Everything you need to know about the new 2022 F1 car
12 January 2022

The cutting-edge turbo-hybrid engines will also evolve, with more standardised parts plus E10 biofuel, which is part of F1's commitment to making a fully sustainable fuel in the future.

Safety changes, plus 18-inch Pirelli tyres, wake-control winglets and wheel covers will also feature on the new-for-2022 cars.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.watch-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-2022-f1-car.2SOhPrnmwdsfRab9rJsWZ6.html

10 things you need to know about the all-new 2022 F1 car
Staff writer Greg Stuart
15 July 2021

1. It’s been designed specifically to promote better racing

2. The car will feature over-wheel winglets for the first time – and wheel covers are back!

3. The car will feature 18” wheels with low-profile tyres for the first time

4. The front wing and nose concept have been completely re-thought

5. An aero feature from the 70s is back! (sort of)

6. The rear wing features new ‘rolled tips’

7. It will use the same power unit as 2021

8. Cars will run on more sustainable fuel

9. Safety has been at the forefront of the design

10. The 2022 car has been put through over 7,500 simulations to get to this point

More detailed analysis in the link;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-all-new-2022-f1-car.4OLg8DrXyzHzdoGrbqp6ye.html

2022 F1 GRID: All the drivers and teams racing this season
05 January 2022

A brand-new set of rules mean brand-new cars for 20 drivers on the F1 grid, with changes at Alfa Romeo and Mercedes plus one rookie. Here is how the 2022 F1 grid will line up.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2022-f1-grid-all-the-drivers-and-teams-racing-this-season.3L1E0DrPLfzmN9GNMZcE5m.html

Sainz '100% ready' to fight for 2022 championship with Ferrari after best-ever season
13 January 2022

Carlos Sainz is raring to go for the season ahead after what he called a thoroughly enjoyable 2021 campaign, which saw him take a career-best P5 in the standings. And with Ferrari hoping that they're on the path back to their best, the Spaniard added that he’s now prepared to fight for a championship, if the chance arises.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sainz-100-ready-to-fight-for-2022-championship-with-ferrari-after-best-ever.2LuG2rUbQfcu01Fddo0VEk.html

Leclerc reveals his biggest improvement of last season – and anticipates ‘challenging’ adaptation to 2022 cars
10 January 2022

Maranello squad Ferrari are forging a path back to their best and hoping to fight right at the front this season, and their driver Charles Leclerc has also been working hard to improve himself and squeeze everything out of the 2022-spec car.

The Monegasque driver missed out on P5 in the standings to team mate Carlos Sainz last season, the Spanish racer having enjoyed a stellar debut season at the Scuderia. But Leclerc noted that he had worked on a significant 'weakness' last year – which should put him in good stead for 2022.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.leclerc-reveals-his-biggest-improvement-of-last-season-and-anticipates.1oeoEounBjuA7fxGQF7VXx.html

Fortitude

14th January 2022, 08:50

Audi want to ‘surprise’ motorsport as F1 rumours swirl
Audi have insisted that they are focussed on the Dakar Rally and 24 Hours of Le Mans
Harry Latham-Coyle
13 Jan 2022

Audi are out to “surprise” with their plans in motorsport but have insisted they remain focussed on the Dakar Rally and 24 Hours of Le Mans as rumours swirl over a possible entry on to the Formula 1 grid.

Oliver Hoffmann, Audi’s Chief Development Officer, did not directly deny Audi’s F1 plans, but claimed their attention remains fixed on more immediate projects, like the ongoing Dakar Rally, and next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/audi-f1-motorsport-constructor-team-b1991358.html

Audi tells FIA it intends to confirm F1 entry early next year
2021 F1 season
Posted on
20th December 2021, 15:22
21st December 2021, 23:39 | Written by Dieter Rencken and Keith Collantine

Audi board chairman Markus Duesmann and Audi Technical Development board member Oliver Hoffmann indicated the manufacturer is satisfied with the progress the FIA has made with new technical regulations for the 2026 power units.

In a letter sent on Tuesday Duesmann and Hoffmann told F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and outgoing FIA president Jean Todt they believe the draft regulations offer a fair compromise for newcomers and existing competitors, as well as meeting the objectives agreed for the new power units.

In an apparent swipe to rivals Mercedes, Duesmann and Hoffmann opened their the letter – seen by RaceFans – by congratulating Todt on what it regarded as a fair conclusion to this year’s Formula 1 championship. They referred specifically to the final lap, on which Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton to clinch the title following a controversial restart, which Mercedes considered appealing against for four days before backing down.

https://www.racefans.net/2021/12/20/audi-tells-fia-it-intends-to-confirm-f1-entry-early-next-year/

F1: PORSCHE AND AUDI’S ENTRY BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR
Lena Ferle
13 Jan 2022

With the new regulations and engine developments from 2026, Formula 1 is attracting new interested parties on board. In particular, the German VW Group has been involved in talks for an entry for some time. There is further information on an entry with its Audi and Porsche brands.

Initially, Audi and Porsche wanted to enter F1 as engine suppliers persisted. However, rumours kept coming up that the two companies wanted to set up or buy their own racing teams.

Audi has already had preliminary talks with McLaren. On the report of the FAZ, there is even an offer to buy the team.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/f1-porsche-and-audis-entry-becoming-increasingly-clear/

Audi and Porsche set to join F1 in 2026, powering McLaren and Red Bull
Published: 07 January 2022

In addition to a couple of new logos on the grid – which we’ll get to later – this will result in substantial economies of scale between Lambo, McLaren and Porsche. This would create the world´s strongest sports car group.

How would Audi benefit?
Audi and Porsche are likely to fuse the F1 R&D work while retaining different set-ups and visual identities. One scenario suggests that Audi/McLaren will partner with Porsche/Red Bull to fight Ferrari and Mercedes in the upcoming hybrid/sustainable fuels era.

This could be a profitable enterprise for Audi and Volkswagen Group. Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius revealed last year that the AMG Petronas F1 commitment creates an annual media value of $1.5bn - and rising. Since Audi has pulled out of DTM and Formula E, the return on investment looks potentially sound.

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-news/industry-news/mclaren/bmw-and-audi-in-bidding-war-for-mclaren/

airshifter

15th January 2022, 00:23

Aston Martin has announced a launch date of Feb 10 for the AMR22.

I'm expecting with the regs changes that the cars we see at launch are even less like the cars will appear on track in recent years. They are going to hide anything they can for this first season with the new cars. Maybe they should just put a road car out for the launch and leave us all guessing until testing. :laugh:

Fortitude

15th January 2022, 09:45

Lewis Hamilton: 5 possible replacements for Mercedes F1 star if he chooses to retire
By Paul Conolly
Published: 14 Jan 2022, 13:11

Ultimately, after a comedy of controversial decisions, Max Verstappen roared past Hamilton on the final lap to snatch the glory right at the last.

Hamilton was left incredibly perturbed by what happened and is yet to decide on whether or not he wants to continue on in the sport he has given so much to.

Toto Wolff and his team would be left without their number one driver and would have to scramble to fill his seat before the season begins. So who could they bring in should Hamilton choose to walk away? Here are five potential options… Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, Nyck De Vries, Oscar Piastri …

https://www.givemesport.com/1820282-lewis-hamilton-5-possible-replacements-for-mercedes-f1-star-if-he-chooses-to-retire

Abu Dhabi controversy: Hill tells Hamilton fans to ‘get over it’
by Rob Kershaw
14 January 202214 January 2022

“If you are a Hamilton fan, do yourself a favour and get over it because it’s not coming back. Ever,” he replied.

Continuing, he said he wants Hamilton to return and bounce back with his record-eighth championship success in 2022.

“[I] look forward to seeing Lewis Hamilton sock it to ’em in 2022. Winners don’t constantly bleat on about how unfair it all is. Show some backbone. Queue hate….”

https://formula1news.co.uk/abu-dhabi-controversy-hill-tells-hamilton-fans-get-over-it/

Martin Brundle urges Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to reconsider Michael Masi sack stance
MICHAEL MASI'S F1 future remains in doubt with Mercedes demanding the removal of the FIA race director.
By FRASER WATSON
17:15, Fri, Jan 14, 2022

F1 pundit Martin Brundle has warned Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to "be careful what you wish for," as they push for the removal of FIA race director Michael Masi. The Australian was central to the controversy that overshadowed the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which culminated in Max Verstappen overtaking Hamilton on the final lap to take the chequered flag - and the F1 world title.

Now Brundle, who was commentating for Sky Sports has the drama unfolded in Abu Dhabi, has said "He's [Masi] clearly only got one life left hasn't he, and I don't know if that's tenable all round.

"But who would you replace him with? Be careful what you wish for. And what I absolutely know for sure is that changing Michael Masi will not fix the problem."

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1550236/Martin-Brundle-Lewis-Hamilton-Mercedes-FIA-Michael-Masi-F1-news

Masi: Everyone wanted sacking, now gets full backing
January 15, 2022 · by thejudge13

Everyone wants HIS dismissal – now he suddenly gets backing. Hamilton fans, Mercedes, Toto Wolff – they all had one wish after last season: the dismissal of Michael Masi as Formula 1 race director. The Australian had gambled away his sympathies from those particular demographics.

An ex-Formula 1 driver stands by Masi’s side One is a former racing driver and current TV pundit Martin Brundle.

“What I know with absolute certainty is that a change of Michael Masi will not solve the problem,” he tells British “Sky”.

According to him, managing 23 races a year is too much for one person. “It’s far too big a task,” Brundle said.

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/15/masi-everyone-wanted-sacking-now-gets-full-backing/

Hamilton won't quit F1 as eighth title "too tempting" - Hill
Saturday 15 January 2022 08:29

“He’s getting to the end of his career, well, it may be many years off, but he’s got a lot in the bank and he might just think ‘I’ve done all I can do’," remarked Hill in a Sky Sports F1 YouTube special.

“But I’m sure that eighth title is just too tempting. I’m sure he’ll want to come back and have it and put all of this to rest."

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74539/hamilton-won-t-quit-f1-as-eighth-title-too-tempting-hill/

Why Ferrari's Formula 1 win drought will end in 2022
F1
January 14th 2022
A sleeping giant in recent seasons, Andrew Frankel reckons Ferrari will thrive under the new 2022 F1 regulations
Author Andrew Frankel

So what do I think will happen to Ferrari in 2022? Actually I think the most likely outcome is that they’ll come third in the Constructors again. The difference will be that instead of scoring barely half the points of the winning team as in 2021, the Scuderia will be far closer, close enough even to win races on merit alone at circuits that suit their car, close enough to capitalise if, for whatever reason, one or other of its chief rivals fails to gets to grip with the new regs. Let’s remember also that Ferrari has not won a race since Singapore in 2019, a drought I predict is shortly to end.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/why-ferraris-formula-1-win-drought-will-end-in-2022#

Fortitude

16th January 2022, 09:52

Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton announcement coming soon?
by Asher Fair
15th Jan 2022

Based on his most recent public comments, we should be expecting to hear from Lewis Hamilton in the near future as it pertains to his Formula 1 future.

Hamilton hasn’t made public comments since his post-race interview with Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of the controversial finish.

Preseason testing is scheduled to begin at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Monday, February 21 and run through Friday, February 25, and more testing is scheduled to take place at Bahrain International Circuit from Thursday, March 10 to Saturday, March 12.

Some sources have already indicated that he will return, while others have indicated not only that he will not, but that Mercedes are already seeking out a potential replacement. Bottom line, none of us really know anything at this point, but based on his most recent public comments, that should change in the near future.

https://beyondtheflag.com/2022/01/15/formula-1-lewis-hamilton-announcement-2022/

Wolff admits Verstappen is a ‘worthy world champion,’ says Masi ‘blew fuses’
Max Verstappen passed Sir Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to claim his maiden world title.
by Rob Kershaw
15 January 202215 January 2022

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has no problem accepting that Max Verstappen deserved his championship in 2021, stressing that race control is what cost Sir Lewis Hamilton his eighth Formula 1 title.

Wolff believes that the events last month will leave a legacy on the sport, saying that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix “will never be forgotten,” in an interview with Austria’s Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

The 50-year-old labelled the final lap of the race “outrageous” and thinks that it would be a travesty if that is what makes the seven-time world champion leave the sport.

However, Hamilton is reportedly considering retiring from Formula 1 following the heartbreak he suffered at the end of last season, and Wolff has made no assurances that the Brit will be racing in the sport in 2022.

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-verstappen-worthy-world-champion-masi-blew-fuses/

Wolff 'different kind of animal' from other bosses - Horner
Andrew Lewin16/01/2022 at 08:28

Red Bull team principal says that his Mercedes counterpart Toto Wolff has a very different approach to his role from other bosses when it comes to the inevitable in-season mind games.

“When we were fighting Sebastian Vettel against Fernando Alonso for the World Championship, Stefano Domenicali was the team boss of Ferrari," he told Formule 1 magazine.

“At the time, the competition was of a different, let’s say, ‘gentleman’s level’," Horner suggested. " last year was intense both on and off the track.

"Toto plays it differently, he’s a different kind of animal," he added.

“Do I like it? No. Is it part of the sport? Yes,” he accepted. “I don’t know if I’m good at it.

https://f1i.com/news/430429-wolff-different-kind-of-animal-from-other-bosses-horner.html

[B]Ricciardo branded ‘clearly delusional’ after Hamilton, Verstappen comment
McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo said he believes he is the best driver on the Formula 1 grid, ahead of Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton.
by James Clifford
9 January 202210 January 2022

McLaren F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has been slammed for saying he believes he is the best driver in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The Australian, who just completed his debut season with McLaren after switching from Renault, said he is the best driver on the Formula 1 grid, ahead of Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton.

https://formula1news.co.uk/ricciardo-branded-clearly-delusional-after-hamilton-verstappen-comment/

Ferrari poached Red Bull and Mercedes engineers – report
Date published: January 15 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

According to a report, Ferrari brought in engineers from both Red Bull and Mercedes ahead of their targeted title push in 2022.

And as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ferrari have taken steps to get a jump on the established top two of Mercedes and Red Bull by recruiting engineers from both teams.

They will work alongside the established design and aero team, with Ferrari adopting “the same innovative approach that underpinned the design of the SF70H and its successor, both of which were capable of challenging Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes for much of the season”.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-engineers-red-bull-mercedes/

DIARY DATES: The 2022 F1 calendar and F1 car launch schedule
Check out the key dates for the 2022 Formula 1 season, including all 23 Grands Prix and more information on the coming campaign.
Feature 14 January 2022

The action is set to kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix in March, and end with Abu Dhabi in November. But before that, we have the car launches to look forward to, giving us the first glimpse of the 2022 liveries on the brand-new breed of F1 cars.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.diary-dates-the-2022-f1-calendar-and-f1-car-launch-schedule.4ZhMPA89s04gy7YlNWypNf.html

Fortitude

17th January 2022, 10:58

Brundle believes Wolff’s threats are lies
January 16, 2022 · by thejudge13

What to make of Toto Wolff’s latest statements on Friday regarding Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 future? The Austrian Toto Wolff still doubts that his driver will return to the grid in Formula 1. He hopes, he wants to believe, but he does not want to say that it is a certainty at this stage, Martin Brundle doesn’t believe this rhetoric.

For former F1 driver Martin Brundle says he has no reason to stop:

“To be honest, I don’t believe in Toto’s talk in the media. I don’t believe it at all. He’s just continuing to put pressure on the FIA…”

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/16/brundle-believes-wolffs-threats-are-lies/

‘It starts to eat you inside’ – Bottas opens up on pressure from Wolff
Valtteri Bottas has signed with Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season after five years of being Sir Lewis Hamilton's team-mate at Mercedes.
by Rob Kershaw
15 January 2022

Valtteri Bottas has indicated that his persistent one-year deals at Mercedes began to affect his “well-being” during his five-year stay at the serial Constructors’ Champions.

Wolff also once labelled Bottas a “wingman,” which the 32-year-old said “hurts.”

The most notable instance of this arrived at the 2018 Russian Grand Prix, when Bottas looked on for victory before being told to allow Hamilton through so he could claim the additional points, as he was battling then-Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel for the championship.

“Toto says that pressure makes diamonds. I think, in a way, it’s true. But there’s also a limit. There’s a limit how long you can maintain that for your own well-being.”

https://formula1news.co.uk/bottas-opens-up-mercedes-pressure-wolff/

Ferrari sets date for 2022 F1 unveiling
by Phillip Horton

Ferrari has become the second Formula 1 team to set a date for the unveiling of its 2022 package.

The car, which has not yet been publicly named, is set to be launched on February 17, a month from today (Monday).

Only one other Formula 1 team, Aston Martin, has set a launch date ahead of this year’s championship, with its AMR22 due to be unveiled on February 10.

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/01/17/ferrari-sets-date-for-2022-f1-unveiling/

Binotto targets wins but Ferrari F1 title bid unlikely in 2022
17 January 2022

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto is targeting wins but doubts a potential championship bid is possible in 2022.

The Scuderia is back on the upward trend, finishing third in the Constructors' standings last year after a back and forth battle with old rivals McLaren.

"What will be important for us this year is to keep on growing and to further reduce the gap to the competitors," said Binotto via The Race on Ferrari's ambitions.

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15155-binotto-targets-wins-but-thinks-ferrari-f1-title-bid-unlikely-in-2022

Red Bull to supply Mercedes F1 power unit customers
January 17, 2022 · by thejudge13

Firstly, Wolff and Mercedes bullying tactics over ‘refereeing decisions” in Abu Dhabi have clearly cut no mustard with the FIA despite the Stuttgart owned teams threats to drag the world motorsports body through the legal mire for most of 2022.

Sources in Stuttgart suggest Daimler Benz will sell their remaining 30% during 2022, and insist the new owners change the team name for 2023, dropping the Mercedes Benz brand.

Having taken control of Honda’s UK based performance engine unit, Red Bull have become supplier of F1 power units, and in effect become a full works F1 outfit.

Sources in the team suggest to TJ13 that from 2023, they are prepared to supply power units not only to Alpha Tauri, but a further 2 customer outfits. This could be extended to a further customer team in 2024.

This collapses the grip Mercedes AMG F1 have, supplying more power units than any other manufacturer and clearly weakens their negotiating strength with the FIA on design and sporting regulations.

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/17/red-bull-to-supply-mercedes-f1-power-unit-customers/

Fortitude

18th January 2022, 12:28

Masi exonerated as “teams applied the pressure to avoid finishing under Safety Car at all costs”
January 17, 2022 · by thejudge13

Masi exonerated as “teams applied the pressure to avoid finishing under the Safety Car at all costs” – The wailing and gnashing of teeth from certain quarters of the Formula 1 paddock over decisions made during the final F1 race of the season has been relentless and filed thousands of column inches.

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/17/massi-exonerated-as-teams-applied-the-pressure-to-avoid-finishing-under-safety-car-at-all-costs/

Ralf Schumacher hits out at Lewis Hamilton over his decision to snub the F1 end-of-season gala after his controversial world title defeat in Abu Dhabi, insisting Brit's no-show was 'not at all fair' to champion Max Verstappen

• Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the world title in controversial fashion
• Hamilton was upset with how the final race finished and snubbed the F1 gala
• Ralf Schumacher thinks Hamilton's absence was disrespectful to Verstappen

By Sam Brookes For Mailonline
Published: 12:39, 17 January 2022 | Updated: 15:57, 17 January 2022

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10410399/Ralf-Schumacher-criticises-Lewis-Hamilton-not-attending-Formula-1-end-season-gala.html

Masi set to issue Hamilton penalty for race one
January 14, 2022 · by thejudge13

Further Humiliation for Wolff and Mercedes as Masi set to issue Hamilton penalty for race one – After the initial outbursts from Mercedes and Toto Wolff following the 2021 Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, which saw Lewis Hamilton lose his WDC title and fail to gain his coveted 8th title, things went quiet over Christmas and New Year.

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/14/masi-set-to-issue-hamilton-penalty-for-race-one/

McLaren announce launch date for their 2022 car, the MCL36
17 January 2022

Another date to add to your calendar: McLaren have announced the mid-February launch date for their 2022 Formula 1 car, the MCL36.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.mclaren-announce-launch-date-for-2022-spec-mcl36.5HdsomUPKjmgO2X59ox6oc.html

Ferrari name the date for their 2022 car launch
17 January 2022

Ferrari will reveal the car that Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will get the honour of driving in this season’s 2022 F1 World Championship on February 17.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ferrari-name-the-date-for-their-2022-car-launch.2QYvmGbPHYb9mnvhWbjhBy.html

DIARY DATES: The 2022 F1 calendar and F1 car launch schedule
14 January 2022

Check out the key dates for the 2022 Formula 1 season, including all 23 Grands Prix and more information on the coming campaign.

…we have the car launches to look forward to, giving us the first glimpse of the 2022 liveries on the brand-new breed of F1 cars.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.diary-dates-the-2022-f1-calendar-and-f1-car-launch-schedule.4ZhMPA89s04gy7YlNWypNf.html

Fortitude

19th January 2022, 16:33

F1 moves to ban popular tradition during race build-up
19/01/2022, ‎14‎:‎10
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Thomas Maher

F1 will stop race promoters from putting on part of their pre-race displays during the 2022 season and beyond.

For instance, Monza frequently has flyovers of the Italian Air Force before the Italian Grand Prix, while the Red Arrows, part of the Royal Air Force, entertain the crowds at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix.

However, in an email sent by F1 to race promoters, seen by RacingNews365.com, displays of military aviation are no longer permitted.

https://racingnews365.com/f1-moves-to-ban-select-part-of-the-race-build-up

Hamilton, Verstappen, Vettel, Alonso, Russell: F1 driver salaries for 2022 revealed
By Sean Guest
Published: 19 Jan 2022, 15:22

The upcoming campaign will see the FIA introduce significant rule changes that affect the way that cars behave, resulting in closer, and most likely more exciting, racing than in 2021.

As they do most seasons, the drivers’ salaries are set to change, too. However, with only a handful of driver moves this winter, this year’s changes are relatively minor compared to those of previous seasons.

While the Dutch driver pipped his British counterpart to the post in one of the most controversial endings to a season in memory in 2021, Hamilton will be paid $15 million more than his rival in 2022, earning a salary of $40 million compared to Verstappen’s $25 million, assuming he decides to continue racing that is.

https://www.givemesport.com/1823775-hamilton-verstappen-vettel-alonso-russell-f1-driver-salaries-for-2022-revealed

‘Very angry’: McLaren boss Zak Brown makes stunning Hamilton quitting F1 claim
Matthew Sullivan from News.com.au
January 19th, 2022 5:41 pm

Brown, who is the boss of Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris, said he wouldn’t be surprised if Hamilton called it quits and walked away from F1.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if he stopped, so I don’t think anyone should take for granted he’s coming back,” he said.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/very-angry-mclaren-boss-zak-brown-makes-stunning-hamilton-quitting-f1-claim/news-story/f949983c22ba7162d0174c55d55310d7

FIA toying with Mercedes, as disaster looms for Lewis Hamilton
January 19, 2022 · by thejudge13

All Formula 1 fans are hanging on Lewis Hamilton’s every word, as he still hasn’t made up his mind about his future in F1. The seven-time world champion is still in silence after losing the world title to Max Verstappen on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which has left his future in doubt.

The Hamfosi are chomping at the bit, waiting to know if their 7 time Champion will come back into Formula 1 racing. The wait is set to continue…

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/19/fia-toying-with-mercedes-as-disaster-looms-for-lewis-hamilton/

Fortitude

19th January 2022, 16:35

Mercedes reveals 2022 F1 car launch and Silverstone shakedown date
F1
Lewis Larkam
18 Jan 2022

Mercedes will shakedown its 2022 Formula 1 car for the first time on February 18 at Silverstone following an online launch event.

The reigning F1 world champions became the fourth team to confirm its launch plans on Tuesday, with Mercedes set to take the covers off its W13 E Performance one day after Ferrari reveals its new car.

After unveiling its 2022 F1 car in a “special digital launch event”, Mercedes’ latest challenger will then make its track debut at Silverstone with a shakedown programme to complete initial system checks.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/995425/1/mercedes-reveals-2022-f1-car-launch-and-shakedown-date

Romain Grosjean to drive Lewis Hamilton's car as Brit's future remains unclear
LEWIS HAMILTON has not confirmed his return for the 2022 season.
By CHARLIE GORDON
09:24, Wed, Jan 19, 2022 | UPDATED: 09:26, Wed, Jan 19, 2022

Romain Grosjean could be given the opportunity of a private test in Mercedes' 2019 World Championship-winning car, following an offer made by team boss Toto Wolff in 2020. The Silver Arrows, meanwhile, are still seemingly unsure about the future of star driver Lewis Hamilton, whose silence continues following a painful end to the 2021 season.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1552347/f1-news-romain-grosjean-haas-lewis-hamilton-george-russell-mercedes-toto-wolff

CHRISTIAN HORNER
Horner reveals how Verstappen will prepare for title defence
19/01/2022Today, ‎08‎:‎05
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Thomas Maher

Speaking in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com, Christian Horner has outlined how Max Verstappen has switched his mental focus to the 2022 season.

"Max went off to do family stuff over Christmas and New Year for a break and last week he has bought back into his training, so he's all good," Horner told RacingNews365.com in an exclusive interview.

"It was a tough season last year, tough for everybody, so [it was] good to get a bit of downtime over Christmas and the New Year to reflect on an amazing year and recharge the batteries a bit.

"Then, in January, he's been ramping it back up and training hard and looking forward to the season ahead."

Horner went on to explain that Verstappen is due back in the Red Bull factory over the coming days, and will take part in all his pre-season administration ahead of the car launch and official testing.

https://racingnews365.com/horner-reveals-how-verstappen-will-prepare-for-title-defence

Ferrari outline PU changes for 2022
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Wednesday 19 January 2022 13:30

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has explained the extensive changes the Scuderia is making to its power unit ahead of the upcoming F1 season.

"We've got a new fuel, which is 10 per cent ethanol, which changes the combustion a lot, we are all losing more or less 20 horsepower, which means that the combustion itself is quite changed.
"There were a lot of opportunities in development on the power unit and we change it quite a lot, especially in the design on the combustion itself."

"When looking at the car concept and what was possible or not, which is not only the external shape, whatever you could have done under the bodywork in terms of layout, in terms of suspension design, in terms of full architecture, including as well the power unit architecture, I see that the team made significant innovations and the overall design we are now finalising is quite different to the 2021 cars."

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74426/ferrari-outline-pu-changes-for-2022/

Fortitude

20th January 2022, 09:14

Hülkenberg Queries Whether 2022 F1 Cars will be Easier to Follow than Before After Sim Runs
By Paul Hensby
January 12, 2022

Nico Hülkenberg believes it may still be tricky to follow in the 2022 Formula 1 cars despite a regulation change aimed at making it easier to be in the wake of another car.

“They aimed to [make the cars] a bit slower, more challenging to drive, to have more focus on drivers that can make a difference rather [than] car performance and aerodynamics dominating,” said Hülkenberg on his LinkedIn page as quoted by Motorsport.com.

“From my initial experience, however, the new cars are pretty damn fast and not necessarily slower than the last generation. The driving experience hasn’t changed that much either, at least in the simulator.

More DETAIL in the link;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/01/hulkenberg-queries-whether-2022-f1-cars-will-be-easier-to-follow-than-before-after-sim-runs/

F1 drivers disagree over 2022 cars after first tests
Valtteri Bottas and Lando Norris have different viewpoints on the new car
Sarah Rendell
Thursday 30 December 2021 10:26

“Definitely there will be a slightly different style,” Norris said. “I don’t think it’ll be as nice to drive in a way. I think it’ll be a little bit more on the limit in terms of pushing and so on.

“A little bit like F2 in a way, I think, where you see more fighting the car and stuff. But I could be wrong because things are always changing. It’s like what I drove one month ago is going to be quite very different to what I drive now, and it’s going to be very different probably again when we get to the first race.”

But Bottas, who joins Alfa Romeo from Mercedes for the upcoming season, disagrees and said the difference is minimal.

Further analysis here;

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/f1-2022-cars-drivers-tests-b1984281.html

Valtteri Bottas Says 2022 Formula 1 Cars “Not Crazy Different” in the Simulator
29 Dec 2021, 13:35 UTC
by Sergiu Tudose

“At least at that point, it felt like the cars are a bit off in terms of downforce,” said Bottas while referencing his run in the Mercedes simulator earlier this year, as well as his experience with Alfa Romeo.

“But the overall feeling, at least in the sim, wasn’t that dissimilar in either of the simulators. We can’t simulate following other cars and stuff like that, but it’s not crazy different. Maybe still a bit less downforce but, like I said, that will change.”

Interestingly enough, Bottas’ comments about 2022 cars in the sim don’t match what McLaren’s Lando Norris had to say about these next-gen racers, which he likened to F2.

“I don’t think it'll be as nice to drive in a way. I think it'll be a little bit more on the limit in terms of pushing and so on. A little bit like F2 in a way, I think, where you see more fighting the car and stuff,” he stated.

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/valtteri-bottas-says-2022-formula-1-cars-not-crazy-different-in-the-simulator-177788.html

F1 explains process to delivering more "raceable" 2022 cars
Ian Parkes & Sam Hall
Monday 10 January 2022 07:30

The sport will race to a completely new set of aerodynamic regulations this year with a large focus being placed on improving the raceability of the cars.

F1 managing director, motorsports, Ross Brawn has explained how the sport approached the creation of the all-new aerodynamics for the coming season.

The sport will race to a completely new set of aerodynamic regulations this year with a large focus being placed on improving the raceability of the cars.

One of the biggest issues plaguing action in recent times has been the amount of turbulent air created by aero components, reducing the downforce created by any car following another and adding to the difficulty of overtaking.

Speaking to the New York Times, Brawn explained the process followed by the five-man team led by Pat Symonds in fixing the problem.

Further discussion & explanation here;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74304/f1-explains-process-to-delivering-more-raceable-2022-cars/

F1 reveal "rule-busting phase" to combat loopholes with 2022 cars
Ian Parkes
Sunday 16 January 2022 11:30

Ross Brawn has conceded to F1 undertaking "a rule-busting phase" in a bid to stop teams finding loopholes with this year's new regulations.

Asked in an interview with The New York Times whether any potential loopholes had been spotted on this occasion, Brawn replied: "If you look at what happened in real-time, especially when I was a technical director, it was the odd occasion when a team would come up with an interpretation.

"Therefore, it was quite extreme in terms of when that happened. It didn't happen every day of the week.”

"Trying to anticipate every loophole or every interpretation is very difficult but for sure, our process was to understand the problem, design around eliminating the problem.”

Questioned on whether there was the prospect of another Brawn double diffuser in the pipeline, he said: "I don't think so, no.

More DETAIL here;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74559/f1-reveal-rule-busting-phase-to-combat-loopholes-with-2022-cars/

Fortitude

20th January 2022, 18:16

Andretti picks out the F1 drivers he expects to shine in 2022
20th Jan 2022, ‎16‎:‎25
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Mike Seymour

In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com, 1978 F1 World Champion Mario Andretti has picked out the talents he will be keeping an eye on this season.

"I think Lando [Norris] is at the point where he could be a force to be reckoned with," Andretti said in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com, before choosing one of the Ferrari drivers as his next contender.

"I think Carlos Sainz has really shown some promise; he's shown to really be coming into his own, in his own comfortable position there, with Ferrari. I think he has pushed Charles Leclerc a little bit and made him a bit nervous at times – you could see [it].

"Daniel Ricciardo has [also] shown tremendous ability to be up at the top with a top team."

Further insight;

https://racingnews365.com/exclusive-andretti-picks-out-the-f1-drivers-he-expects-to-shine-in-2022

Ex-F1 driver warns Masi decision may have poured ‘big jug of water’ over Hamilton’s raging fire
Sir Lewis Hamilton's silence since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December has sparked rumours that he is considering retiring from Formula 1.
by Rob Kershaw
20 January 202220 January 2022

Former Formula 1 driver Perry McCarthy has said he cannot rule out the possibility of Sir Lewis Hamilton retiring following the contentious end to the 2021 season.

“To win a world championship, what that takes mentally, that sustained drive and living under that pressure, day in day out to win a world championship is absolutely incredible.

“Then what you’ve got with Lewis is that to have won so many championships, there are so many people out there who just say ‘oh well he’s got the best car plug him in and there you go and he’s up against [Valtteri] Bottas who’s no good, So he’s got it all covered.’

The former Andrea Moda driver also affirms that Hamilton’s battle with Verstappen last year will have taken a lot out of him.

More opinion;

https://formula1news.co.uk/masi-decision-poured-big-jug-of-water-hamiltons-raging-fire/

Schumacher: No sim testing with Haas ahead of 2022 season
Phillip van Osten13/01/2022 at 10:0913/01/2022 at 10:06

Pre-season preparations in F1 typically involve many hours of sim work for teams and drivers, and the groundwork has been underway for several months now for most outfits given the sport's significant regulation changes.

However, Haas' factory in Banbury is not equipped with a simulator, and while the team's design office has been hard at work on its 2022 contender since early last year, there will be no opportunity for Schumacher or teammate Nikita Mazepin to virtually put their new car through its paces or test its concept.

https://f1i.com/news/430239-schumacher-no-sim-testing-with-haas-ahead-of-2022-season.html

Steiner wants his drivers to ‘learn the hard way’
Date published: January 13 2022 - Finley Crebolder

Guenther Steiner says he doesn’t want to pamper Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin and feels it’s better they learn things “the hard way”.

“We knew beforehand what we were doing. But I didn’t fully understand what was going to happen. You learn and realize what makes these young guys tick. How inexperienced they are and how much help they need.

“Some of the things they need to learn cannot be taught to them. You can only guide them. They have to swim themselves or they’ll go under. It’s a full-time job keeping them afloat. And I don’t want to. It’s better if they learn the hard way. Then they’ll have it in there. It’s better than pampering them.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/guenther-steiner-mick-schumacher-nikita-mazepin-learning-process/

Haas full focus on 2022 "wasn't a gamble"
Ian Parkes & Sam Hall
Tuesday 11 January 2022

Guenther Steiner is adamant Haas' sole focus on its 2022 car last season "wasn't a gamble" as he is confident of a points return this year.

Steiner explained: "It wasn't a gamble [not] to do anything for the '21 car. That was just a loss. It wasn't something worth a gamble.

For Steiner, however, there are signs of a recovery he feels are akin to those witnessed during the team's better days.

"I see similarities to the years when we were fighting for the points most of the time," he added.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74313/haas-full-focus-on-2022-wasn-t-a-gamble/

Fortitude

20th January 2022, 19:53

Ferrari say NO to Todt, Valentino Rossi also unwanted
Paul Velasco
20 January, 2022

Jean Todt’s availability to return to Ferrari in a figurehead role is unlikely to happen as chairman John Elkann is not interested in the former FIA President returning to aid Mattia Binotto.

…the powers that be at Maranello saw no value in having 42-year-old Rossi as part of the programme, and deemed him too inexperienced to be part of the Ferrari works effort.

Todt’s availability made such a move seem logical, but logic and Ferrari seldom apply these days as Corriere F1 correspondent Giorgio Terruzzi reported: “The proposed return of the former FIA President – who worked at Ferrari from 1993 to 2009 accompanying Michael Schumacher’s happy adventure – was actually presented by Todt himself to John Elkann.

2022 will be a year of reckoning for Ferrari, should they not produce a competitive car – capable of winning races again – it is hard to see how faith will continue in Binotto running the greatest team in F1 alone. For now the future of the team’s management structure remains unchanged, but a ‘2022 SF22-Shitbox’ won’t suffice.

THE HARD hitting article, found here

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/20/ferrari-boss-elkann-says-no-to-todt-and-valentino-rossi/

Ferrari ‘very optimistic they will be in the fight’
Date published: January 16 2022 - Jon Wilde

Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz and Karun Chandhok have added their voices to the growing belief that Ferrari could be in for a big 2022 season.

“I’m hearing a lot of positive moves out of Ferrari, a lot of positive noises out of Ferrari,” said pit-lane broadcaster Kravitz during Sky F1’s latest programme reflecting on the controversial events of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“The engine’s going well and they say the car is looking much more aggressive than it has in any of the recent Ferraris we’ve seen over the last two or three years.”

Fellow pundit Chandhok gave a bit of extra insight…

“I had a couple of conversations with people just before Christmas and they were very optimistic because they feel they made big gains on the power-unit side,” said the former F1 racer.”

“They are coming back not quite on a par with Honda and Mercedes, but not a million miles behind and they are confident that side of it will be okay.”

Further insight here;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sky-pundits-2022-ferrari-optimism/

Leclerc talks of importance of family to his F1 success
Andrew Lewin19/01/2022

The 24-year-old born and raised in Monaco feels he was always destined to be a racing driver, but admits he might not have made it all the way to Formula 1 without the early influence of his father Hervé who himself raced in Formula 3 during the 1980s and 1990s.

"My father introduced me to motorsport so I don’t know if I would have become what I am if it weren’t for him," Leclerc said in an exclusive feature for the official Ferrari F1 website this week.

Sadly Hervé died after a long illness in 2017 aged 54. Just four days later, Leclerc took part in the Formula 2 feature race in Baku, Azerbaijan and clinched a victory that he dedicated to his late father.

Charles was GP3 champion in 2016 and then claimed the F2 title the following season, earning him his promotion into F1, initially with Sauber. One year later he was scooped up by Ferrari to race alongside Sebastian Vettel.

https://f1i.com/news/430596-leclerc-talks-of-importance-of-family-to-his-f1-success.html

Leclerc: Carlos better than me on tyre and race management
Jad Mallak
5 January, 2022

Ever since Charles Leclerc joined Ferrari, he has been the team sweetheart, but with Carlos Sainz joining in 2021 and beating him, the Monegasque identified his weaknesses against his teammate.

“As always when you have a new team-mate you always learn, [such as] the new ways Carlos is approaching race weekends, the way he works, his talent, his raw speed also, the way he takes the corners.

“He had an amazing year, so he obviously pushed me very, very much to try and perform better at every race and it’s just been extremely interesting,” the two-time race winner reflected.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/05/leclerc-carlos-better-than-me-on-tyre-and-race-management/

Editor’s Desk: Who is Hamilton’s silent treatment aimed at?
Jad Mallak
19 January, 2022

With nothing yet to be heard from Lewis Hamilton, as he has gone AWOL during the Formula 1 offseason, one cannot help but wonder if there is more to the story than his Abu Dhabi nightmare.

Yes, the ‘Silent One’ is yet another aspect of Sir Lewis’ armoury as we have witnessed before. Thus for a driver of his caliber to go into hibernation after his high profile loss of the 2021 World Championship, it’s no surprise that so much is written about him as all guess, speculate, analyze and even predict what is going on in his mind.

One can understand Hamilton’s pain in losing the 2021 F1 championship, losing it in the way that he did will make it even harder to accept, but why act in this manner? Why this deafening silence? And what or who is really irking Hamilton?

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/19/editors-desk-who-is-hamiltons-silent-treatment-aimed-at/

Fortitude

21st January 2022, 09:32

Prost reveals ‘personal relationship’ led to his Alpine departure
Formula 1 legend Alain Prost is not pleased at how the news of his departure from Alpine was announced this week.
by Rob Kershaw
19 January 202219 January 2022

The 66-year-old took to Instagram to say: “I am very disappointed how this news has been announced today! It was agreed that we would announce together with Alpine F1 Team! No respect sorry!

“I have refused the offer made to me in Abu Dhabi for the 2022 season because of the personal relationship and I was right!

“To the Enstone team and Viry I will miss you!” he concluded.

https://formula1news.co.uk/prost-reveals-personal-relationship-alpine-departure/

Prost reveals 2022 engine ‘reliability problem’
ANDREW MAITLAND
JANUARY 19, 2022

Alain Prost’s parting shot at the Renault-owned Alpine team that he is leaving is to reveal a “reliability problem” with the new engine for 2022.

Alpine, based in Enstone (UK) and Viry (France), is pinning its hopes on a significant power unit re-design to close a reported 30-plus horsepower gap to the front-running engines.

Quadruple world champion Prost told L’Equipe: “There is a small reliability problem in the 2022 engine.

“During the simulations on the test bench, they have discovered that the power unit is still not working at the desired level,” the F1 legend added.

https://grandpx.news/prost-reveals-2022-engine-reliability-problem/

Prost: Laurent Rossi wants all the spotlight, I could feel a lot of jealousy
Jad Mallak
19 January, 2022

“I accept change, as you don’t have to always do F1 the same way. You can do it differently, and that’s what was done throughout last year. But for me, it has become too complicated.”

“I wasn’t involved in decision making any more, I sometimes disagreed – completely – but I had to keep conveying the official word,” he claimed.

“Even as a member of the board, I found out about some decisions at the last minute. I may not be listened to, but I should at least be informed in time.

“It’s a matter of respect,” Prost insisted. “Relationships have become more and more complicated, I could feel a lot of jealousy.”

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/19/prost-laurent-rossi-wants-all-the-spotlight-i-could-feel-a-lot-of-jealousy/

Motorsport Explained: What The Hell Is Going On At The Alpine F1 Team?
Personnel changes, damning social media posts, and bad performance: What's happening to the French Formula One team?
By Elizabeth Blackstock
20th Jan 2022

An Unsteady Transition
Just before the 2021 season, former team boss Cyril Abiteboul left the team as it transitioned from Renault to Alpine — which came as a surprise to many F1 fans.

Under Abiteboul’s management, the team grew and found consistent success in many races, which ultimately culminated in three podiums for the team’s drivers in 2020. Without that senior expertise, Alpine would be going into 2021 on shaky ground.

Alpine announced that four-time World Champion Alain Prost would be departing from his role as team advisor — and Prost was not impressed… …Prost was so incensed that he went straight to l’Equipe, a French sports paper, to really lay into Alpine — and he puts all the blame for the chaos straight on Laurent Rossi’s shoulders.

“Laurent Rossi wanted all the light,” Prost said. “Laurent Rossi’s desire is to be alone, not to be polluted by anyone… He told me he no longer needed advice. There is a real desire to put a lot of people on the sidelines.”

MORE of the controversial developments, here;

https://jalopnik.com/motorsport-explained-what-the-hell-is-going-on-at-the-1848390798

Fortitude

22nd January 2022, 01:53

Red Bull name their surprise threat to the 2022 F1 title & it isn’t Hamilton
January 21, 2022 · by thejudge13

As Max Verstappen attempts to retain his F1 title in 2022, Red Bull fears competition from Carlos Sainz Jr from Ferrari, a surprise to some that Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes isn’t mentioned.

Helmut Marko made a big announcement about Carlos Sainz Jr’s possible chances for the world championship title. The Red Bull boss explained:

“Carlos is a very good driver. The new rules make it difficult to predict this season. But if Ferrari does a great job on its new car, Carlos can definitely fight for the title.”

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/21/red-bull-name-their-surprise-threat-to-the-2022-f1-title-it-isnt-hamilton/

Horner: RB18 taking shape, hitting majority of targets
Jad Mallak
19 January, 2022

Horner was speaking in an interview with RacingNews365.com, as he provided an update on the work being done at Milton Keynes over the winter.

“This is that time of year where everything’s a bit tight,” he said. “It’s lots of long hours and takeaways!

“There’s a lot of hard work going into RB18 [and] it’s taking shape. It’s hitting the majority of its targets so far,” Horner pointed out.

“The team are working incredibly hard, and it’s really coming together. It goes into car build next week, so that’s exciting!” the Briton revealed.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/19/horner-rb18-taking-shape-hitting-majority-of-targets/

Verstappen and Perez set to try out RB18 before pre-season testing
21 Jan 2022, ‎13‎:‎00

Red Bull are planning their usual shakedown for the upcoming RB18, with both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez due to get behind the wheel.
Author RacingNews365 Staff
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Speaking to RacingNews365.com in a recent, exclusive interview, Team Principal Christian Horner confirmed Red Bull's plans for a shakedown with their new car – the first made for F1's all-new technical regulations.

"In terms of testing, we'll do the usual shakedown, prior to heading down to Barcelona and Bahrain," Horner explained.

"With a new car, it's not a lot at three days a driver – it's pretty intense. But it'll certainly make the first part of the season, for the fans and the followers, more interesting."

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen-and-perez-set-to-try-out-rb18-before-pre-season-testing

Mercedes engine head Hodgkinson to join Red Bull in May after teams agree release date
21 January 2022

Red Bull’s new powertrain division has received a shot in the arm with news that the Milton Keynes-based squad have agreed a release date for Ben Hodgkinson to join them from Mercedes as their new Technical Director.

Hodgkinson was Red Bull’s first big signing to their all-new engine department, which was created following Honda’s decision to leave F1, with the news breaking last April.

His key focus – when he starts on May 24 – will be on the engine Red Bull plan to introduce in 2025, when a new PU formula is set to be introduced.

“Mercedes F1 and Red Bull F1 today reached an agreement regarding the appointment of Ben Hodgkinson,” said the two teams in a joint statement on Friday.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.mercedes-engine-head-hodgkinson-to-join-red-bull-in-may-after-teams-agree.4bHccF9rWnF7KXBe7wY6t9.html

Andretti on Verstappen triumph: ‘Things will never be the same, they’ll be better’
Max Verstappen dramatically beat Sir Lewis Hamilton to the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship in 2021.
by Rob Kershaw
21 January 202221 January 2022

The American affirms that winning the title removes a huge burden off a racing driver.

“You can say all you want, but once you accomplish your ultimate goal, a lot of pressure’s off your shoulders,” he said in an interview with RacingNews365.com.

“There’s no better situation than being more relaxed. Sometimes, when you’re in that frame of mind, you just do things even better.”

https://formula1news.co.uk/andretti-believes-verstappen-felt-pressure-2021/

Bagwan

22nd January 2022, 19:04

Hey , Fortitude , prove you're not a bot and make a post without a link .

Fortitude

23rd January 2022, 10:09

Lewis Hamilton is staying quiet because he wants to distance himself from Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, claims ex-F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve... who thinks Brit could turn his attention to a career in HOLLYWOOD
• Jacques Villeneuve says Lewis Hamilton is planning his career in the USA
• Seven-time World Champion has remained quiet since defeat to Max Verstappen
• Villeneuve thinks Hamilton could walk away from the sport for a new challenge
By Sam May For Mailonline
Published: 11:06, 22 January 2022 | Updated: 11:25, 22 January 2022

Ex-Formula One World Champion Jacques Villeneuve believes Lewis Hamilton could be set for a career in Hollywood, after the Mercedes driver continues to remain quiet ever since his controversial defeat to Max Verstappen in Abu Dhabi.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10429935/Villeneuve-says-Hamiltons-future-HOLLYWOOD-F1-driver-quiet-Verstappen-win.html

Villeneuve: Hamilton upset with Wolff’s antics after defeat
Editor
22 January, 2022

Jacques Villeneuve believes Lewis Hamilton has gone silent since the 2021 season deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Canadian suggesting a rift between the Mercedes driver and his boss Toto Wolff is at the bottom of it all.

There has been no word from Hamilton since that night last December in the wake of his defeat to Max Verstappen. Prompting speculation he is so despondent he might quit F1 sooner than later, with Wolff fueling the debate with his well-calculated soundbites amid the deafening silence from his star driver.

On Sky Italia, and quoted by multiple sources including Gazzetta, Villeneuve said: “I see Hamilton’s silence as a way of him deliberately putting some distance between himself and Wolff. After all, you can lose with style, whereas Toto’s antics were like that of a sore loser playing Monopoly, the moment he is down he flips the board into the air.”

Wolff’s antics during and after that frantic and controversial night at Yas Marina, and the week that followed, went viral. A protest was withdrawn at the last minute. Both Wolff and Hamilton failed to attend the FIA Awards the week after the final.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/22/villeneuve-hamilton-upset-with-wolffs-antics-after-abu-dhabi-defeat/

Lewis Hamilton's eerie prediction he would retire from F1 in January 2022
LEWIS HAMILTON may not return to F1 this year.
By MIKAEL MCKENZIE
07:00, Sun, Jan 23, 2022

Lewis Hamilton has previously said he expects to retire from F1 in January 2022 as he continues to ponder his future. The Mercedes star is under contract for another two seasons but he is weighing up whether to quit the sport for good.

…back in 2015, Hamilton had predicted that his time to leave the sport may come once he turns 37 years old, a milestone he celebrated two weeks ago.
"When I think about what year I would probably end up stopping, it'd be about 37 maybe," Hamilton said in 2015.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1554205/Lewis-Hamilton-retirement-comments-F1-news

George Russell warning sent to Lewis Hamilton ahead of Mercedes bow
George Russell has been backed to give the seven-time world champion a run for his money when they take to the track for the 2022 season in the same car
By Daniel Moxon
Sports Writer
20:24, 21 Jan 2022

George Russell has been backed to hit the ground running at Mercedes and maybe even challenge new team-mate Lewis Hamilton for race wins.
That is the opinion of Anthony Davidson, Mercedes' simulator driver and a pundit for Sky Sport's F1 coverage.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/george-russell-lewis-hamilton-mercedes-26017126

Fortitude

23rd January 2022, 10:11

F1 news: Kimi Raikkonen happy to be out of Formula 1 ‘bulls**t’
Raikkonen says money and politics have changed the sport
Sarah Rendell
1 day ago

“There are so many things that are making no sense, at least in my head, what happens here,” Raikkonen said as quoted by Motorsport.com. “All kinds of bulls**t that goes around. We know it, but nobody says it. Things that I don’t think that even should be.

“A lot of things are such fake things in here. It’s good to be out. Mentally, it’s very good to be out of all of that bulls**t for a while.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/kimi-raikkonen-f1-news-b1997829.html

Kimi Raikkonen admits he could be ‘completely wrong’ as he leaves door open to motorsport return
Kimi Raikkonen spent his final three seasons in F1 with Alfa Romeo, and ended the Drivers' Championship 16th in both 2020 and 2021.
by Rob Kershaw
21 January 202221 January 2022

In an interview in the build-up to his final Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi, the Finn was asked whether his final grand prix in F1 might also be his last in professional racing.

“It could be, very easily,” he replied in an interview with Autosport. “But then on the other hand, it could be that I’m completely wrong. That’s why I haven’t made any plans.”

He indicated that there “could be anything” in his future and conceded that he may be tempted to commit to projects should the right offer come along, but for now the Iceman is focused on some well-earned down time.

“I’m sure people will have some nice kind of things that will come up,” he said. “And if there’s something that makes sense, then why not do it? But for sure, I first need to have some time off.”

https://formula1news.co.uk/kimi-raikkonen-admits-completely-wrong-open-motorsport/

Sauber Group happy to support a Raikkonen racing return
Date published: January 22 2022 - Ben Johnston

Alfa Romeo team principal Frédéric Vasseur says that the Sauber Group would support Kimi Raikkonen if the Finn decides he wants to return to racing in the future.

Raikkonen, who competed in Formula 1 for over 20 years and won the 2007 Drivers’ Championship with Ferrari in 2007, is no stranger to racing in other forms of motorsport.

In 2010 and 2011, the Finn took time way from Grand Prix racing and competed in the World Rally Championship while also trying his hand at racing in the NASCAR Truck series in America.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sauber-group-happy-to-support-raikkonen/

Fortitude

23rd January 2022, 14:07

Video: Go behind the scenes at the Aston Martin F1 factory!
23rd Jan 2022, ‎08‎:‎05
Author Thomas Maher

Aston Martin have offered fans an exclusive look behind the scenes of their factory based at Silverstone in the UK.

As well as visiting areas of the factory such as electronics, scale models, the autoclave and the simulator, the video also reveals the beating heart of the racing operation, with presenter Alex Legouix paying a visit to the outfit's 'war room', where a team of personnel work during a race weekend.

https://racingnews365.com/video-aston-martin-go-behind-the-scenes-at-their-factory

New Aston Martin F1 boss needs Whitmarsh to be his ‘umbrella’
Jan 19 2022
By Scott Mitchell and Sam Smith

Aston Martin’s new Formula 1 team principal Mike Krack has been tipped to excel in the role if he is shielded from the interference that can come within larger organisations.

Ex-BMW Motorsport chief Krack has replaced Otmar Szafnauer at the Aston Martin team, where he will report to Aston Martin Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

While Krack’s engineering background, experience in F1 and career with BMW should command respect from all areas of the team automatically, Griffiths expects the way he deals with people to aid that process and get personnel to buy into his leadership.

“He’s obviously a very smart engineer, but he’s very pragmatic about it and he likes to listen to all sides of the story, really based on facts and then making up his own opinion as to where things are,” said Griffiths. “He’s one of these unsung guys that quietly goes about doing his business, doesn’t make big noise, big moves, or anything like that, but just gets the job done.”

https://the-race.com/formula-1/new-aston-martin-f1-boss-needs-whitmarsh-to-be-his-umbrella/

Vettel could join Mercedes if Hamilton retires after ‘rigged’ Abu Dhabi GP – Schumacher
Sebastian Vettel is an ideal replacement for Sir Lewis Hamilton should the 37-year-old retire, according to Ralf Schumacher.
by Rob Kershaw
14 January 202214 January 2022

…Schumacher reckons Vettel has acclimatised himself with the nuances of the Mercedes car and thus would be able to slot into the seat relatively comfortably, given that Mercedes also supply Aston Martin’s power units.

“And above all, he knows his way around the Mercedes car – and with the engine. And I think the Aston Martin concept is also very close.”

The former team principal was instrumental in bringing Vettel to the team from Ferrari, and his departure last week makes Vettel’s compatriot think that this may persuade him to leave should the right offer materialise.

https://formula1news.co.uk/he-would-take-it-one-hundred-percent-schumacher-links-vettel-mercedes/

Mercedes and Red Bull warned Aston Martin plans to win F1 title are 'coming together'
WITH NEW RULES coming into force for the 2022 F1 season which could shake up the grid, every team is hopeful of challenging the big boys at the front.
By DANIEL MOXON
07:56, Sat, Jan 15, 2022 | UPDATED: 07:56, Sun, Jan 16, 2022

Lawrence Stroll has lofty ambitions for his Aston Martin team over the next few years.

"Winning in Formula 1 is all about bringing together the best efforts of all the principal players – drivers, engineers, mechanics, everyone – and Mike is perfectly placed to do just that," the Canadian billionaire said.

"We are hiring brilliant new people every week. Our new factory build is coming along very well. We have a fantastic roster of superb sponsor-partners."

"We are about to embark on year two of our five-year plan, the objective of which is to win Formula 1 world championships."

Read in detail, these VERY ambitious plans;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1550731/Mercedes-Red-Bull-Aston-Martin-plans-title-F1-news

Bagwan

23rd January 2022, 19:19

Hey , Fortitude , prove you're not a bot and make a post without a link .

Couldn't do it , eh ?
Boring , dude .

I won't bother trying to include you any more .

Have a nice day .

Fortitude

24th January 2022, 15:50

Steiner: Haas still 'the underdog' with unchanged structure

Haas team boss Guenter Steiner says the US outfit will likely remain "an underdog" this season in F1 given the reduced scale of its structure relative to its rivals.
Michael Delaney24/01/2022 at 12:22

"I think we will still be the underdog which is trying to punch above its weight because our structure is roughly the same as it was in ’18 and ’19," explained Steiner.”

"The quantity of people - we changed a little bit the people. Instead of using Dallara people now we’ve got our own people and some of the people from Ferrari, which were moved from there because of the budget cap.”

Further analysis;

https://f1i.com/news/430803-steiner-haas-still-the-underdog-with-unchanged-structure.html

Exclusive: Why Steiner believes Haas can return to the midfield in 2022
‎Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has spoken of his hopes for the team's progression as new regulations come into effect for the 2022 F1 season, in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com.
21‎ ‎January‎ ‎16‎:‎00
Author Anna Francis
Co-author Dieter Rencken

"In racing, you always look back at your last race, which was not good for us, which was s**t," he explained.

"But, three years ago, from nowhere, without the budget cap, we finished fifth in 2018. So why should we not get back to that one?

"I would say the older teams are closer together now than they were in '18. There was nobody lagging behind. And, again, it doesn't work only for us, the budget cap, it works for everybody else. So you need to do a good job to get there. It's not as easy as we say.

Guenther Steiner speaks boldly in the interview;

https://racingnews365.com/exclusive-why-steiner-believes-haas-can-return-to-the-midfield-in-2022

Exclusive: Steiner explains 'improvement' in Schumacher and Mazepin's relationship
In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com, Haas team boss Guenther Steiner has given an insight into how relations stand between Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin following some run-ins between them on track in 2021.
24‎ ‎January‎ ‎‎12‎:‎30
Author Anna Francis
Co-author Dieter Rencken

"I think the situation last year got a lot better," Steiner said in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com.

"I remember after [one] race, when we sat down, I said, 'Guys, I cannot always tell you what to do, like other staff. You need to find your own space, both of you, not to damaging either of you, because it isn't good for either of you, nor for the team'.

"So I think they had this talk, and I could see that there was really good improvement. Going forward, would I put my hand in the fire that they will not run in [to each other] again? But I think there is a lot more respect."

No nonsense Guenther Steiner FULL explains;

https://racingnews365.com/exclusive-steiner-explains-improvement-in-schumacher-and-mazepins-relationship

[B]Schumacher and Mazepin 'understand' there is no need for friendship
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Monday 24 January 2022

The season, however, was marred by flashpoints between the team-mates, with the animosity notably coming to a head in the Netherlands.

The relationship eventually appeared repaired when Mazepin invited Schumacher for activities in Russia.

Reflecting on his drivers' relationship in an end-of-season interview with GPFans, Steiner said: "I think in the middle of the season they understood they don't need to be friends but they need to be respectful of each other.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74813/schumacher-and-mazepin-understand-there-is-no-need-for-friendship/

AlphaTauri boss disagrees with Haas’ approach
Haas ended 2021 last in the Constructors' Championship, as rookie drivers Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin failed to score points.
by Rob Kershaw
19 January 202219 January 2022

“Nowadays, in Formula 1, [if you] drive [with] two inexperienced drivers you have a really big challenge and the Constructors’ Championship, you will immediately be in the back,” Tost said, as quoted by GPFans.

“There’s no chance with two kids to be in the midfield [or near] the front because the field is far too competitive, it’s too strong.

Tost reiterated that a less experienced driver will develop better if mentored by a more senior team-mate.

https://formula1news.co.uk/alphatauri-boss-disagrees-haas-approach/

Fortitude

24th January 2022, 17:41

Red Bull still expect strong 2022 car despite extended 2021 focus
Ben Issatt
24 January 2022

Horner heaped praise on the team in Milton Keynes for their efforts.

"I think the team have been outstanding," he continued, "because to keep a development rate on a new set of regulations and keep a focus on this year’s car has taken a monumental effort.”

"The commitment shown by all of the team, throughout the team, has been phenomenal.”

"But we will only see when we come back in a couple of months’ time, with completely new cars.”

https://www.bitchute.com/video/4Ry0ERB2PTn3/

Horner: The engine will be branded as a Red Bull engine
Editor
23 January, 2022

The Red Bull team principal told RacingNews365: “It will be branded as a Red Bull engine. As part of our agreement with Honda, the engines continue to be assembled in Japan, in Sakura, with support and technical assistance from Japan.

Asked if they would be transferring the process to their factory, Horner replied: “Most likely. It’s something we’re in discussion about at the moment. The probability is that the engines will, as per 2022, continue to be produced and built in Japan and shipped to us.”

All the working personnel from HRD UK will transfer over to us

He added: “We’re very grateful to Honda to provide that olive branch as we transition into being an engine manufacturer. They’ll come as sealed units from Japan; all the race support will happen from Japan as well this year. It’s a technical agreement, so it’s very broad brush at the moment.”

Further information;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/23/horner-the-engine-will-be-branded-as-a-red-bull-engine-rb18/

New Red Bull engine chief to join in May after Mercedes agreement
• Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths

Hodgkinson’s arrival is seen as a coup by Red Bull given he has worked for Mercedes for over 20 years and been the German manufacturer’s head of mechanical engineering since 2017.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said at the time of Hodgkinson’s signing that his proven track record proved he was capable of “leading a like-minded team of highly skilled engineers.”

Hodgkinson is not the only Mercedes team member to make the switch to Red Bull, with five other engine staff also making the move over to Milton Keynes last year.

https://readmotorsport.com/2022/01/22/new-red-bull-engine-chief-to-join-in-may-after-mercedes-agreement/

Formula 1: Max Verstappen sends warning to Lewis Hamilton & co. ahead of next season
By George Dagless
Published: 24 Jan 2022, 10:58

Max Verstappen has said that he feels as though he can improve in several areas and make tweaks to get even better as a driver, in a potential warning to Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the Formula 1 field.

Providing the Red Bull is quick enough - and there's no reason why it shouldn't be - Verstappen will surely be one of those drivers to adapt quicker than most given his talent, but he himself admits that there are still areas that he would like to improve on in terms of his overall driving approach:

The Red Bull man is one of the best drivers on the grid so if he feels there are areas that he can get better in that is ominous for the rest of the field.

https://www.givemesport.com/1826371-formula-1-max-verstappen-sends-warning-to-lewis-hamilton-co-ahead-of-next-season

Verstappen explains where he can improve in 2022
Max Verstappen might have clinched the World Championship in 2021, but the Red Bull driver still feels that he can work on areas for improvement going forwards.
Author Anna Francis
Today, ‎07‎:‎00

"For me, I always say to myself, you're never perfect in any area," Verstappen said in an interview with personal sponsor CarNext.

"So let's say you're at 98 percent, whatever you can call it, I always look at it [as something] I can always improve.

"Because it's not, 'I can improve massively in this or massively in that'. It's just tiny things, or, how can I try to influence the weekend a bit better?

Further analysis;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen-explains-where-he-can-improve-in-2022

Fortitude

24th January 2022, 18:51

F1 chiefs decide next step amid Lewis Hamilton retirement threat
The FIA have been addressing the ruling of the deployment of the safety car following the controversy caused in last month’s season finale.
By Joshua Lees
18:02, 13 Jan 2022

“FIA President Mohammed Bin Sulayem has asked Secretary General Sport and recently appointed single-seater director Peter Bayer for proposals to review and optimise the organisation of the FIA structure for the 2022 season.”

Seven-time champ Lewis Hamilton is said to be ‘disillusioned’ with the sport following the controversies, and is reportedly waiting on the findings of the FIA before he makes a decision on his future.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/f1-chiefs-decide-lewis-hamilton-25940579

Call on F1 title chaos to be made two days before new season as Hamilton retirement rumours swirl
January 14th, 2022 9:27 am

“The outcome of the detailed analysis will be presented to the F1 Commission in February, and final decisions will be announced at the World Motor Sport Council in Bahrain on 18 March,” added the FIA.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/call-on-f1-title-chaos-to-be-made-two-days-before-new-season-as-hamilton-retirement-rumours-swirl/news-story/d2750997d6f08a0021f02ec777d91d5b

Lewis Hamilton’s retirement decision spoiled by FIA report date and Michael Masi could be fired following Abu Dhabi finale that handed Max Verstappen the title
Connor Andrews
14th January 2022, 8:32 am

Lewis Hamilton’s plans to leave his retirement decision until after the FIA’s inquiry into the controversial 2021 season finale have been complicated by the news the report won’t be ready until the new campaign.

However, that plan has now likely been scuppered with the news that the FIA won’t release the report until pre-season testing in February, with final decisions not announced until March 18.

That is just two days before the opening race of the 2022 season in Bahrain.

https://talksport.com/sport/motorsport/1020335/

Hamilton’s post-2021 silence ‘is not ok’ – report
ANDREW MAITLAND
JANUARY 24, 2022

Lewis Hamilton’s almost total silence since losing the 2021 title showdown against Max Verstappen is “not ok”.

That is the view of Bild newspaper correspondent Helmut Uhl…

“Don’t these fans have the right to hear a few words of explanation now that their heroes and role models aren’t standing on the top pedestal?”

“Perhaps they think their silent retreat is diplomacy. I see it as cowardice.”

VERY controversial views found here;

https://grandpx.news/hamiltons-post-2021-silence-is-not-ok-report/

Mercedes could have Charles Leclerc opportunity if Lewis Hamilton ends contract early
MERCEDES could soon be forced to reshuffle their driver line-up.
By CHARLIE GORDON
05:40, Mon, Jan 24, 2022

Mercedes could be landed with a blockbuster opportunity to recruit Charles Leclerc if Lewis Hamilton decides to end his contract early at the end of the 2022 season.

His deal was renewed in July of last year, midway through an electric F1 campaign in which he and Max Verstappen went toe-to-toe for the world title.

But when the Dutchman prevailed at Yas Marina in a thrilling but controversial final-lap shootout, Hamilton's long-term reaction suggests that he may have had a change of heart.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1554533/mercedes-toto-wolff-charles-leclerc-ferrari-lewis-hamilton-george-russell-f1-news

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has already hinted when Mick Schumacher could drive for Ferrari
MERCEDES team principal Toto Wolff teased when fans can expect to see Mick Schumacher drive for Ferrari.
By LIAM LLEWELLYN
15:52, Mon, Jan 24, 2022 | UPDATED: 15:53, Mon, Jan 24, 2022

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has hinted at when Mick Schumacher will drive for Ferrari. The 22-year-old, son of the legendary Michael, became an icon of the sport by winning six of his seven titles with the famous Italian team.

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1554987/Mercedes-boss-Toto-Wolff-hinted-Mick-Schumacher-Ferrari-f1-news

Steiner: Fittipaldi will replace Schumacher at Haas in event of Ferrari call-up
Pietro Fittipaldi filled in for the injured Romain Grosjean in the final two races of the 2020 season.
by Rob Kershaw
23 January 202223 January 2022

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has said that Pietro Fittipaldi will be next in line for a Haas drive if Mick Schumacher is needed at Ferrari in 2022.
“I’m happy for Mick and I obviously spoke about it with Mattia [Binotto],” he said in an interview with RACER.

“What it means for us is that Pietro will be very happy! In the end, this is part of being a partner and part of what we agreed to do. Obviously if you have a good car and want an experienced driver, Pietro’s done a good job for us before.”

https://formula1news.co.uk/steiner-fittipaldi-will-replace-schumacher-at-haas-in-event-of-ferrari-call-up/

Fortitude

25th January 2022, 11:07

AlphaTauri to prepare for pre-season with extra F1 test
Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda will return to the wheel of an F1 car as part of a private test session starting on Tuesday, AlphaTauri have confirmed to RacingNews365.com.
25th Jan 2022, ‎17‎:‎45
Author Mike Seymour
Co-author Dieter Rencken

AlphaTauri have arranged an extra track session for Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda to help them readjust to F1 machinery ahead of pre-season testing.

A team spokesperson confirmed to RacingNews365.com that a private, three-day test will be held at the Imola circuit from 25-27 January, using the 2020-spec AT01 car.

AlphaTauri are not the only team returning to action in the coming days, with Ferrari revealing that they will stage a test at Maranello this week.

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will be joined by test driver Robert Shwartzman for the four-day session, which also starts on Tuesday, using last year's SF21.

https://racingnews365.com/alphatauri-to-prepare-for-pre-season-testing-with-extra-f1-session

AlphaTauri can navigate F1's "unknown story" - Tost
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Tuesday 25 January 2022

Asked in an end-of-2021 interview with GPFans whether he was excited for the new season or whether there was a sense of trepidation given the changes, Tost replied: [It is a] Very unknown story because it's completely new everything.

"The AT-01 was already a good car, [the AT-02] was the next step forward and so why shouldn't they be able to make the AT-03, even if it's a completely new car, also very competitive?

"From the technological side, there are also different philosophies, and I just hope that we go in the right direction.

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74502/alphatauri-can-navigate-f1-s-unknown-story-tost/

What AlphaTauri is taking from Red Bull for 2022
Jan 15 2022
By Edd Straw

AlphaTauri has long leaned on Red Bull to run what used to be referred to as non-listed parts, which are now formally called transferrable components. This became a more formal strategy for the 2019 car, with the push for to increase the “synergy” in terms of components.

For 2022, it will lean on Red Bull’s ’22 designs in that area. It will have the option to expand on this for the 2023 car. We’ll take the gearbox, hydraulics and rear suspension from the 2022 Red Bull,” said technical director Jody Egginton. “The subtle difference is that all the aero surfaces on the suspension, the cladding, have to be team-specific. But the mechanical bits will be Red Bull’s.”

“The front the car will all be our own. Over the last three years we’ve sort of done mix and match. Sometimes we’ve taken more, in the first year of synergy [2019] we took pretty much all of the front suspension, then we took the inboard [suspension parts] and then in the final year we mixed it up.”

More technical details found here;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-alphatauri-is-taking-from-red-bull-for-2022/

Reduced Red Bull parts sharing a cause for concern at AlphaTauri
‎
The nature of the 2022 rule changes means that AlphaTauri can't depend on as many hand-me-downs from Red Bull. RacingNews365.com gets the latest from respective team bosses Franz Tost and Christian Horner.
18‎ ‎January‎ ‎18‎:‎00
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Thomas Maher

With the teams entering the second year of the new financial rules, which sees the budget cap shrink to $140 million dollars, the belt-tightening coincides with the introduction of the new technical regulations, meaning there's precious little carryover of older parts.

As a result, for the new season, AlphaTauri can't simply purchase older parts that were designed for use by the main Red Bull team prior to '22.

"It's a financial balance," Tost told RacingNews365.com when asked about how his team are coping with the new, extra hurdle.

More technical details found here;

https://racingnews365.com/reduced-red-bull-parts-sharing-a-cause-for-concern-at-alphatauri

AlphaTauri increases its partnership with Fantom
By Balazs Szabo on 23 Jan 2022, 14:30

Scuderia AlphaTauri has announced its latest global partnership with the highly scalable blockchain platform, Fantom ahead of the 2022 FIA Formula One season.

https://www.f1technical.net/news/23583

Fortitude

25th January 2022, 11:28

Zico

25th January 2022, 16:49

Ferrari back on track with four-day Fiorano test with 2021 car
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on
25th January 2022, 0:0124th January 2022, 23:59 | Written by Will Wood

Ferrari will run their 2021 car once more after announcing they would begin a four day private test at their Fiorano test track today. Ferrari academy driver Robert Shwartzman will start the test today, with race drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jnr sharing driving responsibilities in the car. Shwartzman will conclude the test on the Friday.

Over recent seasons, teams have been barred under the regulations from running tests using cars that were built to either the current or the previous year’s regulations. However teams will be allowed to use year-old cars this season due to the drastic change in rules for 2022.

“The difference is that if you look at the sporting regulations now, it is considered a ‘previous’ car, also a car from 2021,” explained Pirelli’s head of motorsport Mario Isola at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month. “In the past, the car from the year before was still considered a ‘current’ car.

Read more about Ferrari;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/01/25/racefans-round-up-25-01-4/

Rumour: Ferrari discovered ‘trick’ suspension for 2022
January 24, 2022 · by thejudge13

The 2022 Formula 1 car by Ferrari will have a “surprising” (and more aggressive) front axle according to sources close to the team – Indeed paddock rumour has it from Abu Dhabi in December that at least two teams may have designed a loophole and it could well be in the suspension area of the 2022 F1 car design.

Could we see another ‘Brawn GP’ situation this season? When a surprise design loophole gives a team a massive advantage in performance over the rest? Sources suggest that as the 2022 cars will have a rather different load distribution compared to the 2021 cars: that the front axle will produce less downforce compared to the past, balancing towards the levels generated by the rear aerodynamic elements.

Ferrari speculation;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/24/rumour-ferrari-discovered-trick-suspension-for-2022/

Ferrari expect big budget cap impact on 2022 upgrades
Date published: January 23 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies believes the budget cap has brought an end to piling on upgrades throughout a season.

Although Ferrari’s upgrade plan will not be like 2021, when it was “almost nil” due to their focus on the 2022 challenger, Mekies does not see how Ferrari can bring through upgrades in the same numbers as previous years now the budget cap is in force.

Therefore, it has become vital for teams like Ferrari to carefully plan out what upgrades they will look to bring, agreeing with each department what is achievable considering the budget restraints. But since these regulations are completely new for 2022, the upgrade plan could shift drastically if a major issue crops up in pre-season testing or the opening rounds that needs an urgent fix.

Development processes found here;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-budget-cap-impact-upgrades/

Why Ferrari’s Leclerc/Sainz pairing is F1’s best balanced
25th Jan 2022
By Edd Straw

Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have a complementary skillset and good relationship that makes the pairing “as good as it gets” according to the Formula 1 team’s racing director Laurent Mekies.

It’s not unusual for senior personnel in Formula 1 teams to talk up their current drivers, but Mekies should be taken serious given Leclerc and Sainz is arguably the best-balanced driver line-up in Formula 1. That’s for far broader reasons than the fact they ended 2021 separated by just 4.5 points – the narrowest margin of any pairing outside of pointless Haas.

One aspect Mekies picks up on is their feedback. This is a particularly strength for Sainz, who has proved over his six seasons in F1 so far that he’s an intensely analytical driver – something that has been refined through his experiences with Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren prior to joining Ferrari last year.

Ferrari analysis;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/why-ferraris-leclerc-sainz-pairing-is-the-best-in-f1/

Leclerc "weakness" fixed by Sainz
Sam Hall
Monday 24 January 2022

Charles Leclerc believes Carlos Sainz assisted to eradicate his "weakness" after the pair raced as team-mates for the first time last year.

"As always, when you have a new team-mate, you always learn with the new ways of how Carlos is approaching race weekends, the way he works, his talent and raw speed also, the way he takes the corners.”

"He had an amazing year. He pushed me very much to perform better at every race and it has just been extremely interesting.”

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74787/leclerc-weakness-fixed-by-sainz/

Well, Wolff explains why he ‘absolutely’ thinks Ferrari will be a threat in 2022
Ferrari improved to third in the Constructors' Standings in 2021, and Toto Wolff believes the Scuderia will be competitive in 2022.
by Rob Kershaw
4 January 2022

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is confident that Ferrari will cause disruption at the pointy end of the F1 grid in 2022, placing them among the teams that will be strong next year.

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-exp...i-threat-2022/

Ferrari: ‘very naive’ to assume catching Mercedes and Red Bull will be easy
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
04/01/2022

Ferrari says it would be “very naive” to expect it can easily close the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes under Formula 1’s new technical regulations this year.

Mercedes and Red Bull’s season-long title fight meant neither team could afford to shift focus to their 2022 challengers, giving its rivals renewed hope it can challenge the pair for both championships this year.

But Ferrari sporting director Laurent Mekies doesn’t expect Mercedes and Red Bull to be left playing catch up this year, despite both teams developing their 2021 cars until late in the season amid their title battle.

https://readmotorsport.com/2022/01/0...-will-be-easy/

Brad Pitt to star in $140-million Formula 1 movie
Editor
6 January, 2022

Hollywood appears to have been swooped up in Formula 1 mania in the wake of an epic 2021 season with Brad Pitt now reportedly set to make a big-budget Apple-backed movie with the sport as the theme.

The storyline is reportedly about an F1 veteran (Pitt) coming out of retirement to mentor a young upstart while trying to win a final World Championship.

Deadline reports that the budget for the project was in the $130-million to $140-million range “before above-the-line compensation” and adds that the big appeal is the star power of Pitt.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01...rmula-1-movie/

Alonso: Alpine set ‘benchmark’ in off-track operations
Date published: January 7 2022 - Henry Valantine

Fernando Alonso believes Alpine are “almost a benchmark team” when it comes to how they execute their plans at race weekends.

The team finished mid-table in the Constructors’ Championship, with Esteban Ocon’s win in Hungary alongside Alonso’s podium from Qatar being the high points of their season overall.

While their on-track performance didn’t match up to their rivals overall, Alonso acknowledged the need to put themselves in contention for victories in 2022 – having shifted their focus onto their new car early in the season.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...enchmark-team/

Alpine experiencing ‘encouraging’ signs for 2022
Date published: January 5 2022 - Henry Valantine

Alpine executive director Marcin Budkowski says he’s seeing “encouraging” signs at the team ahead of 2022, but admits it’s not yet possible to know where they stack up against others on the grid.

They pinpointed the need for their 2022 power unit to improve if they are to make a “big leap” in their performance. Away from the track, Budkowski credits behind-the-scenes changes in recent seasons beginning to “bear its fruits” for the team’s upturn, and hopes it will be able to continue.

“It has changed an awful lot in the last few years and that change is starting to bear its fruits. It certainly does at the track, and it certainly does at the factory, even though it is not visible yet because our focus for more than two years has been next year’s car.

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine...igns-2022-car/

Do you agree?

Fortitude

25th January 2022, 19:00

Mercedes - New F1 regulations laced with "landmines" and "treasure"
Ian Parkes
Monday 24 January 2022

Mercedes chief technical officer James Allison has labelled F1's new regulations for this year as being laced with "landmines" and "treasure".

"The ruleset is not only enormous, the regulations are about twice the size of what's preceded them, but they're all almost entirely different to what came before them.

"That has meant we've had to reinvent the car tip to toe. Everywhere you look it's completely new."

"And when everything is as new as this, then everywhere you look in that regulation set - twice as thick as the old one - there is opportunity and, of course, there's jeopardy.

Technical appreciation;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74846/mercedes-new-f1-regulations-laced-with-landmines-and-treasure/

Wolff predicts six-team fight for 2022 wins after end to "arms race"
GPFans Staff
Saturday 22 January 2022

Assessing the impact of the budget cap on this season, speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Wolff said: "Of course, the teams that had deep pockets weren't particularly happy that we lost an advantage there.

"But the whole thing had degenerated into an arms race between Red Bull, Ferrari and us. Now everything will be more balanced.

"I think there are five or six teams that can win in the future. That's good for sports. It's not always the same team that wins the Super Bowl."

Further thought provoking thoughts;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74765/wolff-predicts-six-team-fight-for-2022-wins-after-end-to-arms-race/

Mercedes: We've had to reinvent our car from tip to toe
Today, ‎10‎:‎40
Author RacingNews365 Staff

James Allison, Chief Technical Officer at Mercedes, says the team have effectively "reinvented" their car ahead of the 2022 season, with F1 introducing an overhauled set of technical regulations.

Spearheaded by a 'ground effect' aerodynamic concept, updated bodywork and bigger, 18-inch tyres, the new regulations will produce markedly different cars from those seen during the 2021 campaign.

Allison, a veteran of F1 who started out with Benetton in the early 1990s, says he has never before witnessed such a technical change in the sport.

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-weve-had-to-reinvent-our-car-from-tip-to-toe

JAMES ALLISON ON NEW REGULATIONS: “WE WILL LOOK AT OTHER CARS AND THINK ‘OH, WHY DIDN’T WE THINK OF THAT?’”
James Mackenzie 20 mins ago

Speaking in a Mercedes YouTube video, he said:

“I would imagine, given that the cars are so new and so different, that one or two cars on the grid will have got it really badly wrong. And they will have a terribly painful year.”

“I would imagine that all of us to some degree will have will have left things on the table that we just didn’t anticipate. And we will look at other cars and think ‘oh, why didn’t we think of that?’”

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/james-allison-on-new-regulations-we-will-look-at-other-cars-and-think-oh-why-didnt-we-think-of-that/

Lewis Hamilton future: David Coulthard's prediction for Mercedes man will please his fans
By George Dagless
Published: 25 Jan 2022, 11:00
David Coulthard’s thought;

"The big decision was when he committed to that new two-year [Mercedes] contract midway through last season. I don’t think Abu Dhabi changes anything. Of course, he would have liked to have won, and I think he was very emotional, as anyone would be under the circumstances.”

"But I think the reality is the shock was probably far less for him than it would have been for Toto [Wolff], or the rest of the team, or his fans. I can’t compare myself to Lewis in terms of success or speed but one thing I think I can relate to is that emotional detachment, once the moment’s gone.”

"The euphoria of success wears off quite quickly, and the disappointment of defeat wears off quite quickly as well."

More here;

https://www.givemesport.com/1827097-lewis-hamilton-future-david-coulthards-prediction-for-mercedes-man-will-please-his-fans

Fortitude

26th January 2022, 09:04

Why new floors should help enhance F1's wheel-to-wheel action in 2022
Special contributor
Mark Hughes
25 January 2022

Central to the whole concept of the new aero regulations for 2022 is the floor. Gone is the flat floor, which has been regulated since 1983, and in its place is a floor featuring two big channels running from front to rear either side of the central plank.

The total downforce generated will be roughly comparable, with any shortfall expected to have been recovered by the end of the season as the teams develop their understanding of the new cars. But it is the proportion of underbody/overbody downforce that will be crucial in improving the racing.

The floor channels are ‘venturi’ shaped, with a wide inlet, a narrowing central constriction and a wide outlet. With the ground forming the bottom surface of this shaped tunnel, the effect on the air pressure of the expanding section at the rear is for it to pull the air through the constricted section much faster than it would otherwise do.

Further information;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.tech-tuesday-why-new-floors-should-help-enhance-f1s-wheel-to-wheel-action-in.6WEBVH3iEhZhBvgKxTYSij.html

8 reasons the pecking order could be shaken up in 2022
Special contributor
Chris Medland
24 January 2022

Driver line-ups change, cars evolve and rules get tweaked all the time in Formula 1, but when at least one of those areas undergo a major overhaul, that’s when the term ‘a new era’ starts to appear.
And 2022 is a new era for Formula 1.

1. A whole new car for teams to get on top of
2. Closer on-track racing
3. A fierce development battle that could see order change dramatically throughout the season
4. Experience and adaptability will be key attributes for drivers
5. The bigger impact of the budget cap
6. A new driver pairing dynamic at Mercedes
7. Red Bull now in charge of their own engines
8. 18-inch tyres

Detailed analysis;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.8-reasons-the-pecking-order-could-be-shaken-up-in-2022.5nVpotgSdmqJnuP2TLAZgC.html

2022 18-inch tyres a ‘huge achievement’ says Pirelli boss as he reveals test findings
19 January 2022

Pirelli boss Mario Isola has outlined the findings from last season’s rigorous testing of the new-for-2022 18-inch tyres, which he hopes will help improve the racing spectacle alongside the brand-new breed of Formula 1 cars.

F1’s tyre suppliers held 28 days of testing for the new, larger tyres in 2021 using mule cars from nine out of 10 teams (Williams having opted out) and Isola – Pirelli’s Head of F1 and Car Racing – began 2022 by hailing the efforts of his motorsport team.

He said: “In a busy season with all the constraints and 22 races, it was, I believe, a big achievement [to develop the 18-inch tyre]. Also, because… this tyre is designed in a different way, with different targets: our drivers are asking for less overheating, less degradation, they want to push on tyres, they want to fight on track, and clearly we decided and we agreed with the FIA, FOM and the teams to follow this direction.

Methodology of the research, found here;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2022-18-inch-tyres-a-huge-achievement-says-pirelli-boss-as-he-reveals-test.ZRit4aSdGayVMKAXSXCai.html

How the front wing on the all-new 2022 cars has been designed to improve overtaking
Technical contributors
Mark Hughes and Giorgio Piola
18 January 2022

The starting point for the whole aero concept is always the front wing, as that’s where the onrushing air first encounters the car. Hence the 2022 front wing is radically different to what we’ve become used to – both in how it looks and how it works.

In terms of meeting the objectives of creating a car with a much cleaner, less disruptive aerodynamic wake, the number one priority of the new wing has been to banish the ‘Y250 vortex’ which was utilised on the previous front wing, where the 250mm gap between the nose and the inboard end of the wing elements was used to create a series of spinning air vortices which accelerated the whole airflow through there towards the bargeboards, with the aim being to push it as far outboard of the car as possible.

With the new wing, there is no longer a gap between the nose and the elements – which run up flush to the nose. There can no longer be a Y250 vortex which, together with the banning of bargeboards, means the air flows through the wing in a way which keeps it directed within the width of the car.

Although the resultant full-width elements give a greater total wing area than before, it actually produces less downforce. The less downforce produced, the less it will tend to disrupt the air – and the less sensitive it will be to disrupted airflow from the car in front.

Technical details found here;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.tech-tuesday-why-the-front-wing-will-be-a-key-technical-battleground-on-the.3Ep4LEu5mTMRkXrClOQtRg.html

Feature
DIARY DATES: The 2022 F1 calendar and F1 car launch schedule
14 January 2022

2022 F1 car launch dates

Aston Martin February 10

McLaren February 11

Ferrari February 17

Mercedes February 18

More diary dates;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.diary-dates-the-2022-f1-calendar-and-f1-car-launch-schedule.4ZhMPA89s04gy7YlNWypNf.html

Fortitude

26th January 2022, 11:21

Ferrari change test plans amid confusion over regulations
Ferrari will switch to a 2018-spec car for their private F1 test at Maranello, having initially announced that they would be using their 2021 contender.
25th Jan 2022, ‎14‎:‎05

Author Mike Seymour
Co-author Dieter Rencken

The team announced on Monday that they would be using their 2021-spec SF21 for the four-day session on the Fiorano circuit, seemingly in breach of the current testing regulations, which state that cars cannot be used from the previous year's championship.

A statement released by Ferrari on Tuesday afternoon read: "This morning, the test programme which Scuderia Ferrari was due to carry out, starting today at the Fiorano track, has been changed.

"While awaiting an update from the FIA as to how rules relating to 'Test Previous Cars', which establish the criteria for which cars can be used in this type of test, are being applied for 2022, the decision has been taken to use a 2018 SF71H car.

Details here;

https://racingnews365.com/ferrari-change-test-plans-amid-confusion-over-regulations

Ferrari: We will see less car development in 2022
Jad Mallak
25 January, 2022

Ferrari have been historically part of the big spenders club, but things will have to change now, as the cost cap will play a role in how they develop their car throughout the 2022 F1 season

In case of a major issue, the racing director revealed that budgets had to be re-shuffled around to recover from the setback.

“If you have a big issue at the beginning of the year and nothing is correlating and so on, you may invest some of your package two or package three money,” he explained, before concluding: “You need to fix it anyway now, so you take your parts, you put them into the bin and that’s the way you will deal with it.”

Ferrari’s racing director, Laurent Mekies explains more;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/25/ferrari-we-will-see-less-car-development-in-2022/

AlphaTauri testing as well, Ferrari change test plans
Editor
25 January, 2022

A report revealed that AlphaTauri are running a pre-season test for their drivers at Imola, while Ferrari announced that their initial test plans for this week have been altered.

The report that was published by RacingNews365.com, confirmed that the Faenza-based team are conducting a test for both its drivers Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda at Imola between January 25 and January 27 to get both drivers reacclimatized with Formula 1 machinery ahead of the 2022 season.

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/25/alphatauri-testing-as-well-ferrari-change-test-plans/

A racing fraternity
Words: Davide Marchi
Photography: Yann Rabanier
21 Jan 2022, 12:09

The world of sport is full of stories of competing brothers and motor racing is no exception.

However, of Formula One’s current twenty drivers, only one has a brother racing in a top category: Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow’s Monegasque driver, Charles Leclerc. His brother Arthur, three years his junior, is closely following in Charles’ own footsteps

https://www.ferrari.com/en-GB/magazine/articles/a-racing-fraternity-charlesleclerc

Bagwan

26th January 2022, 16:25

So , with so much more of the car's downforce coming from under the car , will the stewards have to spin the cars on a rotisserie to check for compliance with the rule book ?

I can't wait to see the F1 version of the "super flipper" at the front of the pit lane . They're flipped up , weighed , and instantly photographed and measured , all in one fluid motion , then sent on their way .

Of course , the alternative to that would obviously be to up the pit entry speed and put in a loop for them to drive on the way in , so that everyone in the crowd as well could see that drivers stay within the rules .

That particular idea certainly fits well with the rumoured plan to replace Masi with a robot , since it lets the crowd think their opinions matter , even if the real reason was that the robot was cheaper .

Some speculate that the real race this coming season will be harder to see than what's under the car as the hackers may be hard at work trying to control the robot .
Remember , that red team has a Russian firm doing cyber-security .
And , what's the likelihood of the new FIA president owning a red car ?
Is Lewis afraid of robots ?
Lewis is obviously afraid of George .
Is George actually a robot ?
If so , don't his arms contravene the rules about moveable aerodynamic devices ?
Normally , they would be removed and sent to the scrutineers , but , I have yet to see any news from the FIA about this subject at all .

So many questions .

airshifter

27th January 2022, 08:01

From what I've seen, we will still be able to see most of the aero goodies that matter on the floor section. There isn't a lot of leeway on the tunnels themselves, but the various vanes and fences will probably be where the teams differ the most. Compared to recent years the cars will look almost bare from the side views, without the loads of little flip ups and crazy fences all over the place. Craig Scarborough seems to think that the damage done on cubs and such might be quite a bit less, and the cars overall a little more robust as far as aero damage is concerned.

Though I'm fairly sure George isn't a robot, I think he will come out of the gate charging hard and trying to stamp some authority on his position on the team. I'm sure to some extent having a new driver on the team will impact Lewis some, especially being it's the new cars and his previous advantage of familiarity is mostly gone. That is assuming of course that Merc get it right and stay one of the teams near the front. With the new cars we just don't know... plenty of teams have spent a lot of money to get it horribly wrong in seasons with new regs.

Everything I've been seeing so far leads me to think the cars should be closer to each other this year. I sure hope so. And if the changes in aero wash are as great as many expect them to be, the opportunities for tighter racing should be a lot more frequent.

Another interesting things mentioned by ScarbsF1 is that with the new cars, the best place to follow will likely be nose to tire, rather than directly behind. Due to the vast changes in how wash will be directed he thinks that will become common as the most advantageous from the aero perspective. If so that might lead to some really interesting "dummies" with the driver following to the left and then ducking right to make the pass. But it could also mean that either driver getting it wrong leaves even less room to correct, so it might result in more attempts going bad suddenly.

I'm really, really, really hoping the pack tightens up and we have several constructors in the hunt for titles. Though I've watched and enjoyed F1 for quite some time, the years of team dominance often make the race at the front boring, and often they still don't show the better racing back in the pack as much as they should.

Fortitude

27th January 2022, 08:55

No spectators or live television coverage at first test for new 2022 F1 cars
2022 F1 season
Posted on
26th January 2022, 14:33 | Written by Keith Collantine
Formula 1 teams’ new cars for 2022 will run together for the first time behind closed doors with no live timing or television coverage, the series has confirmed.

F1 described the opening test as “a lower key, pre-testing track session” which will “[allow] the teams to shake down their all-new-for-’22 cars for the first time in the same place”.

So-called shakedown tests typically involve a limited amount of running over a single day. Mercedes has previously announced its new W13 will “be put through a shakedown programme to complete initial system checks on the Silverstone circuit” on February 18th.

https://www.racefans.net/2022/01/26/no-spectators-or-live-television-coverage-at-first-test-for-new-2022-f1-cars/

‘One or two teams will get new cars really badly wrong’ – Allison
2022 F1 season
Posted on
24th January 2022, 22:04 | Written by Keith Collantine

Mercedes chief technical officer James Allison believes the scale of the change in the overhauled technical regulations for the 2022 Formula 1 season means at east one team is likely to have made a serious error with their new design.

“But it’s a brilliantly exciting thing to contemplate precisely because none of us know,” he continued. “One of the things that is the essence of sport is not knowing we all of us have done our level best – I’m talking about everyone in our team, everyone in every other team – we’ll have done our level best to try to find a design and an approach that will be a happy match to this new regulation set. And we’ll all get to find out together at the start of this season and the races that unfold from there exactly how that shakes out.”

https://www.racefans.net/2022/01/24/one-or-two-teams-will-get-new-cars-really-badly-wrong-allison/

[B]FIA expects ‘more exciting’ 2022 F1 season with ‘more cars in the mix’ for Grand Prix wins
Teams like Alfa Romeo and Haas could have more race wins under their belt this season
Sarah Rendell
27 Jan 2022.

Head of Single Seater Technical Matters at the FIA, Nikolas Tombazis, says he expects those underdog teams to challenge for race wins.

“It is difficult to expect it to be more exciting than [2021] because that is a very high point of reference,” said Tombazis, quoted by Autosport. “But I think once there’s a bit of convergence, I think there will be more cars in the mix and I think that would be positive.

“When I was looking at some old championships, I read recently we once had 11 winners in a year and you could win a championship with a few wins. I’m not saying we will get to that point, but of course I think to have more variability would be good.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/fia-new-cars-f1-2022-season-b1997937.html

How the increasing weight of F1 cars is giving teams a headache
‎20‎ ‎January‎ ‎13‎:‎45

F1 cars will become even heavier in 2022, leading to a whole host of considerations for teams and drivers. RacingNews365.com spoke with Alfa Romeo Technical Director Jan Monchaux for some insight into the situation.
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Mike Seymour

"We have increased safety, which comes along with quite a severe weight addition on the car, but with all the additions on the regs and the bigger tyres, bigger rims, bigger brake discs, the weight is clearly a big, big topic for all the teams," he explained.

"It is going to be extremely challenging; it is certainly a big, big factor for us. I suppose a touch more difficult," he said, when asked if the next generation of cars will be harder or easier to drive.

"It's going to be heavier, which is not necessarily great, and I suppose, even if all the teams are very creative, we will struggle to recover the authority we used to have on some specific aero characteristics, as was the case [before].

https://racingnews365.com/how-the-increasing-weight-of-f1-cars-is-causing-issues

Fortitude

28th January 2022, 11:04

ON TRACK AT FIORANO WITH THREE DRIVERS
Maranello 24 January 2022

Scuderia Ferrari takes to the track for the very first time in 2022 this week at the Fiorano circuit. However, this is not a surprise debut for this year’s world championship challenger, which goes by the project code number 674 and will break cover in a few weeks time, on 17th February to be precise.

https://www.ferrari.com/en-GB/formula1/articles/on-track-at-fiorano-with-three-drivers

Ferrari drivers happy with 'wake up call' run at Fiorano
Phillip van Osten28/01/2022 at 07:4128/01/2022 at 07:54

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz returned to action this week with Ferrari, the pair kicking off in earnest their preparations for 2022 with a full day of running at Fiorano.

Amid cold conditions at Fiorano, test driver Robert Shartzman was entrusted on Wednesday with the opening day of running with Sainz taking over on Thursday morning and completing a trouble-free 59 laps.

Leclerc took over from the Spaniard in the afternoon to rake up 48 laps - or 143 kilometres - onboard Ferrari's SF71H.

In between runs, Sainz and Leclerc ventured over to an area where a group of tifosi had braved the cold weather and assembled to watch the day's proceedings to salute the fans and hand out signed caps.

More detail here;

https://f1i.com/news/430972-ferrari-drivers-happy-with-wake-up-call-run-at-fiorano.html

Leclerc and Sainz complete first laps of 2022 for Ferrari
Date published: January 27 2022 - Mark Scott

The Fiorano event, which is becoming somewhat of a traditional ritual for the Scuderia, concludes on Friday with Shwartzman returning for another blast.

Following their worst result in four decades, Ferrari’s road to resurgence took a step in the right direction by finishing P3 in the Constructors’ Championship during the 2021 season, seeing off a sustained challenge from old foes McLaren.

Key members of the Ferrari outfit, team boss Mattia Binotto included, are quietly confident of more success in 2022 with wholesale regulation changes coming into effect.

Project 674 is the working title given to Ferrari’s as yet unnamed 2022 challenger, due to be unveiled to the world on February 17.

Further background;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/charles-leclerc-carlos-sainz-first-2022-laps-ferrari/

Can rejuvenated Ferrari take the lead in F1’s new era?
F1
Lewis Larkam
27 Jan 2022

Having spent the last two seasons in recovery mode, there is a renewed sense of optimism surrounding Ferrari heading into Formula 1’s new era of regulations.

F1’s most famous team was able to recover large amounts of its power deficit last year on its way to beating arch rivals McLaren to third place in the 2021 constructors’ championship after a fierce season-long tussle.

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said the achievement provided the Italian outfit with “serenity” heading into the winter and the 2022 season. The ability to jump from sixth to third, despite largely focusing its development efforts on the 2022 rules reset, made Ferrari’s progress all the more impressive.

Further comments;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/995766/1/can-rejuvenated-ferrari-take-lead-f1-s-new-era

Mekies explains upgrade process under F1 budget cap
Date published: January 27 2022 - Michelle Foster

Last season Formula 1 introduced a budget cap, the teams allowed to spend just $145 million, a huge blow to the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull who were spending triple that in previous years.

For many of the teams their 2021 budget went on designing and building this year’s all-new cars with some teams, such as Alfa Romeo and Haas, not spending a penny on updating last year’s cars.

Others, most notably Red Bull, continued to update their 2021 car for most of the season, the Milton Keynes squad focused on winning the World title for Max Verstappen. Ferrari had a more even split, introducing a few early season upgrades before turning their full focus onto 2022.

Further insight here;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-upgrade-process-2022/

Fortitude

28th January 2022, 18:51

Honda had ‘rethink’ after F1 exit – Marko
JANUARY 28, 2022
ANDREW MAITLAND

Honda will be more deeply involved in Red Bull’s Formula 1 program this year and beyond than was previously thought.

Officially, the Japanese carmaker has already departed as Red Bull’s works F1 partner. The energy drink company intended to use Honda’s engine IP this year and beyond whilst building up its own Red Bull Powertrains offshoot.

However, Dr Helmut Marko says those plans have changed.

“We don’t have to touch the engines until 2025, because they will come entirely from Japan,” the Austrian told Autorevue.

“So the intellectual property will remain with Honda. We will then be a newcomer under the new regulations of 2026.”

https://grandpx.news/honda-had-rethink-after-f1-exit-marko/

CHANGE OF PLAN: HONDA WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPLY ENGINES TO RED BULL
Lena Ferle
28 th Jan 2022.

Honda wanted to stop supplying engines directly to Red Bull Racing and thus AlphaTauri for the 2022 season. Pulling out of F1 originally meant that Red Bull would now produce its own powertrains with the help of Honda. This decision has now been changed – Honda will remain in Formula 1.

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/change-of-plan-honda-will-continue-to-supply-engines-to-red-bull/

Red Bull engines now coming from Honda until 2025
Date published: January 28 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

In an interview with Autorevue magazine, Marko said: “We have now also found a completely different solution to the one originally envisaged.

“The engines will be manufactured in Japan until 2025, we will not touch them at all. That means that the rights and all these things will remain with the Japanese, which is important for 2026 because it makes us newcomers.

“In the course of our ever greater successes, a certain rethinking has taken place among the Japanese. And also that they could of course use the battery knowledge for their electrification phase.

“It was initially planned that they would only make our motors for 2022. Now it has been decided that this will continue until 2025, which is of course a huge advantage for us. This means we only have to make fine adjustments and calibrations.”

More detail;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull-extend-honda-engine-deal/

F1 Froze Engine Development Because Honda Left Red Bull. Now Honda's Back.
Was Honda exempt from the freeze since it wasn't technically in Formula One? Will Red Bull Racing have the advantage?
By Elizabeth Blackstock
Today 10:28AM

As with most things in F1, this decision has come with a lot of speculation. Should this move by Red Bull be considered cheating? Did they actively lie to F1 to freeze the powertrains, only to catch everyone off guard by keeping Honda’s efforts? Should F1 immediately lift the development freeze? Could Honda have undertaken engine development in secret? Did Red Bull use this opportunity to intentionally poach engineers from competitors? Or was it legitimately just a case where Honda rethought its original business strategy?

Speculation in detail;

https://jalopnik.com/f1-to-froze-engine-development-because-honda-left-red-b-1848439340

Honda to continue supplying Red Bull's engines until 2025
NEWS STORY
28/01/2022

Marko suggests that Honda's change of heart was largely influenced by Max Verstappen's title win.

"In the course of our ever-greater successes, a certain rethinking has taken place among the Japanese," says the Austrian. "Also that they could of course use the battery knowledge for their electrification phase.

Further information;

https://www.pitpass.com/71746/Honda-to-continue-supplying-Red-Bulls-engines-until-2025

Fortitude

29th January 2022, 17:31

Crisis unfolds: Aston Martin will not make first test
January 28, 2022 · by thejudge13

“The car is miles behind to the point if it makes 1st test at Barcelona on Feb 23rd everyone will be so surprised you’ll hear the cheer from outer space….”

Despite being first out of the blocks with the show car, TJ13 understands that the real car will be far from ready when the first winter tests start later in February. Furthermore the source reveals that:

Shocking update here;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/28/crisis-unfolds-aston-martin-will-not-make-first-test/

Aston Martin details revealed, but all is not well
January 27, 2022 · by thejudge13

The Aston Martin Formula 1 team has announced the time of the unveiling of its new F1 car for the 2022 season, the AMR22, which will be driven by Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll this year.

But rumblings persist around the Aston Martin Formula 1 team that all is not well, story to be continued…

Rumblings to be read here;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/01/27/aston-martin-details-reviewed-but-all-is-not-well/

Ralf suggests Vettel as potential Hamilton replacement
Date published: January 15 2022 - Finley Crebolder

Ralf Schumacher feels Sebastian Vettel would be a strong candidate for the Mercedes seat should Lewis Hamilton vacate it.

If Hamilton did choose to walk away from the sport, Wolff and co would of course have to find a last-minute replacement for him – and Schumacher thinks Vettel would be a logical choice.

“The experience Sebastian has, the speed he still has,” he told Sky Deutschland by way of explanation.

More on Ralf Schumachers speculation;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sebastian-vettel-ralf-mercedes/

Sebastian Vettel admits debut Aston Martin disappointment wasn’t what he signed up for
SEBASTIAN VETTEL endured a difficult first campaign with Aston Martin, and is hoping for an upturn in fortunes going forward.
By DANIEL MOXON
05:01, Mon, Jan 17, 2022

Reflecting on the season, Vettel admitted that it wasn't exactly what he had "signed up for".

"I think the team’s great – I really enjoy working with the team, and I think it’s been a big change obviously," he said. "But no in terms of the results, obviously. The whole team and myself, we were hoping for more.”

"I think we got hurt quite badly by the regulation changes as the team had a great car [in 2020] but not [in 2021], so we did what we could."

More Sebastian Vettel reflections;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1550981/Sebastian-Vettel-Aston-Martin-disappointment-F1-news

Fortitude

29th January 2022, 20:19

No concerns at Red Bull after crash test failure rumours emerge
RacingNews365.com understands there are no concerns at Red Bull regarding their new RB18 after rumours of the chassis failing FIA crash tests emerged.
29/01/2022, ‎16‎:‎10
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Rumours have recently emerged regarding Red Bull's 2022 Formula 1 car, with a report in Italian media suggesting that the RB18 has failed the FIA's frontal crash tests for the new regulations.

It would not be the first time an Adrian Newey-penned design has fallen foul of the FIA tests, with Newey's 2003 McLaren MP4-18 never actually taking part in a Grand Prix after being troubled from the start.

The rumours appear to centre on Red Bull's failure to confirm a launch date for the RB18, as the majority of the teams have now done so – including Red Bull sister team AlphaTauri.

Further analysis;

https://racingnews365.com/no-concerns-at-red-bull-after-crash-test-failure-rumours-emerge

Former Top Gear ‘Stig’ warns Red Bull could be hit hard by 2022 shake-up
Sir Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battled for the championship in 2021, and took 19 race wins between them.
by Rob Kershaw
29 January 2022

With scope for development seemingly being largely reduced, McCarthy suggests that this may take some weapons out of the Milton Keynes-based team’s armoury.

“I wonder if the new regs may damage Red Bull a little bit because, you know, as they’re coming down on the arrows, or at least changing the aero, the aerodynamics, principally we’ve always felt that Red Bull are masters in the art of aerodynamics and their downforce may be better than anybody else,” he philosophised.

“Maybe if you take some of those toys away, they might not have that advantage to play on.

“So they might have to look at other things.“

Further insight & analysis;

https://formula1news.co.uk/former-top-gear-stig-warns-red-bull-could-hard-2022-shake-up/

Horner wary of rules reset: It'd be foolish to underestimate any team
In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365.com, Christian Horner has offered his thoughts on the 2022 rule changes and how they might impact the pecking order.
29/01/2022, ‎19‎:‎00
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Mike Seymour

Horner admitted that the pecking order is difficult to predict, and is not ruling out the prospect of a team leaping forward from the back of the grid.

"I think it's probable that the big teams will be at the front. Which order they'll be in is difficult to predict," Horner told RacingNews365.com in an exclusive interview, when asked if he thinks the momentum will continue from 2021, with Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren in the lead pack.

"The big challenge for 2022 is that one, the budget is reduced by five million, and two, every component is different, is brand-new. [We've got] a new chassis, new steering wheel, new pedals, new suspension – new everything! That obviously carries a considerable cost with it.

Christian Horner full interview;

https://racingnews365.com/horner-wary-of-rules-reset-itd-be-foolish-to-underestimate-any-team

Lewis Hamilton warned Max Verstappen's new Red Bull car 'already as good as title winner'
MERCEDES superstar Lewis Hamilton has been given an ominous warning ahead of his bid to regain the world championship.
By ANDREW GAMBLE
18:51, Sat, Jan 29, 2022

World champion Max Verstappen will have a fast car as he attempts to defend his title in 2022, with Red Bull’s 2022 machinery allegedly as quick as the 2021 version. Red Bull are one of four teams yet to announce the presentation date of the new car ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Motorsport.com reported the new Red Bull car did not pass the frontal crash test, which perhaps has delayed the Milton Keynes-based outfit’s announcement.

However, Red Bull Racing chief technical officer Adrian Newey is reportedly not worried.

There have been several reports that the RB18 is already faster than the RB16B in the simulator.

Further news;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1557898/Lewis-Hamilton-warned-Max-Verstappen-s-new-Red-Bull-car-already-as-good-as-title-winner

Verstappen’s salary already ‘close to limit’, say Red Bull
Date published: January 29 2022 - Mark Scott

We have already seen team principal Christian Horner recently sign a new five-year deal to remain as Red Bull boss and Verstappen appears to be the next high-profile Red Bull employee on the list.

“We are in the process of extending all contracts by five years to ensure continuity within Red Bull,” motorsport advisor Dr Helmut Marko is quoted has having told Autorevue.

“We will be having talks with Max in the coming weeks. His manager was difficult to approach because his son and Jos Verstappen were at the 24-hour race in Dubai.”

More here;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-verstappen-red-bull-salary/

Fortitude

30th January 2022, 12:24

Verstappen Mercedes link 'cracked' as Wolff rues Horner fights - GPFans F1 Recap
Max Verstappen is unlikely to entertain any future thoughts of joining Mercedes due to "a real crack" opening up between the driver and team following the events of last season's British Grand Prix.
Ian Parkes
Saturday 29 January 2022 23:30

That is the verdict of Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who feels the Verstappens - including father Jos - were left dismayed by Mercedes' behaviour at Silverstone.

erstappen had been courted by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff prior to the 24-year-old opting to join forces with Red Bull, since when the pair then always maintained a healthy relationship.

Last July's British GP, however, altered the perspective as Verstappen pulled no punches in condemning Mercedes for showing a lack of respect in celebrating a Lewis Hamilton victory while he was in hospital after the Briton had sent the Dutch driver into a barrier at 150mph following their lap-one collision.

More details;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74975/verstappen-less-inclined-to-join-mercedes-due-to-real-crack-in-relationship-marko/

Marko praises Perez: There's a big difference between him and Bottas

Helmut Marko says Sergio Perez proved that he "doesn't break" under pressure during the 2021 F1 season.
30/01/2022, 07:00
AuthorThomas Maher

It was Perez's mental fortitude that impressed Marko the most, with the Austrian saying the team's new signing simply "didn't break" during his rollercoaster campaign.
"It's clear to us that there is currently no driver who can stand up to Verstappen in qualifying," Marko told AutoRevue. But then you need someone who won't break – that has happened with Perez."
As for where Perez needs to improve, Marko highlighted his qualifying performances. "If you start ninth or 11th, all the qualities he undoubtedly has in the race won't help you," Marko said.

Further comments;

https://racingnews365.com/marko-praises-perez-big-difference-between-him-and-bottas

Verstappen "always exploded" but now a calmer figure
GPFans Staff
Sunday 30 January 2022 08:30

During the early stages of Verstappen's career, the Dutchman found himself in front of former FIA race director Charlie Whiting on occasion due to his driving standards that angered his on-track rivals.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, speaking to Austrian magazine Autorevue, revealed: "This maturation process was sometimes not so visible from the outside, but it quickly reached a peak because when something didn't go right in training he always exploded. Today he is calm. We had technical problems a couple of times. Now he just sees the whole thing."

Marko feels it served Verstappen well with regards to his maturity that he did not have a title-challenging car in his first few years with the team. Conversely, Marko also feels Verstappen deserves praise for opting to remain with Red Bull through difficult times when he could have moved elsewhere.

Further insight;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74992/verstappen-always-exploded-but-now-a-calmer-figure/

Perez pushed by Verstappen and the media
Date published: January 28 2022 - Ben Johnston

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez says that his first season with the team was very intense as he teamed up with Max Verstappen in 2021.

Perez joined Red Bull from Racing Point ahead of the 2021 season after losing his seat to Sebastian Vettel.

It took Perez time to find his feet at Red Bull but when he did, he really stepped up and feels that the pressure applied by Verstappen last season helped him, as did the media’s reaction to him joining the team.

More analysis;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio-perez-pushed-by-max-verstappen-media/

Exclusive: Perez ready to find another gear after 'starting from zero' at Red Bull
Sergio Perez has spoken exclusively to RacingNews365.com about his first season at Red Bull and how he hopes to apply the many lessons learned in 2022.
26 January, 11:45
AuthorDieter Rencken
Co-authorMike Seymour

Sergio Perez feels that he has reached "another level" as a driver thanks to his rollercoaster first season with Red Bull, describing his adaptation to the team as a "great challenge".

Having spent the previous seven F1 campaigns with the Force India/Racing Point operation after being dropped by McLaren, Perez was given a chance to return to front-running machinery when Red Bull opted to look outside of their own talent pool for 2021.
"Basically, I had to start from zero, learn new techniques of setting up the car, of driving the car, and it's been a great challenge. I think it has put me into another level as a driver, [in] that I had to learn a different way of driving.

"The car is unbelievable when it's at its right window. [But] it's very, very challenging to get the tyres and to get the car in that sweet spot – it's not been easy."

Great analysis;

https://racingnews365.com/exclusive-perez-ready-to-find-another-gear-after-starting-from-zero-at-red-bull

Fortitude

30th January 2022, 12:56

McLaren's Key seeking more 'balanced' car for 2022

McLaren believes F1's new regulations has allowed it the opportunity to field a more balanced car in 2022, with its all-new contender enjoying better strength in slow-speed corners than its predecessors.
Michael Delaney 29/01/2022, at 14:53

McLaren technical director James Key has centered part of his efforts for 2022 on conceiving a new design that will offer better low-speed performance.

"We did pay a lot of attention to drag on the 2020 car, and as we did for the ’19 car, that was a bit before my time, but I know that was a priority for that car and it all carried through," Key said, quoted by Motorsport.com.

"Efficiency is good. I think what we’ve seen with straight-line braking, which is one of our strengths, and high-speed corners reflects the sort of performance we can generate with the nature of the car we have.

Further discussion;

https://f1i.com/news/431057-mclarens-key-seeking-more-balanced-car-for-2022.html

Technical Insight: Pull rod suspension confirmed on McLaren MCL36
by Rosario Giuliana
30/01/2022, 12:26

Teams have begun teasing images of their cars and McLaren has been particularly active on social media throughout January. Although the images have mostly been obscured, we can begin to gather some small details, thanks to a video of their engine fire-up.

Through the video clips and photos published, we were able to take a first technical look, managing to capture some small fundamental details on what will be the 2022 car of the Woking team.

It appears McLaren have abandoned the push rod suspension philosophy in favour of a return to the pull rod layout, which could be motivated by the larger 18″ Pirelli wheels.

Excellent reporting and analysis;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/01/30/technical-insight-pull-rod-suspension-confirmed-on-mclaren-mcl36/

Two big questions for McLaren in 2022: Can Ricciardo and Norris return their team to glory?
30 January 2022

Fourth in the 2021 constructors’ standings, this outfit aims to fight their way back to the very front of the grid and emulate the results that cemented their place in Formula 1 legacy, with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo at the wheel.

Can McLaren challenge for wins and podiums consistently in 2022? Under the (quite possibly papaya) bodywork of the MCL36 will lie the aforementioned Mercedes power unit which propelled the Silver Arrows to an eighth consecutive championship in 2021. So there’s probably no need for McLaren to worry about power struggles.

McLaren have been more reserved about their winter gains, but that shouldn’t detract from their potential; CEO Zak Brown and Team Principal Andreas Seidl have assembled a solid technical team….

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.two-big-questions-for-mclaren-in-2022-can-ricciardo-and-norris-return-their.uHaNr1O75vJ0Te1Qo3or1.html

MUST-SEE: McLaren fire up their 2022 car, the MCL36
27 January 2022

McLaren have reached a landmark moment in the development of their all-new 2022 car, the MCL36, with the team firing up the Mercedes power unit in the back of the machine on Wednesday.

McLaren enter the new era of Formula 1 off the back of their highest-scoring season since 2012, with Daniel Ricciardo having secured their first victory in nine years at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.must-see-mclaren-fire-up-their-2022-car-the-mcl36.1mzHONSVuQ59w3aI34s4mc.html

THE ‘STAGGERING’ PROBLEM MCLAREN FIXED IN ITS F1 RECOVERY
Jan 27 2022
By Scott Mitchell

There were hints of core organisational and cultural weaknesses in the McLaren structure when various operational errors and reliability problems took Lewis Hamilton out of the 2012 championship fight – McLaren’s most recent title challenge.

That’s thanks in no small part due to McLaren committing to deep “cultural changes”, according to technical director James Key, primarily aimed at “being very open with stuff and removing the blame cultures. Not that they were necessarily an issue when we arrived,” adds Key, who joined McLaren in early 2019. “But definitely not have them at all so people were free to talk and attack issues in a very sort of mature and open way.”

“There was a BIG blame culture,” says McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown. “And James would have just caught the tail end of it. So, if he didn’t think it was that bad, that’s because he was part of the solution. Not part of the problem!”

VERY revealing and interesting article;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-staggering-problem-mclaren-fixed-in-its-f1-recovery/

F1nKS

30th January 2022, 19:26

Fortitude

30th January 2022, 19:27

Red Bull and Mercedes 2022 F1 cars fail FIA crash tests
Editor (Grandprix247)
30 January, 2022

The Italian branch of Motorsport reported that Red Bull’s RB18 has failed the front FIA mandatory homologations crash test, and that may be the reason why the Milton Keynes outfit are yet to announce a date for their 2022 F1 machine.

The publication also reported that Mercedes’ W13 has faced the same fate and failed the side impact test, and thus the 2022 F1 cars for both of last season’s title rivals are yet to be homologated by the FIA.

Like the Red Bull RB18, the report claims that the W13 (of Mercedes) will also have a long wheel base close to the 3,600mm regulation limit, to extract maximum downforce from the car’s Venturi channels.

MORE details;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/30/red-bull-and-mercedes-2022-f1-cars-fail-fia-crash-tests/

Mercedes reportedly join Red Bull in failing crash test
Date published: January 30 2022 - Henry Valantine

The teams have been hard at work to finalise the designs of their car ahead of the new era of Formula 1, which Mercedes design boss James Allison says sees the biggest regulation changes in the sport’s history take effect.

“It has been incredibly hard,” Allison said on a video posted by the team.

“Very challenging, and long, to get our heads around this and to try to figure out what the best response is to these regulations, and where the opportunity is to be found in order to put a car on the track in a few short weeks from now, that gives us a chance of being competitive right from the beginning.”

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-reportedly-fail-2022-crash-test/

Red Bull reportedly unfazed after failing frontal crash test
Date published: January 30 2022 - Michelle Foster

The Italian edition of Motorsport.com reports that the car “would not have passed the earlier crash test for chassis homologation.

“At Cranfield, where the British teams converge for dynamic tests, Red Bull would have registered a failure in the front of the car that would force Milton Keynes’s team to review the ability to absorb energy from the nose and the chassis in the front.”

Many pundits are predicting Red Bull, with Newey at the helm – a designer famously said to be able to “see air” – could have an advantage over the chasing pack with the new regulations.

Further information;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull-unfazed-failing-frontal-crash-test/

Aston Martin deny claim they may miss Barcelona test
Date published: January 30 2022 - Michelle Foster

Aston Martin have rubbished a report that their 2022 challenger won’t be on track at the Spanish test, saying “we will be ready”.

A spokesman for the team told Speedweek.com: “Work on our 2022 vehicle is making good progress and we will be ready for the first winter test in Barcelona.”

https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-martin-deny-missing-barcelona-test/

airshifter

30th January 2022, 23:11

These couple headlines don't bode well for Aston Martin. I guess somebody has to finish last, might as well be Aston Martin.

I think they have already squashed the info as rumors, and expect to be ready for testing without issues.

Fortitude

31st January 2022, 05:09

Ferrari's 2022 F1 car set for airbox tweak
Ferrari will unveil its 2022 challenger on the 17th February and it could change tact in a notable design area.
By: Matthew Somerfield
Co-author: Giorgio Piola
Jan 30, 2022, 11:46 AM

According to rumours filtering in from Maranello, the team could return to a triangular shaped airbox, without the two horns that set the SF21 apart from the rest last season.

However, with the shape of the sidepods having to undergo an extensive redesign for 2022 it may have opted to repackage the various radiators and electronics housed around the power unit and in the sidepods.

Further information on Ferrari ‘tweaking’ and redesigns;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferraris-2022-f1-car-set-for-airbox-tweak/7734296/

Ferrari explain "no compromise" 2022 approach
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has explained "no compromises" have been made with the team's 2022 car as the Scuderia eye "long-term" success.
GP Fans
Sam Hall
Sunday 30 January 2022 17:30

F1 raced to a budget cap for the first time last season with Ferrari electing to stop development early to focus on the coming year, compromising 2021 to ensure no such compromise in '22.

"As Ferrari, as first, we identified 2022 as our top priority, so no compromises have been done in developing the 2022 cars. The reason for putting 2022 as a top priority is, I think, quite straight and obvious.”

More Ferrari;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74837/ferrari-explain-no-compromise-2022-approach/

New rules could mean rapid design convergence, warns Ferrari
Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies has suggested that all Formula 1 cars could look more or less the same as soon as next season, as a result of the new technical regulations being introduced.
Andrew Lewin30/01/2022 at 11:33

“There is less freedom, definitely,” Mekies said. “We are all excited, because it’s going to be completely different compared to last year. But how different will the cars be from each other? We will see.

"The first go at it, we may see enough difference to our liking, all of us," he continued. "I think the first go at it, you say: 'Okay that’s not too bad.'

Further Ferrari analysis;

https://f1i.com/news/431080-new-rules-could-mean-rapid-design-convergence-warns-ferrari.html

Ferrari drivers happy with 'wake up call' run at Fiorano
The Scuderia had initially programmed a four-day test using its 2021 car but a confusion over Formula 1's sporting regulations forced the team to dust off and roll out its 2018-spec SF71H and reduce its schedule to three days.
Phillip van Osten28/01/2022 at 07:41

"At the moment, like all the other drivers in fact, we are working in the simulator or training really hard in the gym," commented Sainz. However, when it comes to demands placed on the body, nothing can match actually being in the car.”

"That’s why, being able to drive before the start of the season, no matter in what car, is always very useful for a driver. It gives your body a wake-up call, reminding you what it means to be a Formula 1 driver."

More about the Ferrari ‘wake up call’;

https://f1i.com/news/430972-ferrari-drivers-happy-with-wake-up-call-run-at-fiorano.html

Sainz: Driving at Fiorano is always special
Editor
29 January, 2022

Carlos Sainz feels that driving at Fiorano is always special, after he concluded his driving duties in the private test held at the Ferrari-owned circuit, and that was rounded off in Friday.

Sainz said at the end of his test: “Exactly one year ago, I drove a Ferrari for the first time, and I have to say that, even if a lot of things have changed, given that I now know everyone and I feel really at home, driving here is always special.
“I was very happy to see so many of our fans watching from outside the track, which is why I wanted to go and say hello to them when I’d finished my session.”

Scuderia Ferrari insights;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/29/sainz-driving-at-fiorano-is-always-special/

Fortitude

31st January 2022, 11:33

Alonso unsure what 'El Plan' means as Alpine eyes F1 success
Ben Issatt, 27 January 2022
Insider Racing.

Fernando Alonso admits even he doesn't know exactly what 'El Plan' is.

Throughout the year (2021), Alonso became associated with 'El Plan' and it gained something of a cult following, even appearing on the rear wings of the cars in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s a good question, I started to see it too,” Alonso was quoted by Soymotor.com when asked about the trend on Spanish TV.

“It’s one of the things that social media networks have now. They started with ‘El Plan’, ‘El Plan’, ‘El Plan’ and, it’s a bad thing to say, but I don’t know what ‘El Plan’ is either.

“I think it’s part of ‘El Plan’ that I don’t know exactly what ‘El Plan’ is. You will have to bet. That’s ‘El Plan’…to scare without knowing.”

Details of ‘El Plan’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15161-alonso-unsure-about-el-plan-as-alpine-eyes-f1-success

Two big questions for Alpine in 2022: Can Alonso boost his team up the grid?
Formula 1 Feature.
29 January 2022
Will Alonso’s experience pay dividends as new regulations come on song?

Now the oldest driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso returned to F1 in 2021 after two years away. The two-time champion put in some crucial performances last season, most notably his staunch defence against Lewis Hamilton in Hungary, which ensured team mate Esteban Ocon would go on to win the race – and followed that up with a podium finish in Qatar.

Not only will the Spaniard’s influence in developing the car be a crucial factor – he’s competed through a number of big F1 rules changes, including the massive overhaul in 2009 and the dawn of the turbo-hybrid era in 2014 – but his own experience in adapting to those rules changes will help him hit the ground running.

More on Fernando Alonso experience and ‘boost’ effects;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.two-big-questions-for-alpine-in-2022-can-alonso-boost-his-team-up-the-grid.7dh8b7g9UQxzclFLoKpQeH.html

Alonso back to ‘normal’ after surgery
ANDREW MAITLAND
JANUARY 26, 2022

It is full speed ahead for Fernando Alonso as he recovers well from his recent facial surgery. Throughout 2021, the 40-year-old carried the titanium remnants of his surgery with him following a pre-season cycling crash ahead of his return to Formula 1.

After the season ended, he returned to hospital to have those remnants removed from his mouth and jaw – and his recovery has proceeded well.

https://grandpx.news/alonso-back-to-normal-after-surgery/

Alpine to unveil 2022 car two days before first F1 test
Alpine will roll out its all-new A522 charger on February 21, just two days before the start of Formula 1's pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Michael Delaney26/01/2022 at 14:10

The Enstone squad heads into the 2022 season on the back of a maiden campaign under its new Alpine identity that yielded a milestone win in Hungary thanks to Esteban Ocon and fifth place in F1's Constructors' Championship.

While the French outfit's line-up remains unchanged with Ocon and teammate Fernando Alonso, the team has yet to announce the new members of its upper management that will answer to Alpine chief executive Laurent Rossi.

https://f1i.com/news/430900-alpine-to-unveil-2022-car-two-days-before-first-f1-test.html

Alpine’s F1 team has something it sorely lacked as Renault
Jan 22 2022
By Scott Mitchell
The Alpine Formula 1 team is not currently an advert for stability.

One year on from the rebranding of Renault’s works team, three senior members of its management have left – engine technical director Remi Taffin, executive director and de facto team principal Marcin Budkowski, and non-executive director Alain Prost.

here’s probably been more upheaval in the first 12 months of the Alpine era than the five years the team spent badged as Renault.

This team wouldn’t be called Alpine if Renault had full faith in its own F1 factory project.

'El Plan' speculation, maybe explained here!!!

https://the-race.com/formula-1/alpines-f1-team-has-something-it-sorely-lacked-as-renault/

Fortitude

1st February 2022, 05:41

Wolff warned ‘be careful what you wish for’ as questions about Masi replacement raised
Fans of Sir Lewis Hamilton are calling for Formula 1 race director Michael Masi to be axed after the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
by James Clifford (Formula1News.co.uk)
29 January 202229 January 2022

Earlier this month, it was reported that Mercedes had agreed a “quid pro quo” with the FIA that will result in the Australian being replaced as race director prior to the 2022 Formula 1 season commencing in March. However, the Silver Arrows have reportedly denied striking any such deal with the FIA.

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-warned-masi-replacement-raised/

FIA provide update on Michael Masi's future amid Mercedes' push for his sacking
Michael Masi's future as FIA race director has been up in the air ever since the dramatic and controversial ending to the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, which saw Max Verstappen pip Lewis Hamilton to the title
By Liam Llewellyn
Sports Trends Writer
17:11, 31 Jan 2022

Recent reports have suggested that Hamilton is said to be waiting until the review is finished before deciding whether or not to continue racing.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted that Hamilton was left "disillusioned" with F1 following the end to the 2021 season, and BBC Sport also reported that one senior source said Mercedes only dropped their Abu Dhabi appeal on the basis that Masi would be sacked.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/fia-michael-masi-job-mercedes-26098879

FIA strongly warned against using Masi as ‘sacrificial lamb’ after Abu Dhabi controversy
Max Verstappen beat Sir Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 championship in controversial fashion.
by Rob Kershaw
27 January 202227 January 2022

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was on the radio to Masi to tell him that the finish was “so not right,” before the Brackley-based team would eventually drop an appeal against the championship classification.

The FIA have begun an investigation into what happened in the four minutes between Masi’s contradictory decisions. Since then, the Silver Arrows have reportedly denied reports that the rescindment was contingent on the dismissal of Masi and FIA head of single-seater technical matters Nikolas Tombazis.

https://formula1news.co.uk/brundle-warns-fia-against-just-masi-sacrificial-lamb/

Masi made the ‘right decision’ despite it being not a ‘great call’ for Hamilton
Romain Grosjean maintains that Max Verstappen won the world championship over the course of the whole season, not just the final round in Abu Dhabi.
by Rob Kershaw
25 January 202225 January 2022

“There’s a few ways of seeing it, it would have been very strange to not unlap those cars and have Lewis first and then Max four [five] cars behind over one lap for the World Championship,” he told reporters during an Indy 500 press conference.

“On the other hand, for Lewis it was definitely not a great call, but as a TV fan, as a spectator, for the sport, I think Michael Masi make the right decision.”

“I don’t think the championship would have been nice to finish under the Safety Car,” he affirmed. “It would not have been nice to finish with the guys being separated on track being first and second separated by a few cars.”

https://formula1news.co.uk/masi-right-decision-despite-not-a-great-call-hamilton/

New VAR-style system on the way for Formula 1?
Date published: January 29 2022 - Mark Scott

Brace yourself…for video assistant referees (VAR), or a modified version of it, could form part of Formula 1’s plans to reform in 2022.

The clock is ticking on the FIA and Formula 1 to agree and implement changes on how the sport is to be governed and refereed in future following the hugely controversial title finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December 2021.

One element that looks almost certain is the introduction of a new structure that will take all of the responsibilities of the race director and spread them out across multiple people rather than just one person being solely in charge.

And, according to German publication Motorsport-Magazin, that structure could include a central hub of video assistants that will help advise Race Control throughout a Formula 1 race week, much like a panel of officials do in football, feeding back and advising to the referees in the thick of the action.

Further analysis;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/new-var-style-system-in-formula-1/

Fortitude

1st February 2022, 05:43

7 key rule changes for the 2022 season
Special contributor: Chris Medland
Formula 1 Feature

Brand new cars have been an area of major focus for the teams over the past 12 months, and we’ll soon see them in action when pre-season testing gets underway. But that’s not the only thing that is different this year compared to last season, and there is plenty more to look out for when it comes to changes in 2022.

1. Frozen power units

2. A return to a two-part pre-season test

3. A tightening of aerodynamic testing restrictions

4. A lower budget cap level

5. A new weekend format

6. Mandatory practice outings for rookies

7. New tyre regulations

More details;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.7-key-rule-changes-for-the-2022-season.2E7JH9MywymU8xxw6r5yDS.html

The 25 most influential people in Formula 1
‎Author Dieter Rencken
27‎ ‎January‎ ‎11‎:‎00

RacingNews365.com presents its first-ever 'Power List' ahead of the 2022 F1 season, capturing the most powerful and influential people involved in the sport today.

In formulating the first RacingNews365 'Power List' we applied two criteria: the levels of power and influence individuals have to disrupt Formula 1, for better or worse. Five senior journalists submitted their respective top 10 lists based on the above parameters; these were tallied, distilled, obvious anomalies purified, and our Top 25 arrived at.

In depth analysis;

https://racingnews365.com/the-25-most-influential-people-in-formula-1

Norris on why he's 'happy and confident' to be a mental health pioneer in Formula 1
24 January 2022

McLaren’s Lando Norris has spoken about tackling the unwarranted stigma surrounding those who open up about their mental health, with the 22-year-old having said that he’s “proud” to be an athlete that stands up for those who are struggling.

Norris has spoken candidly about his own mental health struggles, particularly those that hit him hard during his 2019 debut season. The Briton, along with team mate Daniel Ricciardo and other members of the McLaren team, has also been proactive in working with the squad’s chosen mental health charity Mind.

Further details;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.norris-on-why-hes-happy-and-confident-to-be-a-mental-health-pioneer-in.3z6ZRG9z35otsGUIn2ZHb.html

Feature
DIARY DATES: The 2022 F1 calendar, pre-season testing and car launch schedule
14 January 2022

Aston Martin February 10

McLaren February 11

AlphaTauri February 14

Ferrari February 17

Mercedes February 18

Alpine February 21

Details found here;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.diary-dates-the-2022-f1-calendar-and-f1-car-launch-schedule.4ZhMPA89s04gy7YlNWypNf.html

Formula 1 Feature
2022 F1 GRID: All the drivers and teams racing this season
05 January 2022

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton – #44
George Russell – #63

Red Bull
Max Verstappen – #1
Sergio Perez – #11

Ferrari
Charles Leclerc – #16
Carlos Sainz – #55

McLaren
Daniel Ricciardo – #3
Lando Norris – #4

Alpine
Fernando Alonso – #14
Esteban Ocon – #31

AlphaTauri
Pierre Gasly – #10
Yuki Tsunoda – #22

Aston Martin
Sebastian Vettel – #5
Lance Stroll – #18

Williams
Nicholas Latifi – #6
Alex Albon – #23

Alfa Romeo
Zhou Guanyu – #24
Valtteri Bottas – #77

Haas
Nikita Mazepin – #9
Mick Schumacher – #47

Further details;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.2022-f1-grid-all-the-drivers-and-teams-racing-this-season.3L1E0DrPLfzmN9GNMZcE5m.html

Fortitude

1st February 2022, 13:17

Felipe Massa ‘not surprised’ by Ferrari’s downfall in Formula One
Ferrari last won the world championship in 2007
Sarah Rendell
01 Feb 2022, 11:31

“That did not surprise me,” he told Spanish daily AS. “Ferrari’s best years were with [Michael] Schumacher, then 2006, 2007, 2008.”

“After 2009, Ferrari was no longer the team of the hour. There have been many changes and it is important to keep a cool head. That is difficult at Ferrari.”

Difficulties about keeping a cool head at Ferrari;

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/f1-news-ferrari-felipe-massa-b2004256.html

Massa ‘not surprised’ by Ferrari’s decline
Date published: January 31 2022 - Michelle Foster

He (Massa) added: “Ferrari’s problem is not a driver problem, it’s a car problem, a team problem. Sainz and Leclerc form a very important driver pairing.”

Looking ahead to this season and its all-new cars, Massa reckons Formula 1 will most likely again witness a Red Bull versus Mercedes battle for the big prizes. But, he adds, Ferrari and McLaren will likely get involved.

“If there are big changes there can be surprises, although that’s difficult,” he said. “I think the big teams will still be at the top, like Mercedes and Red Bull. But maybe also Ferrari or McLaren. Usually the big teams are more likely to start the year at the top.”

https://www.planetf1.com/news/felipe-massa-unsurprised-ferrari-decline/

Two big questions for Ferrari in 2022: Can the Scuderia hit the ground running as F1’s new era gets under way?
31 January 2022

Will Ferrari shake off their chequered ‘new regulation’ history?

Two of F1’s biggest regulation overhauls in recent years – namely 2009 and 2014 – did not got well for Ferrari.

Can the Scuderia return to their form of 2019?

Singapore 2019 was the last time a Ferrari took a victory in Formula 1, the team enjoying a purple 'post-summer break' patch that year that saw them take six poles on the bounce, and win three races. Getting back to that level of performance – of the red cars turning up at a race weekend and being counted among the favourites – is where Ferrari would dearly love to find themselves in 2022.

Questions, questions… …speculation;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.two-big-questions-for-ferrari-in-2022-can-the-scuderia-hit-the-ground.JNHVqmZ320hSA8k3El7Yl.html

Horner: ‘If Ferrari crush us in the first race, you can say we suffered’ from 2021 title battle
Red Bull are optimistic that they will remain competitive in 2022 after the major changes to the technical regulations.
by Rob Kershaw
1 February 20221 February 2022

Team principal Christian Horner is not sure where the regulation changes will leave Red Bull in the standings next season, and jovially suggested that being beaten by Ferrari would display their frailties after 2021’s titanic championship fight.

“If Ferrari will come out with the fastest car and crush us all in the first race, you can certainly say that we have suffered from the intense title battle,” he joked.

https://formula1news.co.uk/horner-ferrari-crush-us-suffered-2021-title-battle/

CMA CGM’s CEVA Logistics becomes official partner of Ferrari
By Antonis Karamalegkos
January 26, 2022

CEVA Logistics will provide all logistics support services for the Scuderia Ferrari cars and equipment for Grand Prix events, as well as for the GT racing series and other Ferrari Challenge events.

As a team partner of Scuderia Ferrari, CEVA Logistics will have its logo featured on the new 2022 Scuderia Ferrari single seater, as well as on team trucks and driver and pit crew equipment and apparel.

https://container-news.com/cma-cgms-ceva-logistics-becomes-official-partner-of-ferrari/

Fortitude

1st February 2022, 13:19

Mercedes respond to claims Lewis Hamilton's 2022 car failed FIA crash test
Reigning constructors' champions Mercedes have reacted to reports that Lewis Hamilton's new W13 car for the upcoming 2022 season had failed its FIA safety crash test.
By Fraser Watson
Sports Trends Writer
12:22, 1 Feb 2022

Mercedes have issued a strong rebuttal to claims that Lewis Hamilton's car failed a crash test in the lead up to the 2022 F1 season.

Team members have been working vigorously on their new W13 vehicle, as they seek to adapt to major changes in regulations ahead of the opening race of the season in Bahrain on March 20.

However, a report that first appeared in the Italian version of Motorsport.com claimed that the Silver Arrows, the constructors' champions for the past eight seasons, had this month failed the crash test last on the side of the car.

Mercedes have now clarified the rumours though, by issuing a statement confirming their W13 model "completed its FIA homologation process on January 13 2022."

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/mercedes-lewis-hamilton-crash-test-26105260

Mercedes quash failed FIA crash test claim, Red Bull rumour remains
Mercedes has quickly quashed a claim that their 2022 Formula 1 car failed an FIA crash test.
Ben Issatt
Formula 1
01 February 2022

On Sunday, a report by Motorsport Italy stated the Brackley-based team had attempted to pass an extreme design concept for the W13 but had fallen foul of a side impact test.

As a result, Mercedes had to "resort to Plan B" for the car which will be officially launched and shaken down at Silverstone on February 18.

On Monday, however, the team took a cheeky dig at the rumour with a tweet confirming the W13 had been given the green light by the FIA in mid-January.

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15168-mercedes-quash-failed-fia-crash-test-claim-red-bull-rumour-remains

Mercedes denies failing 2022 crash test
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 1, 2022

“The new chassis will be around twice as strong on the side as compared to before,” FIA technical boss and well-respected F1 car designer Nikolas Tombazis told Auto Motor und Sport.

“The energy that needs to be absorbed has increased by about 80 percent,” he added. “We are researching how this value can be increased in the future.”

https://grandpx.news/mercedes-denies-failing-2022-crash-test/

Formula 1: Top Mercedes figure outlines 'huge challenge' teams face with new 2022 regulations
By George Dagless
Published: 01 Feb 2022, 12:32

Mercedes Technical Director Mike Elliott has explained how the new cars for 2022 will be dramatically different from 2021 and previous seasons, with him stating that it has been a huge challenge for the Silver Arrows, and every team, to meet the new regulations.

“I think the most visible difference will be the aerodynamic shape of the car. Not only are the aerodynamics different, but the whole way the regulations are constructed is completely different.”

“With such a significant aerodynamic change pretty much all the components underneath the skin of the car need to change.”

Further technical analysis;

https://www.givemesport.com/1831703-formula-1-top-mercedes-figure-outlines-huge-challenge-teams-face-with-new-2022-regulations

Mercedes sees performance of new cars 'relatively similar' to 2021
Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott believes there will be little performance difference between this year's cars and last season's machines, although they will look very different.
Phillip van Osten31/01/2022 at 17:51

Elliott sees the performance of F1's new-spec cars as being "relatively similar" to their predecessors.

"The overall performance of the new cars is probably not going to be very different from the old," Elliott said in a special video released by Mercedes on its YouTube channel.

"Obviously the intention of these regulations was to try and improve overtaking, and it will be a little bit of time before we can see whether that's actually happened.

"The car is a bit heavier, the power unit on the E10 fuel is going to perform slightly differently, and the way the aerodynamics are going to work and the set-up of the car that goes with it will be different as well. Until we get the best out of that, until we've developed that through testing and the first few races, we're not really going to know.”

https://f1i.com/news/431140-mercedes-sees-performance-of-new-cars-relatively-similar-to-2021.html

Fortitude

2nd February 2022, 10:32

Honda: Recovering lost power due to E10 fuel 'difficult'.
Honda says F1's switch this season to E10 fuel has led to a loss of power for its engine that it is struggling to recover, and the Japanese manufacturer reckons its rivals are facing a similar challenge.
Michael Delaney02/02/2022 at 08:2302/02/2022 at 09:04

The fuel switch has impacted the new engines' performance, but just how much power output has been lost due to the change is a closely guarded secret according to Honda's power unit manager Yasuaki Asagi.

"That's a secret," said the Japanese engineer, quoted by Motorsport.com. "It seems that other companies say it's about the same but, on the contrary, making such an announcement means that it's difficult to get the same power as last year."

Further information;

https://f1i.com/news/431191-honda-recovering-lost-power-due-to-e10-fuel-difficult.html

Rivals downplaying impact of 2022 F1 fuel, says Honda
By: Jonathan Noble
Co-author: Ken Tanaka
Jan 30, 2022, 8:52 AM

Honda believes that other Formula 1 manufacturers are deliberately playing down the difficulty all of them are facing in recovering power lost due to a switch to more sustainable fuel.

(Honda’s Yasuaki) Asagi said that the challenge of the new fuel had not been easy, although there were some hidden benefits from the change.

“The response to E10 fuel is the largest [challenge],” he said. “The engine architecture had already been set (with the new 2021 power unit) so we have made changes to bring out the best performance with E10 fuel.

"When it comes to E10 fuel, the power and energy that it has with the same weight are reduced. That is the characteristic of alcohol fuel.

Further technical details;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/rivals-downplaying-impact-2022-fuel-honda/7732959/

No, Honda Says It Hasn’t Agreed to New Red Bull F1 Engine Deal Past 2022.
Reports last week claimed a deal was made through 2025, though Honda tells us that's not the case.
BY HAZEL SOUTHWELL JANUARY 31, 2022

When that quote came out, some outlets reported it as gospel that what Marko said was happening. The Drive reached out to both Red Bull and Honda to check in on the story, though, which seems far from set in stone.

For its part, Red Bull downplayed the story and told me that nothing was agreed despite Marko's comments. Honda got back to me to confirm that "Honda will support Red Bull Powertrains in building the 2022 PU and also provide trackside and race operation support from HRC throughout the 2022 season. And we received a request from Red Bull to extend the period, however we have not yet decided at the moment."

More detail;

https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/44085/no-honda-says-it-hasnt-agreed-to-new-red-bull-f1-engine-deal-past-2022

HOW CHANGED RED BULL-HONDA F1 DEAL WILL WORK FROM 2022
Jan 26 2022
By Scott Mitchell

Next month the first Red Bull-badged Formula 1 engine will hit the track for the first time. But it is a Red Bull engine only in name. It has also long been known that Honda planned to develop that 2021 F1 engine in the background, so Red Bull could inherit an up-to-date specification from 2022.

This was vital for two reasons. First, an engine development freeze is coming in two phases – the internal combustion engine, MGU-H, turbocharger, fuel and oil specifications will be frozen from March 1 and the MGU-K, energy store and control electronics from September 1.

Second, and linked to this, is that F1 fuels are changing for this season with the increase from a 5% biofuel component to 10%. This has caused a power deficit of around 20bhp for all manufacturers according to Ferrari and required adjustments to re-optimise the internal combustion engine.

Further interesting technical details;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-changed-red-bull-honda-f1-deal-will-work-from-2022/

THE CONSEQUENCES OF HONDA’S LACK OF F1 COMMITMENT
Jan 23 2022
By Scott Mitchell

The four eras are Honda’s first works entry as a constructor (1964-1968); its first dedicated stint as an engine supplier in which it won titles with Williams and McLaren (1983-1992); returning as a works engine manufacturer before taking full ownership of its partner team BAR (2000-2008); and the V6 turbo-hybrid era that began with McLaren and ended with Red Bull (2015-2021).

Whichever way the four eras are viewed, they show Honda never had a consistent idea of how best to be represented in F1 and that it cannot be trusted to stick around.

Further discussion;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-consequences-of-hondas-lack-of-f1-commitment/

Fortitude

3rd February 2022, 08:40

Why F1 2022 could be the most exciting season ever.
With huge changes being made to the F1 rulebook for 2022, our journalists Dieter Rencken, Mike Seymour and Thomas Maher look ahead to the new season.
Author Thomas Maher
5‎ ‎January‎ ‎11‎:‎30

Which teams and drivers could spring an upset in the new season? Analysing the changes for 2022 are F1 journalists Dieter Rencken, Mike Seymour and Thomas Maher, who offer their thoughts and predictions ahead of car launches and pre-season testing.

Audio link found here;

https://racingnews365.com/why-f1-2022-could-be-the-most-exciting-season-ever

FIA expects ‘more exciting’ 2022 F1 season with ‘more cars in the mix’ for Grand Prix wins
Teams like Alfa Romeo and Haas could have more race wins under their belt this season
Sarah Rendell
Friday, 21st Jan 2022. 14:10

“It is difficult to expect it to be more exciting than [2021] because that is a very high point of reference,” said Tombazis, quoted by Autosport. “But I think once there’s a bit of convergence, I think there will be more cars in the mix and I think that would be positive.

“When I was looking at some old championships, I read recently we once had 11 winners in a year and you could win a championship with a few wins. I’m not saying we will get to that point, but of course I think to have more variability would be good.

More exciting expections;

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/fia-new-cars-f1-2022-season-b1997937.html

Formula 1: Toto Wolff predicting new race winners in exciting comments about sport's next era
By George Dagless
Published: 21 Jan 2022, 10:35

Toto Wolff, though, is suggesting that with the budget cap and new technical guidance, things are going to close right up and get more competitive – which can only be a good thing:

“I believe that the budget cap will bring a lot of things into line,” Wolff told Auto Motor und Sport. “If one finds a loophole and runs away with it, everyone will copy it. The cars will all be very similar. There may still be differences in the first year.”

“After that it will even out. There will no longer be a team that is a second ahead. Of course, the teams that had deep pockets were not particularly happy about the fact that an advantage was taken away from us.”

More on Toto Wolff predictions;

https://www.givemesport.com/1825000-formula-1-toto-wolff-predicting-new-race-winners-in-exciting-comments-about-sports-next-era

NEXT GEN: 20 of the most exciting up-and-coming talents on the road to F1
F2 & F3 editor
Craig Draycott
22 January 2022

From karting sensations to Formula 1-ready racers, and all of the budding junior talent in between, we look at 20 of the hottest prospects striving to make it to F1, ranked in descending order according to their age – and detail why, and where, you should be watching them in 2022.

Formula 1 exciting prospects;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.next-gen-20-of-the-most-exciting-up-and-coming-talents-on-the-road-to-f1.28oQu7EJnmY3K4FlQezFC6.html

The data that suggests Carlos Sainz should be Ferrari's No1 driver
F1
January 17th 2022
Carlos Sainz finished ahead in the drivers' championship but did Charles Leclerc have the better season? This is what the stats say

Which of the Ferrari duo had the better 2021 season? It's tough to call...

Ferrari has two of Formula 1’s biggest talents under one roof in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. The former is a grand prix winner with the Prancing Horse already while the latter’s arrival at Maranello has been mightily impressive.

‘Stats’ and discussion;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/leclerc-vs-sainz-who-really-won-f1s-most-exciting-team-mate-battle#

Fortitude

3rd February 2022, 09:11

Formula 1 testing: Dates, TV channel and driver schedule ahead of 2022 pre-season in Barcelona and Bahrain.
The 2022 Formula 1 season is just weeks away with fans set to get their first glimpse of the runners and riders in two sets of pre-season testing.
By Marc Mayo
28 January 2022

A pair of three-day events will provide an early view on which teams and drivers have got into gear following a major rule overhaul ahead of the new campaign.

But there is always the chance for an upset when the rulebook is shaken up as it has been, and McLaren and Ferrari will be determined to throw their name in the hat for a potential championship battle.

Further information;

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/formula-one/formula-1-testing-2022-pre-season-dates-tv-channel-live-stream-schedule-barcelona-bahrain-b978745.html

McLaren hit by budget cap & won’t run full 2022 car in testing
February 2, 2022 · by thejudge13

The Formula 1 cars for 2022 have been designed according to a new set of technical regulations that allegedly will create closer and more exciting racing for fans. The new cars will also be the first to be fully designed and developed under the budget cap, which was introduced in Formula 1 in 2021, and is set this year at $140m. It appears that this cap will hit McLaren hard.

“We’re making fewer [spares].” said McLaren operations director Piers Thynne. “It’s a cultural change, but it will allow greater flexibility to consider upgrades. It’s a difficult change to make, but we will have smaller quantities of parts available for the MCL36 than we had for the MCL35M.

“We will never run out of parts to run the cars, we will always protect that, but where in the past we would have made five or six parts, we are down to five; where it was four or five, we are down to four. Where there are multiple options for configuring a part to fit, we’re looking at streamlining how those choices are made.”

Further revelations;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/02/mclaren-hit-by-budget-cap-wont-run-full-2020-car-in-testing/

Alfa Romeo to launch C42 after Barcelona pre-season test
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
2nd Feb 2022

Alfa Romeo has revealed it won’t unveil its 2022 Formula 1 car until two days after the first pre-season test in Barcelona. The Hinwil-based team announced on Wednesday that it will conduct an official launch for its car, named the C42, on February 27.

Alfa Romeo is now the seventh F1 team to confirm its launch plans, leaving Haas, Red Bull and Williams as the only outfits yet to reveal a date for the unveiling of their new challengers.

From this season, Alfa will be known as the Alfa Romeo F1 Team instead of Alfa Romeo Racing, having undergone a name change over the winter.

Further news;

https://readmotorsport.com/2022/02/02/alfa-romeo-to-launch-c42-after-barcelona-pre-season-test/

Lewis Hamilton future: Brit's F1 status reportedly depends on two factors
• By George Dagless
• Published: 1 Feb 2022, 11:53

Indeed, the expectancy is that he will return to the sport for the 2022 season but confirmation of that has not yet occurred, and according to Sky Sports his future on the grid hinges on two particular factors.

They report that he firstly wants to see how F1 has reacted to what happened in Abu Dhabi, and he wants to see just what happens with Michael Masi, the beleaguered Race Director whose Safety Car call at the end of the season caused this whole situation.

More information;

https://www.givemesport.com/1831625-lewis-hamilton-future-brits-f1-status-reportedly-depends-on-two-factors

Masi “more than capable” of emulating Whiting’s success as F1 race director
2022 F1 season
Posted on
2nd February 2022, 7:18 | Written by Keith Collantine

“Charlie had the respect, he was consistent in his decision-making, consistent in the way he dealt with people across the board,” Wheatley explained in an interview with Jack Threlfall. “He knew when to tell you to shut up and when you needed an arm around you.

“He was an extraordinary man in that respect. I think the FIA were slow to realise just what a big pair of shoes that would be to fill. I think Michael, with the right support, is more than capable of doing that.”

Wheatley’s job puts him in regular contact with Masi. “On a personal level he is entirely a really, really nice guy with no edge to him at all,” he said. “And he listens and tries to do the very best that he can.”

“Of course we’d all love it to be very, very clear. We’ve had this great overarching philosophy of ‘let them race’. But ‘let them race’ is a philosophy. You’ve then got the black and white of the regulations which is often very prescribed in terms of what penalty, or there’s no wriggle room in it at all.

Interesting read;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/02/masi-more-than-capable-of-emulating-whitings-success-as-f1-race-director/

Fortitude

3rd February 2022, 14:26

Red Bull announce earliest launch date so far for 2022 F1 car.
The team of new world champion Max Verstappen announced a February 9 launch of their RB18 on Thursday, a day ahead of Aston Martin on February 10.
Ben Issatt

Formula 1
03 February 2022

Traditionally, the Milton Keynes-based outfit completes a shakedown of their new cars at Silverstone before the first pre-season test, which this year is the three-day event in Barcelona on February 23-25.

Although whether the launch will coincide with that has yet to be confirmed.

More details;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15174-red-bull-announce-earliest-launch-date-so-far-for-2022-f1-car

Red Bull promise "launch like no other"
GPFans Staff
Thursday 3 February 2022 11:00

"Red Bull Racing has always sought to break the mould and this year we continue to push the boundaries by disrupting the traditional car launch," read a team statement.

"Together with Christian [Horner], Max, Checo [Perez] and the wider team, up to 5,000 fans will broadcast the launch on Wednesday 9 February.

"Via 'The Paddock', Red Bull Racing’s digital loyalty platform, fans were given the opportunity to host the 2022 season launch on their social channels, to deliver a multi-channel fan-first experience.

More on the exciting "launch like no other";

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75146/red-bull-promise-launch-like-no-other/

Red Bull’s 2022 car passes crash test – Report
Red Bull and Mercedes were both said to have initially failed FIA homologation.
by Rob Kershaw
3 February 20223 February 2022

“At Cranfield, where the British teams converge for the dynamic tests, Red Bull would have registered a failure in the front of the car that would force the Milton Keynes team to review the ability to absorb energy from the nose and the chassis in the front”.

Now, F1-Insider suggests that the Milton Keynes-based outfit have passed all of the necessary crash tests, and their car is ready to be rolled out for the 2022 season.

“The team of world champion Max Verstappen has, like Mercedes, given the all-clear, although a presentation date is still pending,” said correspondent Bianca Garloff.

Further details;

https://formula1news.co.uk/red-bull-pass-fia-homologation-report/

[B]Video: Verstappen takes to the ice for a spectacular F1 demo!
3rd Feb 2022, ‎13‎:‎50

Max Verstappen visited Austria last week to take part in another of Red Bull's exhibition runs on the GP Ice Race circuit at Zell am See Airport.

It marked Verstappen's first laps in an F1 car since he claimed the 2021 F1 world title. Running the number 1 on an RB8 from the 2012 F1 season, fitted with studded Pirelli tyres, he hit the 'track' alongside Austrian ice speedway star Franky Zorn.

Video here;

https://racingnews365.com/video-verstappen-takes-to-the-ice-for-a-spectacular-f1-demo

How much will F1 teams dare to reveal at their 2022 car launches?
News Focus
Posted on
3rd February 2022, 13:403rd February 2022, 13:49 | Written by Keith Collantine

As things stand, Red Bull are on pole position in the race to reveal the first car which will contest the 2022 Formula 1 season.

But as eager as fans (and journalists!) may be to lay their eyes upon the new designs, teams will be just as anxious to give away as little as possible of them. This is always the case, but the arrival of such drastically new regulations has raised the stakes. An early hint about the design direction a team has taken could provide valuable information for a rival who has done something different.

The teams have built this thinking into their plans for the upcoming season. McLaren are building fewer parts than usual for the first iteration of their design in order to concentrate more resources on early season upgrades. Other teams will have made a similar calculation.

Car launch strategies employed by teams;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/03/how-much-will-f1-teams-dare-to-reveal-at-their-2022-car-launches/

Fortitude

3rd February 2022, 17:06

Haas to unveil F1 livery for 2022 season on Friday.
Haas has announced it will reveal its livery for the upcoming 2022 Formula 1 season on Friday February 4.
F1 Lewis Larkam
3 Feb 2022

The American outfit will show off images of its colour scheme for the 2022 campaign on Friday morning, becoming the first F1 team to provide a glimpse at its latest challenger.

Haas is expected to reveal digital renders of its new VF-22 car sporting its new livery, having confirmed a planned unveiling time of 11am GMT.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996011/1/haas-unveil-f1-livery-2022-season-friday

Haas to present VF-22 livery on Friday
2022 F1 season
Posted on
3rd February 2022, 14:26 | Written by Will Wood

The actual chassis the team will race through the season will be revealed at a later date.

Haas’s announcement means the team will be the first to show off their livery for the upcoming Formula 1 season. Earlier today, Red Bull announced that they would unveil their RB18 car on Wednesday evening.

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/03/haas-to-present-vf-22-livery-on-friday/

Uralkali Haas F1 Team Set Friday as VF-22 Launch Date
By Nick Golding
February 3, 2022

The Uralkali Haas F1 Team will be the first team of 2022 to reveal their official livery for the upcoming season, as the American team set this Friday as their official VF-22 launch date.

It is a huge year for Haas, who sacrificed their entire 2021 season to develop their 2022 car, due to the vast change in the technical regulations. Both Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin will be hoping for a car capable of challenging the midfield, and potentially scoring some valuable points.

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/uralkali-haas-f1-team-set-friday-as-vf-22-launch-date/

Red Bull and Haas join F1 2022 key dates - car launches, testing, all the races
GPFans Staff
Thursday 3 February 2022 14:28

The year ahead boasts new cars governed by fresh aerodynamic regulations and a record-breaking 23-race calendar crammed into 36 weeks.

Here GPFans brings you all the key dates for the weeks and months ahead which will be updated as the 10 teams announce the reveals of their cars.

List here;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74533/red-bull-and-haas-join-f1-2022-key-dates-car-launches-testing-all-the-races/

Fortitude

4th February 2022, 10:06

Haas F1 Team set to be first to launch new 2022 car
Haas F1 Team, perhaps inspired by the lack of Formula 1 news, will be unveiling their 2022 car on Friday, which Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin will drive with Pietro Fittipaldi the team reserve.
Editor 3 February, 2022

Guenther Steiner had previously hinted they would be early with the Haas VF-22, and indeed his team have jumped the gun with Friday’s reveal set to be the first 2022 F1 car to break cover.

The Gene Haas owned team have become perennial backmarkers on the F1 grid over the past three seasons. Last year they were woefully off the pace as their inexperienced rookies toiled with a car their veteran predecessors Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean described as “evil” and “undrivable” which proved to be the case for the two young lads who replaced them last year.

Further discussion;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/03/haas-f1-team-set-to-be-first-to-launch-new-2022-car/

Steiner: Smaller teams won't 'open a loophole' over Sprint races
Michael Delaney04/02/2022 at 08:3704/02/2022 at 09:20

Steiner says he'll trust F1 and its chief executive Stefano Domenicali to make a final call on the Sprint races' financial merits but insists Haas won't side with the big teams - or open any loopholes - to make them happen.

"I don’t really know how much (the upside) is, so I will leave that in the hands of Stefano to sort out, because for sure if it makes sense commercially and the fans like it enough, they will try to do it.

"But they are the promoter, we always work with them and try to be with them if we can do something better.

Further analysis from Guenther Steiner;

https://f1i.com/news/431275-steiner-smaller-teams-wont-open-a-loophole-over-sprint-races.html

Podcast: Guenther Steiner, My big break
February 3rd 2022

Haas F1 boss Guenther Steiner explains how Niki Lauda, NASCAR and a sense of adventure brought him to lead the American grand prix team

If it hadn’t been for a long lunch with Niki Lauda, a willingness to swap grand prix racing for NASCAR, and a vision for a US F1 team, it’s unlikely Guenther Steiner would have found himself leading Haas in Formula 1.

Interesting interview in more detail;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/podcast/podcast-guenther-steiner-my-big-break#

Steiner: Mick can emulate Russell with Ferrari
Editor 29 January, 2022

Speaking to RacingNews365.com, Steiner said: “When Mattia asked me if that is possible, I said, ‘Yeah, sure. It’s possible.

“In the end, he is an FDA driver, so why would that not be possible? I think it’s a good thing for Mick, because he was supported [for a] long time by Ferrari.”

Steiner sees things as Haas giving something back to Ferrari when they need support, which he believes is a two-way street.

More on Mick Schumacher;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/01/29/steiner-mick-can-emulate-russell-with-ferrari/

[B]Ralf doubts Mazepin effectiveness in developing 2022 car
Date published: February 4 2022 - Michelle Foster

His uncle, a former F1 race winner, is hoping Haas will provide Mick with the car needed to break his duck and get him onto F1’s scoring sheet.

“The team must now create a basis for him to score points,” he told Motorsport-Total.com, “and then it also depends on what Mick out of the situation.

“He’s driving relatively alone at the moment, despite his young age he has to drive the development of the team and make decisions.”

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ralf-schumacher-doubts-nikita-mazepin-effectiveness/

Fortitude

4th February 2022, 23:23

Steiner: 2022 F1 rules mean anyone can aim for world championship.
Team principal Guenther Steiner sacrificed the 2021 season, moving the team’s development focus entirely to this year’s car in an effort to get a headstart on the competition.
February 4th 2022
Author Jake Williams-Smith

“The board decided really to lay low now for this year and see what is coming. And then thankfully, the budget cap came; the new concorde agreement with better [financial] distribution for the smaller teams and then Gene decided, ‘yeah, let’s continue’.”

More on Haas F1 strategy;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/steiner-2022-f1-rules-mean-anyone-can-aim-for-world-championship#

Gary Anderson: What Haas images tell us about 2022 F1 cars
By Gary Anderson

So let s break down some of the details. The front wing endplates all flow into one, with the slot gaps continuing around the lower outer corner, as prescribed by the rules.

The wing flap profile itself is more acute than on the F1 show car. This will mean that the flow coming off the trailing edge of the rear flap will be heading for a more defined location on the leading edge of the sidepods – meaning that it can be managed that little bit better.

Thorough review;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-what-haas-images-tell-us-about-2022-f1-cars/

VF-22 Q&A with Uralkali Haas F1 Team Technical Director, Simone Resta
February 4, 2022

The VF-22 is the first challenger produced by an all-new design-office in Maranello, Italy, spearheaded by Technical Director Simone Resta.

“There were two main project challenges with this car. The new requirements of the chassis construction were one. With FIA Regulations, the 2022 monocoque has been heavily modified for safety reasons. The strength requirements are a lot tougher with some areas being more than 150 percent stronger. This required a significant amount of reinforcement with respect to 2021, with a relevant impact on weight. Conversely, the weight of the car is a challenge by other factors as well. In terms of creating a new car, it’s probably the most complex in the last 20 years.”

Detailed analysis;

https://www.haasf1team.com/news/vf-22-qa-uralkali-haas-f1-team-technical-director-simone-resta

Steiner expecting Schumacher and Mazepin to 'fight for points' with all-new Haas VF-22
04 February 2022

He (Steiner) said: “The expectation is just to be able to fight for points and fight with the other drivers who are in Formula 1. With their rookie year, we were always very open that the expectations were not high but that they had the opportunity to learn and to establish themselves in Formula 1. Now this year, we have to prove that we are on the right track with the drivers.”

“That is the only thing I can judge the performance [on], what I expect from the car, and therefore I always say I’m cautiously optimistic because I see how Simone and his group developed the car over the last year, how hard they worked on it. And the results from the wind tunnel, the improvements they do each session... that makes me cautiously optimistic.”

Further Haas F1 optimism;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.steiner-expecting-schumacher-and-mazepin-to-fight-for-points-with-all-new.37Iti4vOBkLQJWV5QtPg9k.html

Haas F1 Team 2022 Preview: Reasons to Be Optimistic, Pessimistic, What to Expect
American Formula 1 team has nowhere to go but up after scoreless 2021 campaign.
BY PHILLIP HORTON
Feb 4, 2022

As the team enters its seventh season, the question begs, can the team achieve its goals of moving back into the midpack?

It was Haas’ tactical decision to take the hit in 2021 for a return to midfield respectability long-term—where it was in 2017 and 2018. Early last season, the team turned much of its 2021 resources on its 2022 effort. Now, to paraphrase affable team boss Guenther Steiner, the proof is in the pudding and the pudding is coming to the table.

Further speculation;

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a38984362/haas-f1-2022-preview-optimistic-pessimistic-expect/

Fortitude

5th February 2022, 00:37

Haas launches 2022 challenger with unchanged livery.
The car livery is an update from last season, title sponsor Uralkali influencing the continuation of a white design with red and blue stripes.
by James Phillips
4th February 2022

The Haas Formula 1 team has revealed an unchanged livery for their 2022 challenger and becomes the first team to reveal their latest car.

The US-based outfits 2022 car is the first to be designed by Simone Resta, assisted by the team’s new design office in Marenello, Italy. The team hopes the ex-Ferrari man and his new technical structure will help propel them further up the grid after a low-key 2021 campaign.

“The VF-22 is the first entry to emerge from the American-owned team’s all-new design-office in Maranello, Italy – led by Technical Director Simone Resta,”, said a team statement

Further background information;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/haas-launches-2022-challenger-with-unchanged-livery-77527

Haas admit VF-22 will 'look different' for pre-season testing
4th Feb 2022, ‎15‎:‎20
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Team Principal Guenther Steiner revealed that the car shown in the pictures is of an earlier stage of development, meaning the physical car revealed in the pit lane in Barcelona on 23 February could be rather different.

"I think how different it looks in Barcelona, you will see in two weeks!" Steiner told select members of the media, including RacingNews365.com.

"It will be a little bit different, obviously. We're not saying now that it [will be] exactly the same. This is [an early] stage of development and we don't want to define that, but it's going that direction."

More intrigue;

https://racingnews365.com/haas-admit-vf-22-will-look-different-for-pre-season-testing

Podcast: Our verdict on Haas’s F1 2022 car
The Race

Former Jordan and Stewart Formula 1 technical director Gary Anderson gives his verdict on the newly-revealed Haas-Ferrari VF-22, the first sight of a genuine car designed under the new regulations in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast.

Audio found here;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/podcast-our-verdict-on-haass-f1-2022-car/

Steiner: No number 1 or Number 2 driver in our team
Paul Velasco
4 February, 2022

Last year Mazepin – whose father’s company Uralkali sponsors the team – was plagued with a ‘heavier’ car than his teammate, the stopwatch a true barometer of the pace difference between him and Schumacher, a battle the Russian lost hands down.

But in 2022, Mazepin is getting equal treatment according to Steiner: “Both drivers have equal contracts. Who is doing a better job is having a better starting position. No number 1 and no number 2 driver in our team.”

The Austrian is wary of the challenges facing his team this forthcoming mammoth F1 season with new rules and budget caps also kicking in: “One of the biggest changes in F1 if I can remember, a challenge for the teams. Big change and added to the complexity.

Further information;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/04/steiner-no-number-one-or-number-two-driver-in-our-team/

More Ferrari, less Dallara – Haas’s 2022 F1 design explained
4th Feb 2022.
By Mark Hughes

The first model – used by the team since its initial entry in 2016 – was Haas using the Ferrari windtunnel with the aid of some seconded Ferrari aerodynamicists. Haas designed the car around Ferrari-provided mechanical components, and Dallara then built the car and the race team in Banbury ran it.

For the last two seasons, the team has been in survival mode, with owner Gene Haas unwilling to commit to investing more heavily until the cost cap and new aero formula – both of which are intended to help the smaller teams – were in joint effect.

That time is now and Haas has expanded significantly and become even more integrated with Ferrari. In terms of staff numbers, the team is now back where it was in 2018, but in general, the recruitments have come from Ferrari more than Dallara.

Further details of the Haas F1 organisation and operation;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/more-ferrari-less-dallara-haas-2022-f1-design-explained/

Fortitude

6th February 2022, 10:55

Haas: Containing weight increase of VF-22 'a real struggle'.
Haas technical director Simona Resta admits the US outfit struggled to contain the massive weight increase induced by F1's all-new regulations while designing its VF-22.
Michael Delaney06/02/2022 at 08:2606/02/2022 at 08:31

Resta and his team of engineers battled on several critical fronts when they conceived Haas' 2022 contender, but they particularly struggled when it came to dealing with F1's increased minimum weight threshold.

"And last but not least I think the weight has been a real struggle, I suppose for everyone, because the amount of things that changed on the car – tyres, rims, brakes, safety requirements, bodywork etcetera – has induced a massive amount of weight increase on the cars which we really fought hard to try to contain, so that has been a really important point for all the project."

Further explanation;

https://f1i.com/news/431369-haas-containing-weight-increase-of-vf-22-a-real-struggle.html

Haas now ‘out of the box’ with the VF-22
Date published: February 5 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Haas chief Guenther Steiner says the team are no longer “in a box” as they have the capacity to develop the VF-22.

“This year, with having a new car, there are more problems but it’s good to have these problems,” Steiner told The Race.

“Because you can move forward again. Whatever you do will be positive for the whole year.”

Improvement opportunities;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-vf-22-development-opportunity/

Haas expect even better 2023 car as design team gels.
Simone Resta believes Haas’ design team should create an even better car for 2023 as they continue to gel together.
Date published: February 5 2022 - Jon Wilde

A return to the midfield from the back of the grid is the main target, but there could be further progress in 2023 according to Haas’ technical director because the designers at the team’s complex in Maranello, home town of their engine supplier Ferrari, are still in the early stages of their collaboration.

“Although it has been a challenge, I can’t stress enough how proud I am of the team we have built over the past year,” said Resta, who himself is effectively ‘on loan’ at Haas from Ferrari.

“With new team members, many from Ferrari, and working very closely with Dallara, we now have a fully-fledged design office in Maranello.

Further on design improvements;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/simone-resta-haas-design-improvement/

Uralkali Haas F1 Team showcases its brand-new F1 car, the VF-22
By Balazs Szabo on 06 Feb 2022, 12:21

On the launch of the VF-22 Gene Haas, Founder of Haas Automation and Chairman of Uralkali Haas F1 Team commented; “It’s that time of year where you’re naturally optimistic that the hard work and effort of everyone will translate to a competitive entry on track.

“It’s exciting to be at the point where we know the VF-22 will be on-track shortly,” said Guenther Steiner, Team Principal – Uralkali Haas F1 Team. “We all know what the team is capable of, we’ve proved that in the past, and with this new car – born out of a completely new set of regulations and with our new design team in place, I’m confident we can showcase once again that we can compete on weekends.”

“Not everyone is new but a good chunk of people have joined with a revised structure now in place. I consider this as a great success in the process. We’re still early in the project and going through a transitional season of working together on a car for a full year, but if we look back where we started, this team is already a success.”

Further on Haas F1;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/23598

Haas explains development stages of 2022 F1 car
Haas says its 2022 Formula 1 car will be close to final race spec for the first pre-season test at Barcelona, after releasing rendered images on Friday.
By:
Jonathan Noble
Feb 4, 2022, 2:15 PM

The new VF-22 is the result of a mammoth effort from the restructured Haas team, which made an early commitment to develop the 2022 challenger last year rather than continuing working on its 2021 car.

"In the end, I'm pretty happy what happened last year, because we had two tough years, but what kept me going was actually what the people did in '21 back in the design office and in the aero group."

After a 2021 campaign where Haas had the slowest car, Steiner hopes that the early efforts it made with its latest challenger will allow it to get back into the midfield fight. "I've said it a few times, I cannot judge how performing the car will be, because I haven't seen the other cars," he explained.

More on the mammoth effort;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/haas-explains-development-stages-of-2022-f1-car/7874458/

Podcast: What our experts thought of the 2022 Haas F1 launch
Haas has become the first Formula 1 team to unveil its car livery and design for the 2022 season after releasing a series of renders on Friday.
Feb 4, 2022, 8:13 PM

On the podcast today, Autosport's Grand Prix editor Alex Kalinauckas is joined by F1 reporter Luke Smith and Motorsport.com’s F1 editor Jonathan Noble to discuss first impressions on the renders, and how Haas is changing the organisation to be more competitive in 2022.

Audio link;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/podcast-2022-f1-launch-haas/7881799/

Fortitude

7th February 2022, 04:06

Mercedes Aerodynamicist reveals secrets of the Haas 2022 car.
An Ex Mercedes designer and aerodynamicist reveal his thoughts on the secrets of the Haas car on his youtube channel.
February 6, 2022 · by thejudge13

The American team Haas (last in the championship in 2021) became the first on the grid to unveil its new livery for the 2022 Formula 1 season – And this weekend, ex Mercedes F1 aerodynamicist reveals the car’s secrets with an in-depth analysis.

Watch here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6mgqQtvFeM&feature=emb_logo

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/06/mercedes-aerodynamicist-reveals-secrets-of-the-haas-2022-car/

Sliders: Compare the Haas VF-21 and VF-22
2021 vs 2022 – how do the new F1 cars differ?
by Ryan Wood
05/02/2022

This year Haas became the first team to pull the covers off of its 2022 car – albeit a computer rendering largely aimed at showing off their “new” livery for the year, which remains largely unchanged from 2021 when the team switched to a Russian flag theme for driver Nikita Mazepin.

Further analysis;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/05/sliders-compare-the-haas-vf-21-and-vf-22/

Haas 'taking everything possible' from Ferrari
Sam Hall
Sunday 6 February 2022 12:00

Haas technical director Simione Resta has revealed the team is "trying to take everything that is possible" from Ferrari ahead of the 2022 season.

"We try to maximise all opportunities with Ferrari and we are the smallest team on the grid so therefore, for us, it is important to maximise all those opportunities," explained Resta at the launch of the VF22.

"The regulations have changed in a measurable way between last year and this year with new component specifications et cetera, so actually, you can change fewer things from Ferrari with fewer parameters.

More on the support Haas F1 receive from Ferrari;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75283/haas-taking-everything-possible-from-ferrari/

Steiner sees path to championship success for Haas
Date published: February 6 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Haas boss Guenther Steiner says the reduced budget cap for 2022 makes Formula 1 title success possible for more teams.

“I don’t want to have a failure and Gene [Haas, team owner] didn’t want to have a failure,” Steiner told Motor Sport during the latest podcast in the My Big Break series.

More on the FUTURE Haas F1 Championship challenge;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-f1-titles-possible/

Mick Schumacher delivered tough ultimatum by Haas chief Guenther Steiner
GUENTHER STEINER is known for cracking a joke, but the Haas chief can also crack the whip when necessary and has fired a warning at his drivers ahead of the upcoming season.
By DANIEL MOXON
17:04, Sat, Feb 5, 2022

Schumacher was impressive last season despite not scoring any points, and now Steiner wants to see him convert his promising performances into hard results.

"The expectations of Mick are the ones he sets for himself – we want to fight for points, that's our goal," the team boss told F1 Insider.

"I'm sure we can do it. Mick has learned a lot and will learn a lot more. Mick was already very strong at the end of last year. A Formula 1 season is longer than anything he has driven before. Maybe that's why the increase felt earlier. But of course we would all be happy if he made a huge improvement."

More on Guenther Steiner cracking the whip at Mick Schumacher;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1561495/Mick-Schumacher-ultimatum-Haas-Guenther-Steiner-F1-news

Fortitude

7th February 2022, 04:39

Wolff: Even Haas could win 2022 Formula 1 championship.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said that any of the 10 Formula 1 teams could win the 2022 championship, as the shake-up of the technical regulations provides a lot of scope for teams to move up or down the sport’s pecking order.
by James Clifford
5 February 2022

Toto Wolff said that Formula 1’s larger teams will still have an advantage despite the budget cap and the new regulations.

Looking ahead to the new season of racing, Wolff has said he “wouldn’t write off a single team that started development early,” such as Haas, but stressed that larger teams will still have an advantage despite the budget cap because of investments they have previously made.

More on Haas F1, potentially winning the 2022 Formula 1 championship in the exciting season ahead;

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-even-haas-could-win-2022-formula-1-championship/

Drivers are ‘like lightbulbs’ – Ex-Top Gear ‘Stig’ reveals what it takes to be a Formula 1 driver
Perry McCarthy was part of the poorly run Andrea Moda team of 1992.
by Rob Kershaw
6 February 20226 February 2022

He (Perry McCarthy) referenced Keke Rosberg, who forty years ago left the Fittipaldi team to join – ironically – one of the best teams at the time in Williams.

The Finn then claimed the title that year, and McCarthy says it is a guessing game as to whether a racing driver will thrive when placed into a quick car.

“Race drives to a degree are like lightbulbs, you rather hope they are quick,” he said.

“And if you plug them into a different car, and a car is much better, we just see all the time.

“I think one of the most remarkable examples of that was back in 1982 I think where in 81 I think Keke Rosberg, had been driving for Fittipaldi – If I’ve got a year wrong here, don’t nail me – but I think it was 81, Keke was driving for Fittipaldi at the back of the grid or failing to qualify and then got signed up by Williams for 1982 and won the world championship.

Further thoughts about drivers being ‘like lightbulbs’ in this interesting article;

https://formula1news.co.uk/drivers-like-lightbulbs-stig-reveals-formula-1-driver/

Formula 1: The bold significance of Ferrari’s new car name
by Ian Higgins
07/02/2022.

In an Instagram post from the official Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team account from Tuesday, February 1, it was revealed that the new name for their 2022 title hopeful would be the “F1-75.”

As reported by formula1.com, the inspiration for this name comes from the 75th anniversary of Ferrari’s first production car.

With this new car name, Ferrari have hearkened back to the debut of arguably their most dominant era as a Formula 1 manufacturer. This is not just a tribute to their storied history; this is a brave statement to be acknowledged by the rest of the grid.

More eulogies on Scuderia Ferrari;

https://beyondtheflag.com/2022/02/04/formula-1-bold-significance-ferrari-new-car-name/

Fittipaldi sees Ferrari among F1's front-runners from the outset
Michael Delaney06/02/2022 at 16:43

F1 legend Emerson Fittipaldi believes Ferrari could have the upper hand over its rivals at the start of F1's 2022 season as it prepared early for its campaign.

And the Brazilian reckons the Italian outfit could hit the ground running in Bahrain next month.

"They can be faster at the start," said Fittipaldi quoted by Motorsport.com. "A team like Ferrari has been working on the new season for much longer. You don’t know, there can be many surprises."

Ferrari, Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari;

https://f1i.com/news/431398-fittipaldi-sees-ferrari-among-f1s-front-runners-from-the-outset.html

Why the FIA has shot itself in the foot with 2021 hangover
Date published: February 6 2022 - Henry Valantine

With plenty of big questions still unanswered, the drama of 2021 is unlikely to be forgotten for a while yet – and the FIA are doing their bit to clear up what happened.

The FIA’s internal investigation is still ongoing, and the findings are set to only be confirmed to the World Motor Sport Council on 18 March – as Friday practice gets underway in Bahrain – meaning this will absolutely be the talk of the paddock, whether they like it or not.

Formula 1 should be heralding the start of its biggest regulation changes in recent years by having the full focus on how the new running order will shape up, how the cars differ, the anticipation of the year ahead as a whole and keeping everyone’s eyes on what will happen on track.

Instead, those at the top of the sport are going to be peppered with questions about what their internal investigation shows, and the subsequent knock-on effects for the future.

More on the FIA ‘shooting itself in the foot’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/fia-investigation-delay-unhelpful/

Fortitude

7th February 2022, 10:25

Marko: RB18 reveal won't show 'any special details'.
Red Bull Racing is next in line to present its 2022 contender, but on Wednesday the Milton Keynes outfit fill follow its tradition of releasing images or renders of its new design, with the real car breaking cover at Barcelona on February 23.
Phillip van Osten 07/02/2022 at 08:16

"The presentation, which is important for fans and sponsors, does not show any special details on the car," Marko told Sport1.

"The new car will only be ready shortly before the start of testing in Barcelona on 23 February.

"From then on it will be further developed and will receive another update for the first race of the season on 20 March in Bahrain," confirmed the Red Bull motorsport boss.

Further details;

https://f1i.com/news/431413-marko-rb18-reveal-wont-show-any-special-details.html

MARKO: “WE KNEW THAT MAX WAS TALKING TO MERCEDES AS WELL”
Dalila Zanardo
06/02/2022.

Bold choices drive Formula 1. If at first Dr. Helmut Marko had been heavily criticized for his decision to promote a 17-year-old Max Verstappen in the main series, 2021 and the Dutchman’s first title proved Marko right. The Austrian recently revealed what influenced his decision and the success that followed, admitting Red Bull’s extreme mentality played an important role in the deal.

However, the “calculated risk” taken by Red Bull wouldn’t have been possible at Brackley but the decision to choose Verstappen wasn’t against the Silver Arrows: “They don’t take those risks with a newcomer. But my plan to sign him and put him into Formula 1 straight away wasn’t to outdo Mercedes. It was simply because I saw that he was ready for Formula 1 and that turned out to be the case. I would say in general: Red Bull is different compared to Mercedes, we have much more of a ‘no risk, no fun’ mentality.”

More on the ‘no risk, no fun’ mentality;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/marko-we-knew-that-max-was-talking-to-mercedes-as-well/

Albon: ‘Verstappen is very direct, doesn’t do bull****’
Date published: February 7 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Albon spent a season-and-a-half alongside Verstappen within the Red Bull team, having replaced Pierre Gasly over the summer break of 2019, before losing his seat to Sergio Perez following the conclusion of the 2021 campaign.

That was not the end of Albon’s work alongside Verstappen though, since he continued as Red Bull’s test and reserve driver throughout 2021.

So through their working relationship, Albon has learnt the character of Verstappen, explaining that there are no airs and graces with the 24-year-old.

No bull**** here;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alex-albon-max-verstappen-no-bs/

Red Bull chief Christian Horner admits 'distraction' could affect 2022 world title chances
RED BULL boss Christian Horner is preparing to do battle all over again with Mercedes and their team principal Toto Wolff in 2022.
By ANDREW GAMBLE
14:20, Mon, Jan 31, 2022

Horner believes it was 'inevitable' that the championship battle provided a level of distraction - and it could affect the title race in 2022 as F1 begins a new era following immense regulation changes. “I think there could be a shakeup in the order,” Horner told Indian broadcaster WION.

“You could see teams like Ferrari, McLaren, maybe even one or two surprises, because it’s a complete reset of the regulations and ourselves and Mercedes were very much involved in last year’s championship fight.

“So inevitably, that takes a little bit of distraction and emphasis away from the following year.

More on Red Bull 'distraction';

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1558598/Red-Bull-Christian-Horner-2022-world-title-chances-F1-news

Fortitude

7th February 2022, 17:31

‘Eyes open to understand if we missed a trick’.
Haas technical director Simone Resta says all the teams will go into the opening pre-season outing with their eyes wide open to “understand if we missed the trick”.
Date published: February 7 2022 - Michelle Foster

Already it is has been predicted that at least “one or two” teams will get it badly wrong while someone will come up with an interpretation of the rules that the rest of the field hasn’t thought of.

That could give them an advantage, leaving the rest scrambling to copy the design.
Resta says the teams will all be scrutinizing each others cars when they take to the track for the season-opening shakedown in Spain later this month.

More understanding on the missing of a trick;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/eyes-open-missed-a-trick-haas/

Mercedes 'unhappy' with Lewis Hamilton car just weeks before 2022 F1 season starts.
Mercedes director Hywel Thomas, who oversees the team's High Performance Powertrains department, has voiced his concerns over their new power unit for the upcoming Formula One season.
By ARCHIE GRIGGS
10:02, Mon, Feb 7, 2022

Thomas has since highlighted the difficulties of adapting to the new power unit regulations by insisting that Mercedes are less than pleased with certain aspects of their performance ahead of the upcoming season.

"What we have to do is change the fuel where we can and change the PU hardware where we can in order to maximise the effects of the things we do like and minimise the effects of the things we don't."

Mercedes disenchantment;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1562025/Mercedes-unhappy-Lewis-Hamilton-car-2022-F1-news

New ethanol fuel requirement causing power unit challenges, Mercedes admit
2022 F1 season
Posted on
6th February 2022, 9:15 | Written by Will Wood

In a video posted to social media, Mercedes High Performance Powertrains managing director Hywel Thomas explained that the new fuel requirement has affected the performance of their Mercedes power unit.

“As in every year when we’re developing the fuel, it’s a partnership between ourselves and Petronas to make sure that the fuel is enjoying the power unit experience and the power unit is enjoying the fuel experience,” Thomas said.

“The change this year to go to the E10 is probably the largest regulation change we’ve had since 2014, so it was a sizeable undertaking to make sure that we really developed that fuel and the number of candidates that we had, the single cylinder running, the V6 running – it shouldn’t be underestimated how much work that took.”

Mercedes work, sweat and tears;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/06/new-ethanol-fuel-requirement-causing-power-unit-challenges-mercedes-admit/

Mercedes “absolutely desperate” to see 2022 F1 power unit run
Mercedes HPP boss Hywel Thomas says his engineers are “absolutely desperate” to see how their latest Formula 1 power unit behaves in the new W13.
By:
Adam Cooper
Feb 6, 2022, 3:36 PM

Thomas says that HPP has done a lot of homework in conjunction with the chassis team in Brackley, but is ready to make further changes after early testing with the new cars.

“We've got simulations, we've done all our calculations, and we've modified the engine and the way that the engine drives in order for us to be ready.

“Of course, we're absolutely desperate to get to the first track test so we can see if those simulations are correct. Hopefully they will be.

Mercedes simulations, calculations, mofications;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-absolutely-desperate-run-2022-engine/7926176/

Enhanced image: Mercedes 2022 F1 car revealed, claims it will be fast
February 4, 2022 · by thejudge13

TJ13 has acquired an enhanced version of that image to help fans glimpse at the W13 might look like just before the official launch happens later this month. The car looks remarkably similar to concept renders this website published, designed by Industrial designer Olcay Tuncay.

Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott says the 2022 cars will have the pace of last season’s F1 cars… “The performance of the new cars will probably not be that different from the old ones,” said Mike Elliott.

“When you have a whole new set of regulations, you don’t know what the limit is, you don’t know where you can go, and that’s exciting for the engineers – to explore that and do it in a better way than the competition. In a normal year you have a pretty good idea of what you need to find over the winter, but with the brand new regulations, who knows what’s going to happen or what the competition will have brought?”

Mercedes pace, Mercedes car, Mercedes gains, Mercedes performance;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/04/enhanced-image-mercedes-2022-f1-car-revealed-claims-it-will-be-fast/

Fortitude

8th February 2022, 12:29

Ex-F1 driver backing Red Bull as team to beat for 2022.
Former Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson is backing Red Bull to be the team to beat in 2022, as he feels they will be able to ace the new aerodynamic regulations better than any other.
By George Dagless
Published: 8 Feb 2022, 11:45

Former Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson writes;

“Had the rules remained the same for next season, I think the grid would be even tighter,” said the 65-year-old Swede in his blog. “I keep saying it but the easiest way to even up the field and get close racing is rules stability. Eventually the smaller, less well-resourced teams will catch up. We’ve seen that many times over the years.”

“But as soon as the rules change, you’ll have one, maybe two teams that have the resources and talent to get it right out of the gate. The rest spend the next three years catching up again.”

More on how Red Bull ‘acing’ the new aerodynamic regulations;

https://www.givemesport.com/87970114-ex-f1-driver-backing-red-bull-as-team-to-beat-for-2022

Formula 1: Helmut Marko rules out Brawn GP repeat in 2022
By George Dagless
Published: 8 Feb 2022, 11:56

Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has predicted that the 2022 regulation changes will not throw up a surprise to the extent of the Brawn GP emergence in 2009 in Formula 1.

Certainly, there’s every chance we could be in for a surprise or two in 2022 but Marko has sought to pour cold water on the fire of those hoping for a Brawn GP like run in 2009:

“The double diffuser was a political thing back then. With the standard teams like Mercedes and Red Bull have today – with simulation, computers and all the resources – I don’t believe in it.”

More on simulations, computers and resources ensuring no surprises;

https://www.givemesport.com/87970117-formula-1-helmut-marko-rules-out-brawn-gp-repeat-in-2022

Five technical innovations that changed F1
08/02/2022, ‎11‎:‎10
Author Michael Butterworth

After a pandemic-induced delay of 12 months, Formula 1 ushers in a new era of technical regulations for 2022. With little to no carryover from last year's cars, designers will be hoping to outmanoeuvre their competitors with clever interpretations of the new rules.

To mark the occasion, RacingNews365.com has trawled through the archives to bring you five of the best technical innovations in F1 history.

Double diffuser

F-Duct

Dual Axis Steering

Ground effect

Semi-automatic transmission

In more detail;

https://racingnews365.com/five-of-the-best-technical-innovations-in-f1-history

‘Doubts’ about Ferrari ‘aerodynamics’ – insider
“…some veiled doubts remain about certain innovative solutions in the field of aerodynamics.” Italian F1 insider, Leo Turrini.
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 8, 2022

Some, including top teams Mercedes and Red Bull, have singled out Ferrari as a likely 2022 championship challenger. “You have to be careful with expectations,” Turrini insisted.
“It should be understood that, if at the first race of the season Ferrari is half a second behind Red Bull and Mercedes, the dream of a title race is over.”

Ferrari aerodynamic ‘doubts’;

https://grandpx.news/doubts-about-ferrari-aerodynamics-insider/

Fortitude

8th February 2022, 12:59

‘Patient’ McLaren plays down 2022 title hopes.
Formerly a reliable world championship contender, the Woking based team has hit leaner times more recently but finished behind ‘big three’ Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari in 2021.
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 8, 2022

Team boss Andreas Seidl says McLaren is only now putting the finishes touches on infrastructure improvements that are the next step in the team’s recovery.

“Our new wind tunnel is under construction and the goal is to complete it at the end of 2022, so it’s completely ready for development of the car in 2024,” he told the German language formel1.de.

McLaren ‘patience’ on infrastructure improvements and wind tunnel construction;

https://grandpx.news/patient-mclaren-plays-down-2022-title-hopes/

Ricciardo not expecting his problems to disappear with 2022 F1 car
07/02/2022, ‎13‎:‎40
Author Anna Francis

After a difficult first season with McLaren, Daniel Ricciardo is hopeful that he can continue to make progress in 2022. However, the Australian does not think that the issues he faced last year will suddenly be gone.

"I certainly never give up hope," Ricciardo told Auto Motor und Sport when asked whether his driving style might be better suited to the 2022 challenger.

The high point of Ricciardo's 2021 season was his victory at the Italian Grand Prix in September, which marked a 1-2 finish for McLaren, with Lando Norris finishing in second. McLaren will launch their new car, the MCL36, on 11 February.

More on McLaren and Ricciardo;

https://racingnews365.com/ricciardo-not-expecting-his-problems-to-disappear-with-2022-f1-car

The Case for McLaren's Lando Norris to Contend for F1 Title
Last year, Norris made a leap in Formula 1 from promising to good. Can he and McLaren make another leap from good to great?
BY FRED SMITH
Feb 7, 2022

With Lando Norris entering his fourth season of Formula 1, it can be easy to forget that he is just 22 years old.

The young English driver has spent every one of those four F1 seasons with a McLaren team that had struggled mightily in the years immediately before hiring him, leading to years of less-than-promising results. That changed last year, the season where he finally led the team in points scored and cracked the podium on four separate occasions. With a new rule set arriving this year, the hope is that he can take McLaren even further.

The next part relies on how well the team has done their part. If Zak Brown's McLaren has successfully built a competitive car for 2022, Norris will have a chance to win races regularly.

Lando Norris in contention;

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a39004304/mclaren-lando-norris-contend-f1-title/

Ricciardo hoping for new racier F1 era after 'dragster' years
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Tuesday 8 February 2022 09:30

With components being taken from the top face of the cars in favour of the re-introduction of ground-effect, F1 machinery will be considerably lower with less rake from front to back.

It is something McLaren driver Ricciardo feels will lend the new breed to similarities with F2.

"So I really hope that it can give something like that. F2 have pretty exciting races. Obviously, all the cars are the same, but I like to think some of these rules could help Formula 1 out, and I think that's obviously the direction we're going."

From the ‘dragster’ years, back to ‘ground effect’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75358/ricciardo-hoping-for-new-racier-f1-era-after-dragster-years/

Lego Technic McLaren F1 set promises a glimpse at the 2022 McLaren car
The Lego Technic McLaren Formula 1 is the first ever Technic F1 car, it's pretty damn cool
BY MATTHEW BOLTON
PUBLISHED 8 FEBRUARY 22

It'll go on-sale on March 1st, and will cost £159/$179. For that, you'll get 1,432 pieces, to build a model that's full of the signature functions of Lego Technic sets, and will measure a not-inconsiderable 25.5 inches long when complete.

Even more exciting for engineering fans is that McLaren says that the car is a chance for F1 lovers to get a closer look at the 2022 McLaren F1 car design. The colours are drawn from the 2021 car, but the physical design is drawn from the new car, thanks to a collaboration between McLaren and Lego on the design. James Key, Executive Director, Technical, McLaren Racing says that the set "celebrates our 2021 season livery while giving fans a hands-on interpretation of the new 2022 F1 car design."

Build and own your own McLaren;

https://www.t3.com/news/lego-technic-mclaren-f1-set-promises-a-glimpse-at-the-2022-mclaren-car

Fortitude

9th February 2022, 09:20

Mark Hughes: Newey’s genius solutions to F1’s last big resets.
Intriguingly, what each of those new sets of regulations triggered were hugely innovative and influential designs from Adrian Newey, the McLaren MP4/13 and Red Bull RB5 respectively.
Feb 9, 2022
By Mark Hughes

With Newey still very much part of the Red Bull technical team, it lends extra anticipation to what features might be revealed in the new RB18 when it emerges on Wednesday afternoon.

C&P this excerpt;

Just like at McLaren in ’98, Newey’s lateral thinking sent Red Bull in a different direction to the others.
Although he missed the double diffuser ruse, Newey’s initially single diffuser Red Bull was close to the double diffuser Brawn in performance and faster than the two other double diffuser cars – from Toyota and Williams.
When the RB5 then got an enhanced double diffuser from Silverstone, it became F1’s fastest car. So what was so different and effective about it?

FANTASTIC article, about the WORK of a GENIUS, Adrian Newey;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mark-hughes-neweys-genius-solutions-to-f1s-last-big-resets/

Perez made Red Bull ‘stronger’ through his experience
Date published: February 8 2022 - Michelle Foster

Jonathan Wheatley says fans should not underestimate the challenge Sergio Perez faced last season when he moved to Red Bull, applauding the Mexican driver’s efforts.

“It’s very difficult to make that transition to a big team from a small team. Very difficult,” Red Bull sporting director Wheatley told The Jack Threlfall Show podcast. “And understanding how to use the tools available to you, and the people available to you, and to use them correctly, and to sort of separate the wheat from the chaff. “This is what a more experienced driver brings to a team. They know what’s important.

“Now, with Checo, [it’s] completely different. [It was] more like when we brought Mark Webber into the team, to be honest. [We] brought in a massively experienced guy, [with a] huge amount of F1 experience. “We’ve learned from him, it’s made us stronger. He’s learned from us, it’s made him stronger,” he added.

Checo adapting to Red Bull;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio-perez-made-red-bull-stronger/

F1 title rivals ‘need a year off’ – Webber
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Max Verstappen has questioned how upset his 2021 title nemesis should be about missing out on his eighth world championship.
After a long period of radio silence and speculation about his retirement, Lewis Hamilton is now back at work at Mercedes’ Brackley HQ.
Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko admits Verstappen, 24, also struggled with the intensity of the 2021 head-to-head, and could not sustain too many years at that level.
“It’s hard, I think we need a year off. They need a year off,” former F1 driver Mark Webber told Australia’s Channel 9.

Needing a year off and more….

https://grandpx.news/f1-title-rivals-need-a-year-off-webber/

Horner’s Mercedes factory tour unlikely
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 9, 2022

An epic troll carried out by Red Bull boss Christian Horner appears to have hit a snag.

Many observers giggled when it emerged that the Briton had won a more than $5000 bid at an awards show to secure a guided tour of arch rival Mercedes’ Brackley headquarters.

“I’d like to take Adrian (Newey), Pierre Wache, maybe Paul Field, our head of production,” Horner smiled.

“It will be very interesting to see how Mercedes spends its budget.”

Mercedes, however, insist that the “terms and conditions” of the prize may explicitly exclude Horner.

More on the reason for the MAY exclude Christian Horner;

https://grandpx.news/horners-mercedes-factory-tour-unlikely/

Now Red Bull will find out if Verstappen’s title came at a cost to their 2022 chances
2022 season preview
Posted on
8th February 2022, 13:428th February 2022, 19:17 | Written by Will Wood

Casting an eye beyond the insular European sports-sphere and over the Atlantic to the world of American Football, the concept of the ‘Super Bowl hangover’ is a curious yet powerful phenomenon.

Many reasons can lead to this: From how the game itself works, to how teams acquire new players to replace retiring veterans and how the player salary cap restricts how much money can be spent on a team’s roster. But it’s in how that phenomenon determines how a team approaches each season that is the most interesting aspect.

There appear to be parallels between that go-for-broke attitude and Red Bull’s approach to the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. Ultimately, it was one that led to them securing the coveted number one on Max Verstappen’s car for the upcoming season.

More on the ‘hangover’ effects of a tough season;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/08/now-red-bull-will-find-out-if-verstappens-title-came-at-a-cost-to-their-2022-chances/

Fortitude

9th February 2022, 18:53

Horner expects Red Bull RB18 to ‘evolve very quickly’.
Christian Horner expects evolution of the RB18 to be “very quick” as Red Bull make discoveries about how they can improve their 2022 challenger.
Date published: February 9 2022 - Jon Wilde

The car that will display the No 1 in honour of Max Verstappen’s World Championship triumph – and No 11 for his team-mate, Sergio Perez – was presented during an online event, with Red Bull the second constructor after Haas to stage a pre-season launch.

“The biggest change, obviously from a regulatory point of view, is the car is a lot cleaner, there are not all the added bits that were on last year’s car,” said Horner.

“The whole concept of the car is to try and promote overtaking and closer racing, so it’s a new concept, a new philosophy and it’s a clean sheet of paper for every single team.

How the Red Bull will ‘evolve’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/christian-horner-red-bull-rb18-evolution/

Red Bull Racing unveils RB18 Formula 1 car and it is a thing of absolute beauty and Christian Horner and Max Verstappen can't wait to go racing again
By Dave Hammond
Wednesday, 9th February 2022, 5:39 pm

Oracle Red Bull Racing teamed up with fans to launch the RB18. Christian Horner, Max Verstappen and Checo Perez joined forces with the engineering Team to reveal the 2022 car to the world in a fan first experience.

"By the time we get to the first race, the RB18 won’t look much like it looks today, the evolution will be very quick as we progress through the season. It is a steep learning curve for everyone and it is a contest in development between the first and the last race."

‘Absolute beauty’ to be read by all;

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/other-sport/red-bull-racing-unveils-rb18-formula-1-car-and-it-is-a-thing-of-absolute-beauty-and-christian-horner-and-max-verstappen-cant-wait-to-go-racing-again-3561769

Red Bull Unveils Next-Gen 2022 Formula 1 Race Car, It’s Straight Out of Ready Player One
9 Feb 2022, 17:02 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose

These new cars look both futuristic as well as a little retro, like overgrown early 90s F1 models, but I’m certain we’re going to get used to their appearance as soon as we start seeing them on the track every other weekend.

Pictures of the futuristic, retro and ‘Ready Player One’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/red-bull-unveils-next-gen-2022-formula-1-race-car-its-straight-out-of-ready-player-one-181241.html

Red Bull wary rivals may have “stolen a march” while they focused on 2021
2022 F1 season
Posted on
9th February 2022, 17:15 | Written by Keith Collantine

“We’re aiming very much to build on what we achieved last year, so the target is to try and obviously retain the title,” he said at the team’s presentation of its new car.

“The big unknown is, have we missed something with these regulations? Has another team stolen a march because of the focus and effort that went into 2021?

“We believe we’ve got a good car, RB18, as you know, coming to life and seeing it today is fantastic. It’s the culmination of a huge effort from the team and we’re looking forward to seeing it out on the track in anger.”

The ‘big unknowns’ and ‘stolen marches’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/09/red-bull-wary-rivals-may-have-stolen-a-march-while-they-focused-on-2021/

Gary Anderson: How Red Bull’s real 2022 car will likely differ
18:40, 09/02/2022
By Gary Anderson

Red Bull has always been very good at pulling the wool over the eyes of those in other teams and also us poor journalists. This year is no exception and – if anything – by launching what is clearly very much based on the show car it has gone further this year.

What we’ve seen will almost certainly bear no resemblance to what will hit the track. Even then what we see in Barcelona will be subject to constant changes.
That means we can draw no conclusions from Red Bull from it launching what is very much a version of the show cars we’ve already seen.

We still have to wait and see what Red Bull’s main rivals come up with, but what I’ve seen so far doesn’t get me too exciting.

‘Pulling the wool over the eyes’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-how-red-bulls-real-2022-f1-car-will-likely-differ/

F1 2022 cars will be a "lot faster" on straights, says Red Bull
Formula 1's 2022 cars are going to be a "lot faster" on the straights this year, reckons Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache.
By: Jonathan Noble
Feb 9, 2022, 6:03 PM

Explaining the new approach with the 2022 rules, Wache said: "What they wanted to do is clearly to create and generate the downforce from the ground compared to before - where it was generated by the ground but also mainly by the front wing, rear wing and the body work.

"It will affect, for sure, the ride of the car, the mechanical grip and the drag of the car.

"This generation of downforce is quite efficient, and this type of car should be a lot quicker on the straight at these levels of downforce."

Faster on the straights with Red Bull;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-2022-cars-will-be-a-lot-faster-on-straights-says-red-bull/8025146/

Fortitude

10th February 2022, 08:26

Red Bull talk through 'very unusual' process with RB18 design.
"It's a huge regulation change, the biggest one we've had since 1983, when the venturi [tunnel] cars were banned and flat-bottomed cars were introduced.”
Author RacingNews365 Staff
10 Feb 2022, ‎07‎:‎00

"It's been a very unusual process, this one," Newey commented, reflecting on the car's development.

"The aerodynamic changes which lead as a representation to this are designed to help overtaking, so the theory is that if you create a shape where - as the downforce is produced - that always produces upwash at the back of the car [and] you get this kind of rooster tail coming up at the back.”

"If that back fills or side fills from underneath, then the wake goes above the car that's following it, so the car behind keeps its downforce much better than [it did in 2021]."

More on ‘back fills’ and ‘side fills’;

https://racingnews365.com/newey-explains-very-unusual-rb18-design-process

Red Bull tricks everyone with the biggest fake
February 9, 2022 · by thejudge13

Today we saw the launch of the Red Bull Racing RB18, a car designed for the 2022 Formula 1 season under the dramatically changed F1 rules, but in reality, Red Bull has appeared to have tricked everyone by launching a totally fake car and yet still calls it an RB18 throughout the launch event.

The closest Red Bull team boss Christian Horner confirmed that the RB18 unveiled on Wednesday is not the final version was the usual rhetoric heard at such events; that the car that will be on track at the first race in Bahrain will be very different from what it is today.

But this is not entirely honest, as technical analysts have immediately seen that Red Bull has simply taken the FIA mule car and dressed it in the new Red Bull livery. Therefore, the real RB18 would actually be seen at the first testing event later this month. This is not unprecedented, but never before has a team been so blatant with providing something completely different to the real car, to the point where very little of it conforms to the 2022 regulations.

More on the ‘rhetoric’ and ‘fakery’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/09/red-bull-tricks-everyone-with-the-biggest-fake/

Podcast: Why Red Bull’s 2022 F1 car launch was so secretive
9th Feb 2022.

With Red Bull eager to hide its secrets, Gary Anderson and Mark Hughes join Edd Straw to explain why Red Bull has gone to such extremes not only not to reveal key areas – but avoid showing anything at all.
We also discuss whether Adrian Newey is still the essential designer for new regulations set, and explain how Red Bull’s ‘new’ engine supply deal with Honda works.

Listen on the link;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/podcast-why-red-bulls-2022-f1-car-launch-was-so-secretive/

Red Bull fear rivals 'stealing a march' after Verstappen title-winning focus
Ewan Gale
Thursday 10 February 2022 07:00

(Christian) Horner is coy on whether his team could have missed a trick in development. "We're aiming very much to build on what we achieved last year, so the target is obviously to retain the title," he said during the launch of the RB18.

"The big unknown is, have we missed something with these regulations? Has another team stolen a march because of the focus and effort that went into 2021?

"It's a steep learning curve for everyone and it's a race of development between the first race and the last."

‘Steep learning curves’ and ‘race of development’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75471/red-bull-fear-rivals-stealing-a-march-after-verstappen-title-winning-focus/

Red Bull launch ‘purely marketing’ – Marko
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 10, 2022

Red Bull’s official presentation of its 2022 car was actually just a “marketing campaign” because key technical details were not on display.
“It’s purely a marketing campaign,” Dr Helmut Marko confirmed to Sport1.

‘Marketing campaign’;

https://grandpx.news/red-bull-launch-purely-marketing-marko/

Red Bull F1 Just Secured Half a Billion Dollars From Oracle. Here’s What That Means
In theory, that money should go a lot further now due to the new budget cap.
BY JAMES GILBOY FEBRUARY 9, 2022

Red Bull Racing's "car reveal" today gave Formula One fans about as much to chew on as an all-liquid diet. Analysts have identified the "RB18" we saw today as just a re-skinned show model, and not even one bearing a special testing livery like Red Bull has treated us to in years past

The sponsorship (by Oracle) is said by The Washington Post to secure last year's constructors' championship runner-up about $100 million dollars a year for the next five years, for a total of $500 million.

Even if that money were all fronted today, it wouldn't last nearly as long, as F1's budget cap leaves exclusions for select competitive and non-competitive expenditures. Marketing, hospitality, team travel, demo drives, and heritage operations aren't subject to the limit, nor are fundamentals like power units, the salaries of the top three team personnel, or those of drivers.

Money, money, money, it must be funny, at Red Bull!;

https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/44228/red-bull-f1-just-secured-half-a-billion-dollars-from-oracle-heres-what-that-means

Fortitude

10th February 2022, 08:48

Verstappen feeling recharged ahead of 2022 season as RB18 is launched.
“I’m feeling recharged and ready to get driving again, I feel good and it’s important that you prepare yourself in the best way possible physically, particularly when things are changing with the shakeup in regulations.” Max Verstappen.
By Ashley Cline
February 9, 2022

Verstappen said, the main distinction between this season and those previous.

“In terms of the car, we don’t know what to fully expect so I’m excited to see how the car behaves on the track for the first time. The biggest adaptation this season will be the new regulations, we’ll need some time to get used to the car, it is not like you just jump in and it’s an upgrade from last year.”

A ‘recharged’ Max Verstappen;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/verstappen-feeling-recharged-ahead-of-2022-season-as-rb18-is-launched/

Verstappen won't change under spotlight as defending champion
Issued on: 09/02/2022 - 19:12

London (AFP) – Max Verstappen said he is not feeling any extra pressure as defending Formula One champion as Red Bull launched their car for the 2022 season on Wednesday.

"There is no reason to suddenly be different," said Verstappen on the pressure of defending his title.

"With the new regulations you have to get used to the car and that is going to be the biggest adaptation but the rest is pretty straightforward.

Defending Champion, ‘no change’, ‘no difference’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220209-verstappen-won-t-change-under-spotlight-as-defending-champion

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen eager for taste of new car
Feb 09, 2022

“A lot is unknown about the car,” said the 24-year-old, standing alongside team mate Sergio Perez, at the launch of his new RB18 unveiled virtually on Wednesday. “That’s why I’m also very curious to see how the car is behaving on track.

“I’m really looking forward to that first moment when you drive out of the pit lane and do the first few laps.”

“For me, actually, the biggest thing is just the view in the cockpit with these big tires,” said Verstappen. “To hit an apex in some tight corners is a bit more difficult.”

‘Tasting’ the new car;

https://torontosun.com/sports/auto-racing/formula-one-world-champion-max-verstappen-eager-for-taste-of-new-car

Perez cannot contain excitement as Red Bull launch the RB18
By Darius Needham
February 9, 2022

Sergio Perez, speaking at the launch earlier today could not contain his excitement for the new season ahead, “I am so excited to start the new season and I cannot wait to be on track with the new RB18. All of us on the grid are starting from zero this season so it is set to be an exciting year”.

“Last year, we gave it our all until the very last lap and we are ready to do the same in 2022. The new regulations are said to improve the competition on track, so I hope that for us as drivers we can compete more, race more and follow each other more closely,” he added.

‘Excitement’ and ‘giving all’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/sergio-perez-cannot-contain-his-excitement-as-red-bull-launch-the-rb18/

Perez "fully believes" in title opportunity
GPFans Staff
Saturday 5 February 2022 17:15

Sergio Perez "fully believes" he can claim a world championship with Red Bull.

“I think, to me, at the stage where I am in my career, the most important thing is that I enjoy it. The time that I don’t enjoy it is the time where I have to go home because I don’t need to be here anymore.

“I am here because I fully believe that I can be a world champion and because I fully enjoy working with my team. That is it and I am very thankful to Red Bull for extending my contract.”

‘Title opportunity’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75261/perez-fully-believes-in-title-opportunity/

Fortitude

10th February 2022, 09:15

Stroll’s Aston Martin masterplan is on course as team readies 2022 car.
“The team’s ambitions are to pick up where we left off,” Lawrence Stroll.
2022 F1 season preview
Posted on
10th February 2022
Written by Will Wood

Stating that the rebranded team would be “highly competitive” from the outset, Stroll later revealed Aston Martin’s core mission to transform “into a Formula 1 world championship-winning organisation within the next four to five years.”

Many a manufacture has heralded their arrival on the Formula 1 grid by expressing their desires for mid-to-long-term championship glory and the vast majority have departed with tails between legs. But Stroll’s Aston Martin is a different animal – no longer an underdog, but a powerful predator, entirely confident in its ability to reach apex status in its new, unforgiving habitat.

But beyond the facilities and equipment needed for Aston Martin to evolve the way its owners desire, the right personnel and leadership to make the most of them is absolutely critical. It’s no surprise that Aston Martin have been the most active team of the last year in terms of seeking out talent from rival F1 teams and other motorsport categories to bolster their ranks ahead of the next phase of the master plan to unfold.

‘Masterplan’ & ‘long-term championship glory’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/10/strolls-aston-martin-masterplan-is-on-course-as-team-readies-2022-car/

Ex-Ferrari team boss Mattiacci joins Aston Martin Lagonda
Phillip van Osten09/02/2022 at 18:37

Former Ferrrai team principal Marco Mattiacci has joined Aston Martin Lagonda as the automobile manufacturer's new global chief brand and commercial officer. Mattiacci enjoyed only a brief tenure at the helm of the Scuderia in 2014.

"The new chapter for Aston Martin is the most exciting project in the automotive industry right now, and I am thrilled to join the incredible leadership team assembled by Lawrence Stroll and Tobias Moers in this role of Global Chief Brand and Commercial Officer," said Mattiacci.

‘New chapter’ & ‘exciting project’;

https://f1i.com/news/431580-ex-ferrari-team-boss-mattiacci-joins-aston-martin-lagonda.html

How to watch the AMR22 launch
08.02.2022

The road to 2022 continues as we countdown to the reveal of the AMR22. Wherever you are in the world, we want you to be a part of our launch in Gaydon on February 10.

As we launch the AMR22, drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll will be joined by key members of the team for a launch event open to all.

So, make sure you're tuned into every moment of our launch day, which springs into life with our 2022 team film at 8:00 GMT, live coverage on TikTok from 08:30 GMT, and the AMR22 reveal show from 14:00 GMT.

AMR22 launch is ‘GO’;

https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/news/announcement/how-you-can-watch-the-amr22-launch

KRACK ABOUT ASTON MARTIN’S CHANCES OF WINNING THE TITLE: ‘I DIDN’T SAY WHEN’
Lena Ferle
09/02/2022

“If someone said that you would change or move something big for the 2022 season, that would be very naïve,” Krack told Motorsport-Magazin.com. “The foundation will be laid in August, September. You have to look at it a bit more in the medium term. And you shouldn’t talk about ‘long-term’ in F1 anyway.”

Krack dampens the spirits that with his arrival and the changes in the team’s background, Aston Martin would now become a world champion team.

The press release announcing Krack as team boss said they wanted to win and would win together. In this interview, it now sounds a bit different. Krack smirks when asked if this newer approach fits with his previous statement of winning the title: “But I didn’t say when!”

‘Never say ‘when’ again’!;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/f1/krack-about-aston-martins-chances-of-winning-the-title-i-didnt-say-when/

Fortitude

11th February 2022, 08:15

How big will Aston Martin’s F1 2022 recovery be? Our verdict.
Progress is a must. Patience will be important. Firmly in the best of the rest fight. Drivers could be a limiting factor. Expect only a small improvement.
The Race.
Thursday, 10th Feb 2022, 09:16

The team was hamstrung by aerodynamic changes that were brought in ahead of the 2021 F1 season and affected the low-rake cars of Aston and the Mercedes.

What followed was a pretty miserable year for the Silverstone-based outfit, with seventh in the constructors’ championship marking only the fourth time since 2012 it had finished that low.

Last year, the team quickly switched focus to 2022 and, away from the track, there was plenty of investment in new infrastructure and a hiring spree as part of Lawrence Stroll’s masterplan for the team.

But just how much progress can the team make in 2022 – if any at all? We asked our writers to give their verdicts.

More on ‘Progress’, ‘Patience’, ‘Best of the rest’, ‘Driver, limiting factor’, ‘Small improvement’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-big-will-aston-martins-f1-2022-recovery-be-our-verdict/

In photos: Every angle of the new Aston Martin AMR22 F1 car
10th Feb 2022, ‎14‎:‎23
Aston Martin have unveiled their new 2022 F1 car, the AMR22, at a launch event at their Gaydon factory. Here's every angle of the team's brand new car.

The team took the covers off the AMR22 at Aston Martin's global headquarters in Gaydon in the United Kingdom, with the car placed on a factory production line for the big reveal.

Boasting a refined version of the livery used last year, the 2022 car features lime-coloured detailing and new sponsor logos to mark the arrival of Aramco.

‘The BIG reveal’;

https://racingnews365.com/in-photos-every-angle-of-the-new-aston-martin-amr22-f1-car

Aston Martin reveals first ‘real’ 2022 car
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 11, 2022

Aston Martin has become the first Formula 1 team to unveil a “real” car for the all-new 2022 regulations.

Haas launched with digital images only, while Red Bull pulled the wraps off what was fundamentally a re-painted version of the mocked-up 2022 Formula 1 show car – with no brakes and not all of it even in carbon fibre.

Aston Martin spokesman Matt Bishop confirmed that the lighter green-liveried car unveiled on Thursday was indeed the team’s “real racing car”.

It will be debuted during a filming day at Silverstone on Friday, with team owner Lawrence Stroll declaring that it is only year two of a five-year push for the world championship

A REAL car launch;

https://grandpx.news/aston-martin-reveals-first-real-2022-car/

Aston Martin Reveals Gorgeous AMR22 As Their 2022 Formula 1 Contender
BY ANDREW GUTMAN | POSTED ON FEBRUARY 10, 2022FEBRUARY 10, 2022

While they may be the third of ten teams to unveil their car, Aston Martin is arguably the first team so far to actually change their livery from last year. Gone are the (admittedly unique) splashes of pink from ex-sponsor BWT, and in their place is neon green detailing similar to Aston’s other race cars. And when fitted with the similarly-colored medium compound tires, the car is really quite the looker, dare we say the tentative best-looking of the season.

As for the actual design, the AMR22 shows a lot of details that differ from the both the show car as well as the other teams’ cars we’ve seen so far. At the front, the simplified wing features much straighter edges, with the flaps being much less exaggerated than the Haas’s and the leading edge having a much smaller center protrusion than the show car’s. The nose seems to be a combination of everything we’ve seen so far, being as long as the show car’s, as narrow as the Red Bull’s, and about as squared-off as the Haas’s, potentially a bit less.

‘Gorgeous’ and ‘Contender’;

https://www.carscoops.com/2022/02/aston-martin-reveals-gorgeous-amr22-as-their-2022-formula-1-contender/

Our next climb starts here
Aston Martin
10.02.2022

We know this new era of F1 will challenge and test us all, presenting new battles and hills to climb as we take on the sport's biggest technical revolution for many years.

But the challenges we face are part of something greater. They're part of what drives us. What brings us together. What makes us who we are. As individuals, and as a collective.

https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/news/feature/our-next-climb-starts-here

What secrets have Aston Martin revealed with their 2022 F1 car?
Aston Martin are the third F1 team to have unveiled their new car for 2022, but the first to reveal any secrets. Here are the most noteworthy features of the new AMR22.
11th Feb 2022, ‎07‎:‎50
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Marnik Kok

Oval sidepods make way for square ones

Bodywork bulges due to Mercedes engine

Aston Martin hide their diffuser

A mysterious missing component?

Short nose with hanging wing element

Wide bodywork with several slots

Further in-depth analysis;

https://racingnews365.com/what-can-be-learned-about-aston-martins-2022-f1-car

Fortitude

11th February 2022, 08:37

Video: McLaren present 'new' F1 car with LEGO [Real launch today, 11th February 2022]
McLaren and LEGO have collaborated to design the world's first LEGO-Technic F1 car.
‎08‎ ‎February‎ ‎11‎:‎30
Author Thomas Maher

"We are excited to unveil the unique LEGO-Technic model of our McLaren F1 car, a fun and engaging product that celebrates our 2021 season livery while giving fans a hands-on interpretation of the new 2022 F1 car design," said McLaren Technical Director James Key.

‘McLaren LEGO’

https://racingnews365.com/video-mclaren-present-new-f1-car-with-lego

As McLaren commits to rising star Norris, his team mate needs to bounce back in 2022
2022 F1 season
Posted on
11th February 2022, 7:1911th February 2022, 0:22 | Written by Will Wood

In his ten-and-a-half seasons as a fully-fledged Formula 1 driver, Daniel Ricciardo has racked up eight grand prix victories – despite never once having a championship-winning car at his disposal.

So when Ricciardo announced he was leaving Renault at the end of the 2020 season to fill the Carlos Sainz Jnr-shaped gap at Woking, the legion of McLaren fans had every reason to think their beloved team had maintained the previous level of driving talent in the team – and likely upgraded it.

Ricciardo’s struggles stood in sharp contrast to the successes enjoyed by his team mate Norris. While Ricciardo could only manage a best finish of sixth in the first phase of the season, Norris reached the podium in Imola, Monaco and Austria. Surely not what was expected by the 85% of RaceFans readers who predicted Ricciardo would out-score Norris.

Gradually, Ricciardo became more comfortable with the car. He extracted the maximum from the McLaren at Monza, where he controlled the race from the start to claim an unexpected race victory, his first in a car other than a Red Bull. It demonstrated Ricciardo had lost none of his resilience under pressure nor his ability to capitalise on the hint of an opportunity to win. But it did not hail a dramatic turnaround in performance for the remainder of the season.

The Ricciardo ‘Bounce Back’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/11/as-mclaren-commits-to-rising-star-norris-his-team-mate-needs-to-bounce-back-in-2022/

Will Ricciardo get his F1 career back on track? Our verdict
Feb 11 2022

Ahead of McLaren’s launch later today, our writers give their verdict on whether Ricciardo will get his act together in 2022.

Victory at the Italian Grand Prix was a part of Ricciardo’s improved form in the second half of last year but he still ended the season with several question marks over whether he’d ever return to the kind of form that made him one of F1’s highest-rated driver without a title when he was at Red Bull.

Can Ricciardo bounce back in 2022 amid a new regulations set that could produce a McLaren car concept that better suits his driving style? Or will he continue to fall short of his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris and struggle in 2022?

More on ‘getting a career back’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/will-ricciardo-get-his-f1-career-back-on-track-our-verdict/

Lando long term deal points to secret ‘works team status’ deal with Audi
February 10, 2022 · by thejudge13

Lando Norris extended his contract with McLaren on Wednesday, revealing in the process that he has had some contact with other teams, but it has been long suspected and now confirmed that McLaren has been in deep discussions with VAG with a view to gain works status with Audi.

It has been a badly kept secret that VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group) has been talking to Formula 1 for some time with a view to entering at least one brand, possibly two, into F1. Of these brands, Porsche has been linked to Red Bull and Audi to McLaren.

TJ13 understands that the McLaren talks with Audi have been looking promising, and this along with the retention of team boss Andreas Seidl and James Key are committed to the long term with McLaren will no doubt be a big part of why Lando Norris has also committed to the team.

‘Secrets’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/10/lando-long-term-deal-points-to-secret-works-team-status-deal-with-audi/

Fortitude

11th February 2022, 17:23

Watch the 2022 McLaren MCL36 F1 car launch live.

As he told Motor Sport in a recent podcast, Zak Brown has been steering McLaren on a steadily upward curve since taking over in 2016, and the Woking squad will be hoping this newest of regulations will be the spring board it needs to get it even further up the grid.
Author James Elson
February 11th 2022

The 2022 Formula 1 launch season rolls on today, with the unveiling of McLaren’s new MCL36 at its factory this evening.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/watch-the-2022-mclaren-mcl36-f1-car-launch-live#

McLaren launch new car: Watch live on Sky Sports F1 as team reveal their 2022 challenger, the MCL36
Watch McLaren's unveiling live on Sky Sports F1 TV channel, YouTube and Facebook from 7pm today; Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo's car for Formula 1 2022 is called the MCL36
Last Updated: 11/02/22 1:54pm

The event, which McLaren are using the event to launch all four of its racing programmes for 2022 (F1, IndyCar, Extreme E and Esports) will be broadcast live on the Sky Sports F1 TV channel as well as Sky Sports F1's YouTube and Facebook, with extensive coverage on Sky Sports' digital platforms.

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/30778/12538909/mclaren-launch-new-car-watch-live-on-sky-sports-f1-as-team-reveal-their-2022-challenger-the-mcl36

Fearlessly Forward
2022. New challenges. Same spirit.
Watch our special short film ahead of the 2022 Team Launch
11 Feb 2022 10:00 (UTC

Join the team
McLaren Plus is our free-to-join fan loyalty programme, bringing McLaren fans closer to the team with the most inclusive, rewarding and open-to-all fan programmes in motorsport.

https://www.mclaren.com/racing/2022/car-launch/fearlessly-forward/

Norris 'committed' even if McLaren takes step back in F1 2022
F1
Connor McDonagh
11 Feb 2022

Lando Norris says he’s committed to McLaren long-term even if it takes a step back in the 2022 Formula 1 season.

On Wednesday, Norris signed a new contract with McLaren to keep him at the Woking outfit until 2025.

Norris was one of F1’s star performers in 2021 with several podium finishes and a maiden pole position which secured him sixth in the drivers’ championship.

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996319/1/norris-committed-even-if-mclaren-takes-step-back-f1-2022

Ricciardo: First race in 2022 will be like an extended test
Today, ‎08‎:‎40
Author Anna Francis

Daniel Ricciardo thinks that the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix weekend will in some ways be like an extended test for the drivers and teams. A wave of new technical regulations come into effect for the 2022 F1 season, meaning the cars will look and behave rather differently compared to previous years.

Ricciardo is not expecting this to result in turbulent races at the beginning of the campaign, though, as he anticipates that the drivers will soon adapt. "I think we drivers are good enough to be there more or less immediately," Ricciardo told Auto Motor und Sport.

https://racingnews365.com/ricciardo-first-race-in-2022-will-be-like-an-extended-test

Fortitude

12th February 2022, 09:36

McLaren “proud” to launch real F1 car with only ‘bits and pieces’ hidden.
McLaren technical director James Key says the team can be “proud” of revealing its genuine 2022 Formula 1 car but admitted some sensitive elements of the MCL36 were hidden in its launch.
F1
Lewis Larkam
11 Feb 2022

“I think we can be proud of presenting a real car, because it absolutely is,” Key said ahead of the launch of McLaren’s 2022 car at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking. “It’s the car we’ll be taking to Barcelona.”

And Key is not expecting the pecking order to remain the same as the season progresses due to the new generation cars having “so much development potential”.

“There’s less of a philosophy behind how these cars work, which I think will emerge over time, and that means it’s never too late to catch up if you are on the back foot or, for that matter, drop back if you start well,” he explained.

‘Proud’ of a ‘real launch car’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996349/1/mclaren-proud-launch-real-f1-car-only-bits-and-pieces-hidden

VIDEO: MCLAREN’S BOLD 2022 F1 CAR DESIGN EXPLAINED
11/02/2022

The car was launched online, but The Race has also had the chance to take a look at the car in person and talk with both the drivers and senior team personnel – including technical director James Key.

With the help of our technical expert Gary Anderson and illustrator Rosario Giuliana, our latest video takes a look at the latest creation from one of F1’s most famous teams.

Video here;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/video-mclarens-bold-2022-f1-car-design-explained/

ANALYSIS: The key feature on the MCL36 that McLaren are hoping will give them an edge on rivals
Technical contributors
Mark Hughes and Giorgio Piola

McLaren have unveiled their new MCL36, a car which overturns the recent convention regarding front and rear suspension systems.

It’s an elegant-looking car, and although it uses the same Mercedes power unit as the recently-revealed Aston Martin, the layout of its cooling system appears to be quite different, and hence so is the general geometry of the bodywork.

‘Conventional Bodywork’ and ‘Suspension Rethink’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-the-key-feature-on-the-mcl36-that-mclaren-are-hoping-will-give-them.6IaZdMm4KfhJmt9toSxVTO.html

McLaren launches 2022 challenger
FEBRUARY 12, 2022

In an event held at McLaren's Woking factory last night, the team unveiled it's 2022 challenger the MCL36.

McLaren CEO Zak Brown said, "Our Formula 1 team continues to make great progress year-on-year with Andreas Seidl at the helm, and this new era of regulations represents a real opportunity for the team."

"Lando made great progress in 2021, scoring four podiums, and Daniel's sensational victory in Monza reminded the team what it feels like to win again."

https://www.grandprix.com/news/mclaren-launches-2022-challenger.html

PODCAST: HOW MCLAREN’S MCL36 BROKE THE 2022 F1 MOULD
FEBRUARY 12, 2022

The new McLaren MCL36 caught the eye thanks to flipping recent Formula 1 orthodoxy by running pullrod front suspension and pushrod rear suspension – but why and is this the right approach?
We answer that question and many more in the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast, which covers the launch of the new McLaren in depth.

Read and watch on the link;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/podcast-how-mclarens-mcl36-broke-the-2022-f1-mould/

The bold F1 novelties spotted on the new McLaren MCL36
McLaren revealed its new MCL36 with a vibrant new livery, but there are as many novelties in the design details as there are with its bold colour choice.
By: Matt Somerfield
Feb 11, 2022, 9:29 PM

As was hinted in the team’s fire-up video, the car features a pull rod layout at the front, which we’ve seen it use as recently as 2013 but abandoned just a year later as we moved into the hybrid era.

Moving on to aero, the front wing design follows the direction that we’ve seen from others so far in that the mainplane is not connected to the body of the nose. This allows more freedom in the position of the element relative to the ground.

Perhaps most interestingly of all, while the team is being coy and not revealing all the design features on its floor, such as the inboard strakes that are permitted, slightly hidden away from view there’s a very different approach with the shape of the entranceway to its underfloor tunnels that we must pay attention to.

‘Bold McLaren MCL36 Novelties’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-mclaren-mcl36-tech-analysis/8087902/

Fortitude

12th February 2022, 10:57

Why McLaren are ambitious but realistic about 2022 prospects.
The belief in what they can achieve is bubbling over. And the results on track are proving that at some stage in the future – if they continue this upward trajectory – a return to winning ways awaits.
Senior writer
Lawrence Barretto
11 February 2022

McLaren are a very different team to that of a few years ago, when they were trapsing around at the back of the grid. The grimaces are gone and the smiles are back.

It’s taken some time to get to that point, though. It began with an overhaul of the structure by McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and the shrewd recruitment of Andreas Seidl as Team Principal. Seidl has revolutionised the way McLaren operate, revitalised the culture and put in place a leadership structure below him of Technical Director James Key, Operations Director Piers Thynne and Racing Director Andrea Stella that works in blissful harmony.

‘Smiles are back’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.why-mclaren-are-ambitious-but-realistic-about-2022-prospects.14JZh8h7sE2P6Xsd37J90M.html

Gary Anderson’s verdict on McLaren’s 2022 F1 design
12/022022
By Gary Anderson

After the stuttering start to Formula 1’s launch season, McLaren has provided us with the second consecutive car reveal that actually showed a real car.

McLaren has been on the up for the past three years and these new regulations give it the chance to take that next step. So the McLaren-Mercedes MCL36 is an important car for the team’s ongoing revival.

McLaren is also the first to go off the beaten track by switching to a pullrod front suspension. And unlike the Aston Martin renders, it seems it does have pullrods available!

FRONT WING, NOSE/WING MOUNTING, PULLROD FRONT SUSPENSION, FRONT BRAKE DUCTS, BARGEBOARD-REPLACEMENT TURNING VANES, SIDEPOD LEADING EDGE, SIDEPOD PROFILE, AIR INTAKE AREA, RADIATOR EXITS, COKE BOTTLE AREA, PUSHROD REAR SUSPENSION;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-andersons-verdict-on-mclarens-2022-f1-design/

McLaren says Monaco scheme inspired ’22 livery
by Phillip Horton
12/02/2022, 09:06

McLaren ran a Gulf-inspired livery as a one-off at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix and Brown says the reaction to that provided the outfit with an idea for its 2022 colours.

“We’ve been evolving our livery since we’ve gone back to papaya,” said Brown, referring to the base McLaren colour that was utilised from 2017.

“We wanted something that was very vibrant, so we changed the shade of our papaya, it’s darker but the livery changes we did last year in Monaco and Abu Dhabi we got a lot of great fan reaction.

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/12/mclaren-says-monaco-scheme-inspired-22-livery/

Interactive: Compare the new McLaren MCL36 with last year’s car
2022 F1 season
Posted on
11th February 2022, 22:0911th February 2022, 22:16 | Written by Keith Collantine

To illustrate the scale of the changes between this year’s cars and last, we’ve lined up a few pictures of the new McLaren MCL36 and its race-winning predecessor, the MCL35M.

One significant change for 2022 makes these comparisons trickier than in past seasons. The 13-inch wheel sizes F1 clung to for decades have been replaced with more modern 18-inch rims. The tyre sizes have also increased, from 660mm to 720mm, so that useful reference is gone. Instead these images have been compared using the Halos, the dimensions of which are unchanged, for reference.

The new rules force teams to use much simpler aerodynamic surfaces, as can be seen from the front and rear wings which are much more intricate on the older car. The most dramatic difference can be seen from the side of the car, where the hugely complex bargeboards from last year have disappeared.

‘Interactive Review”;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/11/interactive-compare-the-new-mclaren-mcl36-with-last-years-car/

Norris hoping "everything's groovy" with McLaren MCL36
Andrew Lewin11/02/2022 at 20:59

Norris admitted that it was too early to know how well his existing driving style would suit the new cars. “That’s a question I don’t know just yet," he told the media at the launch event. "We obviously have some ideas from the simulator and so on.

"But until we actually get on the track and see what it’s like and so on, that’s a question that [remains] to be answered. "As a driver, there's going to be a big opportunity - to come out of the blocks strong," he said. "[That] will always be a good thing - especially when, or if, you're going to have to change your driving style.

“I kind of hope it suits my driving style and everything's groovy," he added. "But there's definitely going to be things no matter what that I have to adapt to and change to, and I think that will be the case with everyone.

All will be ‘groovy’;

https://f1i.com/news/431782-norris-hoping-everythings-groovy-with-mclaren-mcl36.html

Why Ricciardo is confident of a stronger 2022 season
Daniel Ricciardo is aiming to build on his initial year with McLaren as F1's rule changes for 2022 level the playing field.
12/02/2022, ‎07‎:‎50
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

"[It's the] second year; all the hard work of getting into a new team, learning the team, getting them to understand you... that takes time," Ricciardo told select members of the media, including RacingNews365.com, at the launch of McLaren's MCL36 on Friday evening.

"I think now, into year two, I know everyone I'm going to be working with. They know me, they know what I like in a car. So it's basically straight to business and there's less of the discovery process.”

"I think that fills me with confidence as well, that I've got a team around me now that know and trust me, and it's just fully into the racing stuff, and not really any other noise."

A ‘stronger’ Ricciardo;

https://racingnews365.com/why-ricciardo-is-confident-of-a-stronger-2022-season

Fortitude

13th February 2022, 09:10

McLaren hasn't revealed all.
James Key admits that certain "bits and pieces" have been hidden.
PITPASS.COM NEWS STORY
12/02/2022

"We have hidden some bits and pieces," he admitted, "because there are some sensitive areas for obvious reason, but everyone will see them anyway when we run the car.

"But as far as the development plan is concerned, like every team we have development steps to come early on because we are still very much in the learning process at this stage and the development rate and the proactivity we are showing in the next step is pretty strong.

‘Bits and pieces’;

https://www.pitpass.com/71801/McLaren-hasnt-revealed-all

Why McLaren’s 2022 F1 car is all in the detail for now: MCL36 aero analysis
McLaren carefully managed what we could see of its 2022 MCL36 Formula 1 car, but Kyle Forster found plenty of clues to the car's design and aerodynamics
February 12th 2022
Author Kyle Forster

It’s worth noting that it looks like the physical car in the livestream launch has some differences to the digitally-created images that McLaren has also released.

Kyle Forster worked as an aerodynamicist at Mercedes-AMG F1 from 2018-2020 and runs the JKF racing engineering consultancy.

When the covers come off a launch car, the first question to ask is what exactly are we looking at?

IN DEPTH and thorough analysis;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/why-mclarens-2022-f1-car-is-all-in-the-detail-for-now-mcl36-aero-analysis#

McLaren going from 'strength to strength' but still catching up
Phillip van Osten12/02/2022 at 14:0912/02/2022 at 12:24

McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown says the Woking-based outfit is growing stronger with each passing season but insists it's still "catching up" with F1's top teams in terms of infrastructure.

"We have all the people that we need," said Brown at the launch of McLaren's new MCL36 on Friday.

Brown's management style isn't to boast about the future while throwing hard cash around in the present. The American says McLaren is backing up its ambitions with a diligent, "incremental" approach, one day at a time, and it's doing it on a sound financial basis

"It’s quite exciting. It’s going to be the team of people which will ultimately get us back to the front.”

‘Strength to strength’;

https://f1i.com/news/431844-mclaren-going-from-strength-to-strength-but-still-catching-up.html

McLaren ‘fairly confident’ in radical suspension system
Date published: February 13 2022 - Michelle Foster

McLaren’s technical director James Key concedes the team has “either got it really, really right or…” with the MCL36’s unconventional suspension system.

Unlike the traditional design of suspension layout with a push-rod front and a pull-rod rear McLaren have swapped them around, going for a pull-rod front suspension and a push-rod rear.

This changes the angle of the inboard rockers, helping the aerodynamicists create their desired airflow route.

It is not the first time the Woking team have adopted such a design, doing so in briefly in 2013 with the MP4-28.

‘Got it really, really right’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-confident-radical-suspension/

McLaren Racing Launches all of its Teams in a Huge Event at the McLaren Technology Centre
By Robert Percy
February 12, 2022

With launch season very much being in full swing, we could count on McLaren Racing doing something a little bit different and more spectacular than everyone else. Rather than just launch the Formula 1 team like its Formula 1 competitors have and will be doing over the course of the next couple of weeks, McLaren decided to launch all of its motorsports and sim racing efforts at the same time!

“I’m delighted to see us launch all three McLaren Racing programmes across the Formula 1, IndyCar and Extreme E championships today,” said Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing. “This is a first for us as a team, and in the wider world of motorsport, and it’s been fantastic to see how excited the fans have been as they get ready to join us on the next part of our journey.“

‘Doing something a little different’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/mclaren-racing-launches-all-of-its-teams-in-a-huge-event-at-the-mclaren-technology-centre/

F1 teams must break "bad habit" of money spending - Brown
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Saturday 12 February 2022 15:30

Zak Brown: "From the data that was provided to us by Formula 1 late last year, it showed that the sprint races did drive incremental viewership, so from that standpoint, it was definitely considered a success.”

"They then put forward doing more races and unfortunately, some of the teams still need to break their bad habit of looking for every opportunity to spend more money.”

"So that created a problem late last year around the governance and voting that we need to go through to see what they proposed, or adopted."

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75629/f1-teams-must-break-bad-habit-of-money-spending-brown/

Fortitude

14th February 2022, 08:14

Picture of AlphaTauri’s AT03 leaked ahead of launch.
AlphaTauri will officially launch the AT03, which will be raced by Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda on Monday at 12CET in an online presentation.
Date published: February 14 2022 - Michelle Foster

A picture of AlphaTauri’s 2022 car has been leaked online, seemingly by an employee just 24 hours before the launch of the AT03.

As yet it is anyone’s guess as to whether the team will unveil a real car, the teams split over that this launch season.

Like the rest of the field, AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost has no clue as to where his team will line up in this year’s pecking order.

“[It is a] Very unknown story because it’s completely new everything,” Tost told GPFans.
“We don’t have any comparisons with others but I trust our engineers because they have built two good cars.”

‘AT03 leaked’ and ‘Two Good Cars’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/picture-of-alphatauris-2022-car-leaked/

Scuderia AlphaTauri announce Ravenol deal
By Vince Pettit
February 8, 2022

“It is a pleasure to welcome RAVENOL to our team”, Franz Tost commented. “It is often overlooked that we, as a Formula 1 team, are not only racing our cars on track but also producing the individual components of these high-tech machines.

“We operate our own machine shop here in Italy and use a variety of industrial products, this means we rely on the know-how of a strong partner and RAVENOL is able to supply us with a wide range of products to help us extract the maximum performance.”

‘Maximum performance’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/scuderia-alphatauri-announce-ravenol-deal/

The AT03 The Style of a New Era
Scuderia Toro Rosso
12 Feb 2022, 17:46.

https://scuderia.alphatauri.com/en/at03-style-new-era/

AlphaTauri Announce Global-Partnership With Hong-Kong Based Flex Box
By Nick Golding
February 10, 2022

Ahead of the upcoming 2022 season, Scuderia AlphaTauri have announced a brand-new global partnership with Hong-Kong based company Flex Box. AlphaTauri’s 2022 challenger the AT03, will carry the coloured Flex Box logo on the front wing endplate, as well as on the nose throughout the entire season.

‘Global Partnership;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/alphatauri-announce-global-partnership-with-hong-kong-based-flex-box/

Watch: Scuderia Alphatauri AT03 reveal to embrace Italian heritage
Published by Alex Shahini on February 14, 2022

The middle order Formula 1 team that occasionally snatches podium finishes will be revealing their car today and from a teaser that was broadcast over the weekend it will embrace the team’s Italian heritage. Watch the Scuderia Alphatauri AT03 reveal along with us.

Japanese rookie Yuki Tsunoda and his more experienced teammate Pierre Gasly helped steer the Scuderia to a 6th place constructors finish last season; closing with 142 points, only 13 behind Alpine and ahead of Aston Martin Racing. The former French Grand Prix winner managed a season best finish of 3rd place in Azerbaijan which afforded the racing outfit 15 points from that performance alone.

Today, the Scuderia Alphatauri AT03 reveal is upon us but a twitter post over the weekend alluded that the team was embracing its Italian heritage with the tricolore flag subtly displayed on the carbon fibre shroud of its rear view mirror.

‘‘Embrocation’ of the team’s Italian heritage’;

https://www.carmag.co.za/speed/formula-1/scuderia-alphatauri-reveal/

2022 F1 car launch dates STILL TO COME.

AlphaTauri February 14

Williams February 15

Ferrari February 17

Mercedes February 18

Alpine February 21

Alfa Romeo February 27

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.diary-dates-the-2022-f1-calendar-and-f1-car-launch-schedule.4ZhMPA89s04gy7YlNWypNf.html

Fortitude

14th February 2022, 18:43

Why AlphaTauri could emerge a dark horse in 2022.
They do at least have the momentum, a stable and intriguing driver line-up and the experience of doing a lot with a very small budget.
Senior writer
Lawrence Barretto
14 February 2022

The Honda-created power unit was on par with and at times better than the class-leading Mercedes power unit last year. They’ve been working hard for more than a year on this latest iteration, built to run a newly-introduced fuel that is made up of 10% ethanol. Continue on their recent performance trajectory and this could be a real strength of the AT03.

Then it’s down to the aero, but providing the car delivers – and the technical team have got their initial concept right and develop in the right direction quickly, Tost has a driver line-up that could cause quite a stir in 2022.

‘Dark Horse’ and ‘Causing a Stir’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.why-alphatauri-could-emerge-a-dark-horse-in-2022.220gRJDkjo2uwV6ABnkLn6.html

ANALYSIS: The fascinating design features – and Red Bull cues – on AlphaTauri’s AT03.
AlphaTauri’s digital rendering of their new AT03 shows a very elegant-looking interpretation of the all-new aero regulations with similar key features to cars already launched by Haas, McLaren and Aston Martin – but combined in a different way.
Special contributor
Mark Hughes
14 February 2022

The AT03 features high-shouldered sidepods, which are both heavily ramped downwards and significantly undercut at the front, without having to raise the radiators up (as per Aston) or forgoing the undercut and using the engine cover bodywork to house much of the cooling channels (as per the McLaren).
That suggests the Honda-based power unit may need less cooling than the Mercedes.

‘Fascinating’ and ‘Elegant’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-the-fascinating-design-features-and-red-bull-cues-on-alphatauris.keFqhDDge7dEISXYIsvLk.html

Gary Anderson: 2022 AlphaTauri blends best of McLaren and Aston
14/02/2022, 14:30.
By Gary Anderson

This is a really clean-lined and functional car. I have always said that a dolphin goes through the water with ease and generates very little turbulence and initially that is what I see in the AlphaTauri.

It is a bit of a cross between the Aston Martin and the McLaren, so there are some subtle differences but no major ‘wow’ factors, which is no bad thing. After all, it’s very easy to have a ‘wow’ part turn into a nightmare that doesn’t achieve the objectives.

AlphaTauri like a ‘Dolphin’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-2022-f1-alphatauri-blends-best-of-mclaren-and-aston/

Gasly: Hoping AphaTauri can fight at the very front
Paul Velasco
14 February, 2022

Pierre Gasly has been one of the standout drivers of the past two seasons, the AlphaTauri driver more often than not delivering beyond expectations, and aims to take his strong form over to the new season.

Gasly said: “I will be trying to build on the run I had of very good results and to continue to be on top of my game with the car I have.”

“I really hope that this is a year when I can fight at the very front, to finish regularly in the top five and even higher if the car is good enough for that.

‘Fighting at the front’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/14/gasly-hoping-this-year-when-can-fight-at-the-very-front/

ALPHATAURI TO BECOME THE SECOND 2022 F1 CAR ON TRACK
Chelsea Bailey
14/02/2022, 14:10.

“From an engineering perspective it’s the first time the car runs on track, so it’s important to take systems checks, look at the basic various systems checks, look at the car, check it’s working, bug-checking,” said AlphaTauri technical director Jody Egginton.

“Just the basics to know that everything is doing what it’s meant to do.

“It’s basic date collecting and it’s all very useful ahead of the main test where we start to focus on more complex topics and longer running and performance.”

‘Systems checks’ and ‘Basic Data Collecting’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/alphatauri-to-become-the-second-2022-f1-car-on-track/

AlphaTauri AT03 set for shakedown run on Tuesday
Michael Delaney14/02/2022 at 13:28

AlphaTauri will roll out its new AT03 as soon as Tuesday, likely at Imola where the new car will undergo a shakedown run in the hands of Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda.

The Faenza-based squad, which unveiled renderings of its car on Monday, will therefore become the second outfit after Aston Martin to put its 2022 car on track.

The session falls withing Formula 1's "filming days" regulations that entitle teams to a limited 100 kms of running on Pirelli control tyres.

‘Shake down’ and filming;

https://f1i.com/news/431943-alphatauri-at03-set-for-shakedown-run-on-tuesday.html

AlphaTauri AT03 Breaks Cover as Formula One’s Fashionable Car of Choice for 2022
14 Feb 2022, 12:58 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose

Scuderia AlphaTauri has just unveiled its 2022 challenger, the AT03, as part of an innovative digital launch. The actual car will make its official F1 debut next week in Barcelona and should look quite fashionable judging by what we’re seeing.

“The new shape and design are really cool, and I think the livery suits it really well,” added Tsunoda during the presentation.

‘Fashionable’ and ‘Really Cool’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/alphatauri-at03-breaks-cover-as-formula-ones-fashionable-car-of-choice-for-2022-181614.html

Fortitude

14th February 2022, 19:09

AlphaTauri unveil striking new car ahead of 2022 Formula 1 season.
It’s a typically good-looking car from AlphaTauri who have had a happy habit of creating eye-catching liveries for their cars in recent years.
By George Dagless
Published: 14 Feb 2022, 11:09

The Faenza-based outfit enjoyed a season-long battle with Alpine for fifth in the Constructors’ standings in 2021, but could not manage to finish in front of the Enstone team come the end of the campaign.

Even so, there were plenty of positives to take from 2021 with Pierre Gasly yet again having a strong season and Yuki Tsunoda showing good development over the course of the year to stamp out mistakes and add consistency to his obvious speed.

‘Eye-catching livery’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87972531-alphatauri-unveil-striking-new-car-ahead-of-2022-formula-1-season

AlphaTauri hope AT03 package will be ‘very strong’
Date published: February 14 2022 - Maria Bright

The car marks a new chapter for the team, with team principal Franz Tost “excited” to reveal the car and hopes this “package will be very strong, following last year’s success.”

Tost said: “Once again, we have worked closely with AlphaTauri to launch our new car and I think we’ve managed to deliver something very special.”

“With this new era of cars, we should have more action on track and a more compact field, which translates into more fun for the spectators.”

‘More Action’, More Fun’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alphatauri-at03-package-very-strong/

Tost doubts that 'dirty air' issue will be resolved
PITPASS.COM NEWS STORY
14/02/2022

AlphaTauri boss, Franz Tost is not entirely convinced that the rules overhaul will allow cars to follow closely, particularly at high speeds.

"I think in the slow-speed and the mid-speed corners, the cars will be closer together," says the Austrian. "I have some doubts for the high-speed ones because, with these wide cars and the big tyres, there's always some dirty air behind them. Therefore, I'm not sure that it will be so easy to follow. Let's wait and see after the first test."

Meanwhile, technical director, Jody Egginton fears that initially, one team may have made a better job at interpreting the new rules, and will consequently enjoy an early advantage.

‘Dirty Air’ and ‘Early Advantage’;

https://www.pitpass.com/71807/Tost-doubts-that-dirty-air-issue-will-be-resolved

The standout design elements from the new AlphaTauri F1 2022 car
By: Matt Somerfield
Co-author: Giorgio Piola
Feb 14, 2022, 12:40 PM

And while AlphaTauri elected to go down the Haas route and only reveal some digital renders, what we can see already points to the AT03 having some design individuality thanks to several distinctive design elements.

First up, the nose and front wing interact in a very different way to the AMR22 and MCL36.

‘Stand out Design Elements’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/the-standout-design-elements-from-the-new-alphatauri-f1-2022-car/8164941/

Video: AlphaTauri show off the AT03 in slick online launch
AlphaTauri have become the latest F1 team to launch their 2022 car and did so with a special video presentation.
Author RacingNews365 Staff
14/02/2022, ‎11‎:‎40

Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda played a key role as AlphaTauri presented their new F1 car to the world on Monday.

Watch the ‘Slick Launch’;

https://racingnews365.com/video-alphatauri-show-off-the-at03-in-slick-online-launch

AlphaTauri launch F1 2022 car: Love is in the air for Red Bull's sister team as they reveal images of AT03
AlphaTauri have delivered a Valentine's Day treat with the first images of their sleek new car for the 2022 Formula 1 season.
By Matt Morlidge
Last Updated: 14/02/22 6:03pm

"I think we've managed to deliver something very special."' AlphaTauri become fifth team to reveal a glimpse of their 2022 car as they bid to continue momentum for F1's rules revolution; Team's AT03 will be driven by Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda this year

‘Valentine’s Day Treat’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12541858/alphatauri-launch-f1-2022-car-love-at-first-sight-for-red-bulls-sister-team-as-they-reveal-images-of-at03

Fortitude

15th February 2022, 08:16

Williams set for “different”, “really cool” 2022 F1 livery.
The Grove-based squad is revealing its new challenger, the FW44, on February 15, one week before the first pre-season test begins at Barcelona ahead of the team's second full-season under the ownership of Dorilton Capital.
F1
Lewis Larkam
10 Feb 2022

A video released by Williams teasing its 2022 car launch showed drivers Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi reacting to seeing the FW44’s livery for the first time.

“That's different….Fresh,” said Latifi. “I think I used that word last year, but I think it applies more to this year.

‘Really Cool’ and ‘Fresh’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996261/1/williams-set-different-really-cool-2022-f1-livery

Williams power up for F1 '22 launch with multi-year Duracell deal
Sam Hall
Monday 14 February 2022 14:18

“I am so proud of this partnership between Williams and Duracell, and I am grateful for the trust and confidence they have put in us," said Williams team principal and CEO Jost Capito.

"Having their name on the side of our car is a personal highlight for me, as my nickname for 30 years has been Duracell – because I never run out of energy. I am very much looking forward to our work together.”

‘Never Run Out Of Energy’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75757/williams-power-up-for-f1-22-launch-with-multi-year-duracell-deal/

How Capito rebuilt Williams by 'listening'
Sam Hall & Ian Parkes
Sunday 13 February 2022 11:30 - Updated: 11:30

Williams team principal Jost Capito has revealed 'listening' formed a "100-day plan" to begin to change the team's fortunes.

Asked in an end-of-season interview with GPFans if he felt Williams "had stagnated" prior to his appointment in December 2020, Capito said: "Yes.”

"My first 100-day plan was really to listen and to... I've never worked at Williams before and I didn't know really anybody there. Then starting the first months without being at the factory was quite a strange situation, but I tried to make the best out of it and arranged one-to-one meetings with all the managers.”

‘Listening’ and a ‘100-day-plan’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74720/how-capito-rebuilt-williams-by-listening/

Williams Racing extends partnership with Financial Times
By Williams Racing
February 12 2022

The Financial Times logo will remain on the team’s Formula One cars in the upcoming season and will be moving from its current placement to the front wing end plate inside.

The renewal will see the return of exclusive in-person events at global locations throughout the racing calendar, which will bring the world of Formula One to life for the FT’s key commercial partners. As part of the new deal, the FT will also have a presence in Williams’ new digital fan engagement platform.

‘Front Wing End Plate’ and ‘Digital Fan Engagement Platform’;

https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st202879.htm

Dorilton want to build Williams ‘winning machine’
Date published: February 12 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Williams’ head of vehicle performance Dave Robson revealed that owner Dorilton Capital are looking to build them into a “winning machine”.

“The first thing which was done was mostly [upgrading] the windtunnel,” Robson is quoted by The Race.

It’s a massive project, which makes it difficult. We can’t put 100% of our workforce on developing next year’s [2022] car, for example, because we have also to do a lot of R&D projects for the longer term.

‘Winning Machine’, ‘Massive Project’, R&D Projects’… …‘Winning Machine’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/dorilton-williams-winning-machine/

Dorilton in it for the long term
By Andrew Hooper
February 13 2022

In a recent interview for The Race Williams Racing's Dave Robson spoke of the work that occurred as the team worked to reinvigorate the teams infrastructure which would assist the process of designing and developing the new FW44.

“We are also to improve the atmosphere in the team. The team lost some very good engineers, so you employ new ones but they have to learn to work together.”

“Our investor, they really want us to build this proper machine, a winning machine, and they know that two to three years is to build the team and another two to three to develop this team”

‘Improving the Atmosphere’ and ‘Build this Proper Machine’;

https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st202883.htm

Watch Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi reveal the Williams FW44 challenger
Published by Alex Shahini on February 15, 2022

Watch Alex Albon along with Nicholas Latifi reveal the Williams FW44 challenger for the 2022-spec Formula 1 regulations.

It is hard to believe that the Williams team that was in such disarray at the start of the 2019 season that it missed the first two days of testing managed to score a fluke podium in the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix with talent George Russell piloting the challenger.

This time around, former Red Bull Racing rookie Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi will be commanding the latest product from the city of Wantage for the 2022 season.

‘Williams FW44 Challenger’ from the ‘City of Wantage’;

https://www.carmag.co.za/speed/formula-1/watch-alex-albon-reveal-williams/undefined

Fortitude

15th February 2022, 17:01

Williams’ actual 2022 F1 car breaks cover at Silverstone.
The car features a rounded front nose, large rollhoop air intake and its own approach to the sidepods, which has been one of the key differences between the cars launched so far.
15/02/2022, 15:42
The Race.

Williams’ real 2022 Formula 1 car has hit the track at Silverstone today following the team’s launch of its livery on a physical showcar earlier in the day.

‘Hit the track at ‘Silverstone’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/williams-actual-2022-f1-car-breaks-cover-at-silverstone/

Williams’ FW44 breaks cover at Silverstone shakedown
by Phillip Horton
15/02/2022, 15:42.

Nicholas Latifi got behind the wheel of the new machine in wet conditions at the home of the British Grand Prix.

‘Breaking cover’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/15/williams-fw44-breaks-cover-at-silverstone-shakedown/

Williams debut 'real' 2022 car in Silverstone shakedown
Williams' new F1 car has taken to the track following an online reveal of the team's 2022 livery earlier on Tuesday.
15/02/2022, ‎15‎:‎55
Author Mike Seymour

Williams presented the FW44 to the world in an online presentation on Tuesday but it quickly became clear that the digital renders supplied essentially featured a show car with the team's new-look livery for the 2022 season.

However, later in the day, the team hit the track with their 'real' car and subsequently released a couple of photographs of Nicholas Latifi at the wheel.

‘Silverstone shakedown’;

https://racingnews365.com/williams-debut-real-2022-car-in-silverstone-shakedown

Williams boss explains story behind livery change
Williams have unveiled their 2022 challenger, the FW44, complete with a bold new look. The team's CEO, Jost Capito, has explained what inspired the design.
15/02/2022.Today, ‎13‎:‎40
Author Anna Francis

Williams boss Jost Capito has explained the story behind the team's bold new livery. "The design really reflects on the brand definition we have redone last year," Capito said at the launch.

"Especially when you look at the various shades of blue with the diamond scheme that we have in the brand as well, and also the little touch of red."

When asked about the reason for including red, Capito explained: "That's British. We are a British team, we are a proud British team, and that's why we have a hint of red on the car."

‘Proud British Team’;

https://racingnews365.com/williams-boss-explains-story-behind-livery-change

‘Redefined’ Williams ‘not actively’ looking for title sponsor
The Race.
15/02/22, 15:06.

There is a noticeable absence of sponsors on areas of the car such as the sidepods and the front and rear wings, but Williams team boss Jost Capito said he believes the team can afford to wait for sponsors that believe in the “Williams brand”.

“Not actively,” said Capito, when asked if his team was looking for a title sponsor. “We have redefined our brand. We have very strict brand guidelines and every sponsor who comes in has to fit to our brand strategy and guidelines.”

One of Williams’s key off-season deals was with alkaline battery producer Duracell, which Williams believes is the first brand to demonstrate that it believes in the future of the team.

‘Strict Brand Guidelines’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/redefined-williams-not-actively-looking-for-title-sponsor/

Williams ‘has more to do than has been done’
by Phillip Horton
15/02/2022, 15:02.

Williams boss Jost Capito has cautioned that the squad still has substantial steps to take on its Formula 1 journey, off the back of its improved 2021 display.

“It’s not the feeling that we are in Formula 1 and that’s where we want to be. It’s that we are in Formula 1 and we don’t accept anymore to be last, we want to move up the grid and we need the spirit and we need to enjoy that journey. That was the main thing.”

“Then fighting for points and getting in the position that we got some points, and the icing on the cake with the podium in Spa I think boosted not just the team on the race track but the whole company.”

‘Substantial Steps’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/15/williams-has-more-to-do-than-has-been-done/

Fortitude

15th February 2022, 20:01

ANALYSIS: Williams forge their own path with FW44 design.
The FW44, which hopefully will go as well as it looks, represents yet another highly particular interpretation of the new regulations.
Special contributor
Mark Hughes
15 February 2022

This is a massively differentiated design, particularly around the FW44's sidepod and engine cover. It would appear the Williams designers have concentrated much of the cooling systems up towards the front of the sidepod (and given it big radiator inlets there) but then shrink-wrapped the sidepod as tightly as possible so that it slims down dramtically further back.

The relatively high front wing visually accentuates just how much priority is being given to feeding the underbody venturi tunnels.

‘Forging their own path’

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-williams-forge-their-own-path-with-fw44-design.5u6wJFgUpltHBHl479PX0d.html

Williams showcase striking blue livery before revealing 2022 F1 challenger at Silverstone shakedown with drivers Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi hoping to push the legendary team back towards the top of the grid.
By Kieran Lynch For Mailonline
Published: 17:34, 15 February 2022

The Grove-based outfit showcased their striking blue livery during an online launch earlier on Tuesday - though it was displayed on a show car rather than their actual 2022 car.

Williams CEO Jost Capito admitted it is hard for Williams to set goals for the new season as all teams start from zero due to the regulation changes.

'So for us progress will be how we can improve compared to competition during the season wherever we start the season.'

‘How can we improve?’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10515975/Williams-showcase-striking-blue-livery-revealing-2022-F1-challenger-Silverstone.html

Can Williams make another step forward in 2022?
Senior writer
Lawrence Barretto
15 February 2022

“It’s exciting,” said boss Jost Capito when we chatted in the Silverstone Wing, while the team got the car ready and ahead of the release of images detailing their striking new livery. “We do not know where we stand, the others do no know where they stand, so it will be really exciting to go to Barcelona in two weeks’ time.

Make no bones about it: This is still going to be a challenging year for Williams but they have momentum, and huge potential for the future.

‘Challenging year’ with ‘Momentum’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.can-williams-make-another-step-forward-in-2022.2dA224JDQq0ojcq4438zcD.html

2022 Formula 1 preview: Williams unveils all-new car
We evaluate the 10 teams’ positions ahead of 2022 as they start to reveal their revolutionary new cars
by Kris Culmer
15 February 2022

Last year was a watershed one for the British team, which has long been withering away in the shadow of its glorious former self, as it began its new life under the control of an American investment company rather than the Williams family.

With the new big bucks behind it, we expect Williams to be in a much better position in 2022.

‘Big Bucks’;

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport-f1/2022-formula-1-preview-williams-unveils-all-new-car

Albon: Williams FW44 feels ‘lively’ on the simulator
Date published: February 15 2022 - Maria Bright

Albon is making his comeback into F1 with the historic team, after being dropped his Red Bull seat for the 2021 season.

During the launch he said that he’s been understanding how teams operate and has been training hard both for his fitness and on the simulator.

The team heads to Barcelona next week for the shakedown testing before the season kicks off in March, and will be a crucial time for Albon to blow off the cobwebs.

‘Lively’, ‘Blow off the cobwebs’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alex-albon-fw44-feels-lively/

Gary Anderson’s verdict on the 2022 Williams F1 car
The Race.
15/02/22, 19:50

These new regulations for 2022 offer a big opportunity to close the gap to the midfield.

So let’s have a look at the car, which we have only had a limited look at with just two images released from the shakedown.

It’s difficult to see much of the detail from the pictures Williams has released and time will tell where it’s stands as far as performance is concerned, I expected a little more. It’s neat and tidy but I’m not seeing that ‘wow’ factor.

The treatment around the rear looks like it is a little unfinished and the focus on the requirements of what the leading edge of the underfloor requires seems to have been missed.

‘Not seeing that ‘wow’ factor’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-andersons-verdict-on-the-2022-williams-f1-car/

Fortitude

16th February 2022, 09:29

Podcast: Has Williams gone too far with its 2022 F1 design?
Anderson asks whether Williams has gone too far with this approach, as well as taking a look at the other key design elements of the car – or at least, what we’ve seen of the car so far.
The Race.
15 Feb 2022, 22:32

Gary Anderson and Mark Hughes join Edd Straw to take a close look at the car, in particular its abrupt sidepod design.

This podcast is the sixth in our 2022 F1 car reveal series, with one episode focused on each team.

‘Gone TOO Far’, ‘Abrupt Sidepod Design’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/podcast-has-williams-gone-too-far-with-its-2022-f1-design/

Williams duo warn 2022 F1 car visibility "worse in some corners"
F1
Lewis Larkam
16 Feb 2022

Williams drivers Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon have highlighted concerns over visibility in Formula 1’s new 2022 cars following a shakedown at Silverstone.

Having had their first opportunity to sample a 2022 car for real in wet conditions, both Latifi and Albon reported that visibility has noticeably reduced due to the new 18-inch wheels and deflectors.

Their comments follow a warning from reigning world Max Verstappen that F1’s new taller 2022 tyres will restrict drivers’ views more than before.

‘Concerns Over Visibility’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996504/1/williams-duo-warn-2022-f1-car-visibility-worse-some-corners

What sets the Williams FW44 apart from its F1 2022 rivals so far
Another car appears, another different approach emerges: This time it’s the Williams FW44, and while we’re short on images from the shakedown that the team conducted with its 2022 challenger at Silverstone, some details are clear to analyse.
By: Matt Somerfield
Feb 16, 2022, 8:51 AM

The one area of the cars that have really captured everyone’s imagination this year is how each team has come up with a different solution regarding sidepod design.

In Williams’s case this seems quite dramatic as it appears to have added more of the cooling to the centreline of the car, which is evidenced by the much bigger, rectangular airbox and large engine cover aft of it.

‘Williams FW44 different approach’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/new-f1-williams-fw44-2022-rivals/8203505/

Williams debuts real FW44 at Silverstone
F1 TECHNICAL.
By Steven De Groote on 16 Feb 2022, 00:57

On the wet Silverstone track, the car revealed some of its design details, including a front push rod and rear pull-rod suspension design, just like on its predecessor. The FW44 features a very rounded nose cone profile with all front wing profiles attached to it, though with the lower element reaching out ahead of the tip of the nose.

The mid section of the car appears to follow the design direction that the team had taken in previous years, leaning close to what Red Bull Racing are aiming for with sloping down sidepods and the minimisation of surface area.

Notable is also a fairly large DRS actuation pod, positioned on a single central pillar to support the rear wing.

‘Notable Design Details’;

https://www.f1technical.net/news/23618

WILLIAMS GIVE FW44 A SHAKEDOWN
Editor
16 February, 2022

Williams did not waste any time putting their 2022 Formula 1 car through its paces, as they had a shakedown for the FW44 shortly after its launch.

The team revealed that: “Whilst thousands of you were busy tuning into the official Williams Racing livery reveal, our team were hard at work in the garages of the Northamptonshire circuit getting the FW44 ready to hit the asphalt.”

‘Putting the FW44 through its paces’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/16/williams-give-the-newly-launched-fw44-a-shakedown/

Albon: Williams are as “driven to show what they can do” as I am
2022 F1 season
Posted on
16th February 2022, 8:14 | Written by Keith Collantine

“They’re a great bunch of people,” he said in a response to a question from RaceFans. “I feel like they’re very motivated, very driven to show what they can do and that falls in line very much with me as well.”

Albon credited Williams CEO Jost Capito, and Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Helmut Marko for securing his return to F1. “That’s a big thank you to Christian and Dr Marko but also Jost and everyone at Williams and we got we got it to happen. And that was it.”

‘Driven’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/16/albon-williams-are-as-driven-to-show-what-they-can-do-as-i-am/

Williams to drop Ayrton Senna ‘S’ logo from car - without consulting Brazilian's family
The logo has featured on every Williams challenger since Senna's death 28 years ago, but the team have said they wanted to 'move on'
ByTom Cary, SENIOR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
15 February 2022 • 6:01pm

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2022/02/15/williams-drop-ayrton-senna-s-logo-car-without-consulting-brazilians/

Fortitude

16th February 2022, 10:05

Sainz: The F1-75 is innovative to the max, different.
Carlos Sainz said that Ferrari’s 2022 Formula 1 car the F1-75, set to be revealed on February 17 is innovative to the max, but different.
Editor 14 February, 2022

“Until last year we drove the best cars in the history of F1, well balanced but spiteful, if you lost control for a moment, you would crash,” the 27-year-old went on the explain. “This Ferrari seems to me even more responsive, the suspension is stiffer, we will have to get used to handling it.”

Sainz then discussed how he expected the new car to be developed up to speed :”If it’s easy to drive, everything emerges faster, the lap times almost come on their own. Then you have to compare the data with others.

“I don’t think the first test in Barcelona will be enough, but in Bahrain we’ll have some certain information,” he admitted.

‘Ferrari F1-75 innovative to the MAX’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/14/sainz-the-f1-75-is-innovative-to-the-max-different/

Sainz expects ‘big jump’ in 2022 development
Date published: February 13 2022 - Jon Wilde

Ferrari will present the F1-75, which is their car for the much-changed regulations, on Thursday February 17, six days before Sainz and his team-mate Charles Leclerc begin a three-day track session in Barcelona where they will get used to driving it.

Carlos Sainz thinks some “big jumps” will occur in the forthcoming season as teams work out how to make their all-new cars faster. “But I think the progress will be super-fast and at some point, the cars will become so fast that it will be a big jump.”

‘Ferrari F1-75 Big Jump’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos-sainz-big-jump-development/

Sainz: Every mechanic in Ferrari talks about Michael
Jad Mallak
12 February, 2022

Ferrari have won only one F1 Drivers’ Title after the German Legend left the team at the end of the 2006 F1 season, courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, they missed out on it in 2008 as Lewis Hamilton beat Felipe Massa by one point on the last lap of the last race in Brazil that year.

“Since I’ve been at Ferrari I’ve been listening to a lot of stories about Michael Schumacher,” he said. “He is a man I would have liked to know, to have as a companion, to understand how he managed to be so special.”

“Every mechanic talks about him and it’s great to hear how he was able to win over an entire group, to drag them along, surrounded by esteem and affection,” Sainz explained.

‘EVERY mechanic in Ferrari talks about Michael’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/12/sainz-every-mechanic-in-ferrari-talks-about-michael/

Sainz: World title with Ferrari is my ‘highest ambition’
Date published: February 11 2022 - Ben Johnston

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz says becoming World Champion with the Italian team in Formula 1 is his “highest ambition”.

“As [Mattia] Binotto said, we are both satisfied, we intend to continue together and this winter is an opportunity to find an agreement. We are trying. Becoming a World Champion with Ferrari is my highest ambition. I would like to renew as soon as possible,” Sainz was quoted as saying by Corriere.it.

‘Highest Ambition’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos-sainz-title-highest-ambition/

Sainz: New Ferrari even more reactive than 'nasty' 2021 car
Michael Delaney11/02/2022 at 17:33

Carlos Sainz has only sampled a virtual version of Ferrari's new F1-75, but the Spaniard says his new mount feels even more reactive than last year's unforgiving car.

"Up until last year we drove the best cars in F1 history, well balanced but unforgiving," he said. "If you lost control for an instant, you would crash.
"This Ferrari seems even more reactive to me, the suspensions are more rigid, we will have to get used to managing it."

‘Unforgiving’;

https://f1i.com/news/431741-sainz-new-ferrari-even-more-reactive-than-nasty-2021-car.html

‘They do not know F1’ – Sainz fires back at fans who do not rate him
Carlos Sainz finished fifth in the Drivers' Standings in an impressive debut season with Ferrari.
by Rob Kershaw
13 February 2022

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is not at all bothered by fans who do not value his talent in Formula 1, and stressed that his team principal Mattia Binotto is aware of his abilities as a racing driver.

The Spaniard, however, does not pay attention to those who undervalue him in the outer extremities of racing, and knows that it is the opinion of his boss and his team that counts.

“When Mattia Binotto signed me to Ferrari he knew I could do a good job, which I know is very fast.”

Sainz has perhaps gone slightly under the radar in F1 since his arrival into the sport in 2015 with Toro Rosso and, despite six podiums with a combination of McLaren and his current team, is not perennially regarded in the conversation over the best drivers in the business.

‘UNDER the RADAR’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/they-do-not-know-f1-sainz-fires-back-at-fans-who-do-not-rate-him/

Fortitude

16th February 2022, 16:16

F1’s new era is Ferrari’s best chance in years to return to the top.
Will 2022 finally be Ferrari’s year at long last? At this stage, it’s impossible to say. But this year of all years, it doesn’t look like any of their rivals have a better chance.
Posted on
16th February 2022, 12:44
Written by Will Wood

Ever since Fernando Alonso narrowly missed out on his third world championship title to Sebastian Vettel in the final race of the 2012 season, Ferrari have not been able to mount a true championship challenge capable of preventing Mercedes or Red Bull from holding a duopoly over both Formula 1 titles.

While no one in Maranello – not the drivers, not the team principals, nor anyone on the technical side of the team – has committed the PR gaffe of declaring they would win the title in an upcoming season, that hasn’t stopped them being satirised as the team which eternally believes, or at least hopes, that ‘this year is our year’.

For all that, heading into the most anticipated Formula 1 season in recent memory, it’s hard to ignore the signs that, yes, this honestly, genuinely, truly could be Scuderia Ferrari’s most promising prospect of fighting for a world championship in a decade.

‘NO PR gaffe’, ‘Most Promising Prospect’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/16/f1s-new-era-is-ferraris-best-chance-in-years-to-return-to-the-top/

Leaked photo emerges of the Ferrari F1-75
Date published: February 16 2022 - Jon Wilde

A day before Ferrari are due to launch the F1-75, a leaked image has appeared of, at the very least, the car’s livery.

On a more official level, the Scuderia have released a video of their own which shows Leclerc and Sainz – dressed in that red and black team gear – giving their reaction to the sight of the F1-75, which inevitably remains out of camera shot.

The drivers are greeted by Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies and are seen examining the car at close quarters, speaking in Italian with Leclerc exclaiming: “Mamma mia!”

‘Mamma Mia Ferrari F1-75’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-f1-75-leaked-photo-emerges/

Carlos Sainz shares insight on Ferrari mood ahead of 2022
By George Dagless
Published: 16 Feb 2022, 13:38

Speaking to Corriere.it, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz says the mood at Maranello is a hugely positive one and that the team is looking forward to the upcoming Formula 1 season.

Sainz said: “[The team is] full of energy and positivity. I think last year’s experience did us all good. In the corridors, I meet smiling and confident people. I don’t see stress, I see the desire to do well.”

‘Ferrari F1-75 Confidence’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87973551-carlos-sainz-shares-insight-on-ferrari-mood-ahead-of-2022

Ferrari show off new look ahead of 2022 season
‎Ferrari have teased a new look ahead of their 2022 car launch, with race drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc wearing the team's new t-shirts.
09‎ ‎February‎ ‎13‎:‎40
Author Thomas Maher

Ferrari have offered the clearest hint yet that they could be running a tweaked livery this year, just days ahead of the team's 2022 car launch.

In a post to social media, Ferrari showed off a picture of race drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc wearing their 2022 t-shirts with the caption: "A new era and a new look for 2022. Looking incredible, boys!"

‘Ferrari F1-75 Tweaked Livery’;

https://racingnews365.com/ferrari-show-off-new-look-ahead-of-2022-season

Ferrari F1-75 - has image of Scuderia's "very, very slim" new car been leaked?
GPFans Staff
Wednesday 16 February 2022 15:40

A private pre-show was held at Maranello on Wednesday for friends and close members of Ferrari ahead of the launch on Thursday, February 17.

Speaking on Canal+, former Ferrari race winner Jean Alesi revealed he had attended the event and had seen the car, describing it as "very, very thin".

"I saw the Ferrari earlier. It is a real marvel, very, very slim, with a bit of a sophisticated nose. "The car is already impressive and I hope it will go as fast to join the two teams we had [out front] last year in Mercedes and Red Bull."

‘Ferrari F1-75 Marvel’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75906/ferrari-f1-75-has-image-of-scuderia-s-very-very-slim-new-car-been-leaked/

Fortitude

17th February 2022, 08:21

Brand new high resolution leaked ‘aggressive’ Ferrari 2022 F1 car.
All aspects have been applied to a car with a long gestation, and the numbers rumoured to be verified on the highly advanced Maranello simulator say this could be a title challenger for F1 2022 season.
February 16, 2022 · by thejudge13

The official launch of the car will be tomorrow (17th Feb 2022), but today a private launch for VIP’s and guests of Ferrari attended by Jean Alesi amongst others. Alesi confirmed that “When we get to see the Ferrari, it will be a shock!”.

Alesi added: “Formula 1 is changing almost 100% of its technical regulations, so the cars are going to be quite impressive. “I saw the Ferrari earlier. It is a real marvel, very, very slim, with a bit of a sophisticated nose.

“The car is already impressive and I hope it will go as fast to join the two teams we had [out front] last year in Mercedes and Red Bull.”

‘Aggressive Ferrari F-75’, ‘Ferrari F-75 Shock’, ‘Ferrari F-75 Marvel’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/16/brand-new-high-resolution-leaked-aggressive-ferrari-2022-f1-car/

Alleged leaked picture of Ferrari F1-75 goes viral
Michael Delaney16/02/2022 at 17:37

As a reminder, Ferrari will pull the covers off its F1-75 during on Thursday at 14:00 CET (13:00 GMT).

A picture of Ferrari's all-new 2022 contender has popped up on the internet and at first glance the photo appears to depict the Scuderia's legitimate F1-75.

‘Ferrari F-75 Viral Picture Launch’;

https://f1i.com/news/432092-alleged-leaked-picture-of-ferrari-f1-75-goes-viral.html

Alesi excited about ‘very slim’ 2022 Ferrari
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 17, 2022

“I saw the Ferrari earlier,” he (Jean Alesi) said. “It is a real gem. Very, very slim with quite a sophisticated nose.

“The car is already impressive and I hope it will also be fast enough to join Mercedes and Red Bull out the front.”

Alesi, 57, also revealed that Ferrari will reveal a ‘real car’ on Thursday, as opposed to the cheap show cars in 2022 colours as per Red Bull and Williams’ recent strategy.

‘Ferrari F-75 Real Gem’, ‘Ferrari F-75 Sophisticated Nose’;

https://grandpx.news/alesi-excited-about-very-slim-2022-ferrari/

‘Unusual’ and ‘original’ Ferrari F1-75 aero design teased
Date published: February 17 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Ferrari reportedly have followed a unique path with the F1-75, pushed towards the “extreme” through recent struggles. The F1-75 will be unveiled on February 17, which will reportedly be an “authentic first viewing”, rather than a livery reveal or show car which has been utilised by several teams now in order to shield innovations ahead of the new campaign.

And according to Corriere Della Sera, Ferrari have been creative with their F1-75 in a bid to make sure their goals are realised. F1-75, the shape is “surprising”, thus “indicating an aerodynamic design that is as unusual as it is original, both in terms of its lines and its proportions”.

“Those who have seen it say it has a rampant look, with a few “nocturnal” touches, especially on the wings,” the piece adds. Those who designed it are aware that they have chosen an aggressive philosophy. The fact that they have come through a long critical period seems to have generated a push towards the extreme.”

‘Ferrari F-75 Unique’, ‘Ferrari F-75 Rampant Look’, ‘Ferrari F-75 Extreme’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-f1-75-aero-engine-report/

Scarlet Red Ferrari F1-75 leaked; watch launch of 2022 F1 challenger here
Published by Alex Shahini on February 17, 2022

The most successful team to compete in Formula 1 has experienced a 14 year long slump with only glimmers of hope fueling the famous tifosi in these dark years when Sebastian Vettel came close to toppling Mercedes dominance in 2018, but it wasn’t meant to be. The regulation change for 2022 which is set to even the playing field and make for better wheel-to-wheel racing has the Maranello based outfit in for a shout by pundits in what many hope will be another season between the Prancing Horse and McLaren.

‘Ferrari F1-75 LAUNCH’;

https://www.carmag.co.za/speed/formula-1/scarlet-red-ferrari-f1-75-leaked/undefined

Enzo Ferrari movie gets ready for starting grid
Adam Driver of ‘Star Wars’ fame to play role of Italian motoring mogul
17 FEBRUARY 2022 - 05:05 DENIS DROPPA

The movie, which has been in development for a number of years, is set in 1957 which was a crisis year for the house of the prancing horse, with the 10-year-old company facing bankruptcy and Enzo and Laura experiencing a tempestuous marriage.

Enzo decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race — 1,600km across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia.

‘Ferrari’, ‘Ferrari’, ‘Scuderia Ferrari’;

https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/life/motoring/2022-02-17-enzo-ferrari-movie-gets-ready-for-starting-grid/

Fortitude

17th February 2022, 16:25

Ferrari F1-75 breaks cover with Tifosi hopes sky high.
Ferrari’s F1-75, the most anticipated Formula 1 car ahead of the 2022 season, broke cover today with its red and black livery reminiscent of the team’s F1 challengers of the late 1980’s, early 1990’s.
Editor
17 February, 2022

Ferrari Chairman John Elkann said after the launch: “Ferrari is the only team to have competed in every season of the Formula 1 Championship and has been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of innovation in the pursuit of speed for over 90 years in motorsport.

Elkann did not forget the faithful Tifosi and addressed them saying: ” Your passion and commitment fuels our performance as it always has.

“This year we look forward to rewarding your loyalty and returning to our winning ways,” Elkann concluded.

The stakes couldn’t have been higher at Ferrari for Binotto and the team to deliver on the promises of bringing the Scuderia back to the forefront of F1.

‘Tifosi passion’, ‘Tifosi commitment’, ‘Tifosi fuels performance’, ‘Tifosi loyalty’, ‘Tifosi Scuderia’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/17/ferrari-f1-75-breaks-cover-with-tifosi-hopes-sky-high/

Ferrari reveals F1-75 at Maranello ahead of 2022 F1 season
Ferrari has unveiled its new 2022 Formula 1 car - the F1-75 and a return to black and red livery
F1
February 17th 2022
Author Jake Williams-Smith

The team opted to reveal its car rather than a show version or digital rendering evident by the louvres on the engine cover and the DRS activator on the rear wing.

Unveiled via a live stream the new livery features a return of Santander as a sponsor as well as several interesting features.

‘Ferrari F1-75 unveil at Maranello’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/ferrari-reveals-f1-75-at-maranello-ahead-of-2022-f1-season#

Sainz and Leclerc excited by ‘radical, extreme’ Ferrari F1-75
17 February 2022

The Ferrari F1-75 sent hearts fluttering across the world when it was unveiled on Thursday, and the team's drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were clearly enamoured by the brand-new Scuderia machine – remarking on how bold the design is.

Sainz’s team mate Leclerc was clearly pleased with the traditional elements in the new car’s design.

“Yes, I do [like the livery]. I think it fits perfectly. It’s a bit of a dark red, looks a bit more aggressive but for a car like this, I think it fits perfectly. We have the 75-year anniversary logo which I think fits well with the colour scheme, we are trying to represent the old days of Ferrari, you know, and I think this colour is a mix of what we had last year at the front, with what we had at the back,” he said.

‘Ferrari F1-75 radical’, ‘Ferrari F1-75 extreme’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.sainz-and-leclerc-excited-by-radical-extreme-ferrari-f1-75.33h5Wuokgf1dz2GhSp4z5h.html

In photos: Every angle of the new Ferrari F1-75 F1 car
Ferrari have shown off their new-look 2022 F1 car, the F1-75. Here's every angle of the brand new Ferrari F1 car.
17th Feb 2022, ‎13‎:‎10
Author Thomas Maher

The F1-75 features a new-look livery for this year. While still undeniably traditional, it features swatches of black – confirming the hints the team have released via social media teasers over recent weeks.

Video: Ferrari present their new F1 car!
Check out Ferrari's new F1 challenger, the F1-75, which was presented to the world during a special launch ceremony on Thursday.

‘Every angle of the Ferrari F1-75’;

https://racingnews365.com/in-photos-every-angle-of-the-new-ferrari-f1-75-f1-car

Sainz aiming to take Ferrari to a ‘different level’
Date published: February 17 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Carlos Sainz is ready to take Ferrari to “a different level” in 2022 and chase the success which he and the team craves.

The aim for the F1-75 is to take Ferrari back to winning ways in Formula 1 this season, hopefully also mounting a title challenge.

“Now it’s time to take the team to a different level, to another step. As drivers and the team together we want more things and more success in 2022, so let’s go and get it.”

‘Now it’s time… … Ferrari F1-75 title challenge’

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos-sainz-ferrari-2022-goals/

Ferrari target return to the top as it unveils car for 2022 Formula 1 season
By Matt Majendie
17 Feb 2022, 13:46

Ferrari have unveiled the car they hope will challenge for the world title for the first time since 2008.

But team principal Mattia Binotto said on Thursday he was hopeful the F1-75 will return one of the most successful teams in the sport’s history to former glories.

“The results have not lived up to what is expected of the Ferrari name,” said Binotto, adding that the latest creation would mean “fans can once again be proud of Ferrari”.

‘Ferrari F1-75 to the TOP’;

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/formula-one/ferrari-f175-formula-1-b983126.html

Fortitude

17th February 2022, 16:50

F1-75 a result of Ferrari ‘thinking out of the box’
“This is what I would call a brave Ferrari because we have interpreted the rules thinking out of the box,” said Binotto during the launch of a car named to reflect the 75th anniversary of the 125 S, Ferrari’s first race car.
Date published: February 17 2022 - Jon Wilde

Binotto, who said the car will have its shakedown at Fiorano on Friday, continued: “Now it’s time to go up against the opposition. That is the best challenge and it’s what makes our work so enthralling.

“I’d like the F1-75 to be up for the fight on track at every grand prix, to go toe-to-toe with our rivals, aiming to be the very best.”

“We have a responsibility to our company and to our partners. But most of all, I’d like this car to perform in such a way that our fans can again be proud of Ferrari.”

‘Ferrari F1-75 thinking out of the box’’, ‘Ferrari F1-75 for the pride of the Tifosi’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-f1-75-innovative-thinking/

Out-of-the-box thinking led to ‘brave’ Ferrari 2022 F1 car design
F1
Lewis Larkam
17 Feb 2022

“We have tackled the challenge of this project with an innovative approach,” Binotto said at the launch of the F1-75.

“Because apart from the requirements of the completely new technical regulations we believe that we had to take on this exercise with an open mind.”

“It called on all our know-how our creativity and above all our commitment. This is what I would call a brave Ferrari because we have interpreted the rules thinking outside the box.”

‘Brave Ferrari F1-75’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996594/1/outofthebox-thinking-led-brave-ferrari-2022-f1-car-design

‘Unusual’ and ‘original’ Ferrari F1-75 aero design teased
Date published: February 17 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Ferrari reportedly have followed a unique path with the F1-75, pushed towards the “extreme” through recent struggles. Their report states that according to those that have laid eyes on the F1-75, the shape is “surprising”, thus “indicating an aerodynamic design that is as unusual as it is original, both in terms of its lines and its proportions”.

Fortunately for Ferrari, Corriere Della Sera state that the team have gone brave with the F1-75 “with the certainty of having found the power needed to push on from the very first chapters of the season”.

In fact, having reportedly made “plenty” of progress in this department, Ferrari are apparently taking a risk on the reliability front for the start of the season with their new power unit.

‘Ferrari F1-75 to risk new power unit’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-f1-75-aero-engine-report/

Sainz and Leclerc excited to get going with F1-75
Andrew Lewin17/02/2022 at 14:37

Team principal Mattia Binotto told media attending the launch event that “personally, I'm excited about it" and pointed out the innovation surrounding the new loo front wing and nose. His optimism was echoed by his drivers.

"Yes, I'm more than ready for this season," said Sainz. who joined Ferrari from McLaren at the start of the 2021 season and went on to finish ahead of Leclerc in the final points standings.

Leclerc was also rather taken by the new car's visual panache, but was more concerned by how it would perform on the track when pre-season testing gets underway next week in Barcelona. "I really, really like it. I think I'll love it even more if it's fast on track!" said the Monegasque. "But I absolutely love the look.”

‘Ready for the Ferrari F1-75’;

https://f1i.com/news/432176-sainz-and-leclerc-excited-to-get-going-with-f1-75.html

A closer look at the new Ferrari F1-75
Date published: February 17 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

We can also see just how sculptured the side’s of the F1-75 are, detailing which differs greatly to the 2022 challengers revealed so far elsewhere on the grid.

We see that like Aston Martin, Ferrari have gone for the cooling grooves down the sidepods, but have taken it to a new level with the detailing in the shaping of the F1-75.

As important as the bodywork of the F1-75 is, Ferrari it is believed are also very optimistic about the new power unit within it, an area where they appeared to make great gains in the latter stages of 2021. Both power unit and chassis will need to combine perfectly to trigger a Ferrari title challenge.

‘Ferrari F1-75 looked at closely’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-f1-75-gallery/

Title contender: Radical new Ferrari car explained
February 17, 2022 · by thejudge13

Yesterday’s leaks from the internet already announced that the new Ferrari Formula 1 car will be revolutionary; and today’s presentation of the F1-75 driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz confirms that the team from Maranello pinned all its hopes on the new 2022 regulations having stopped its development early on last year.

“This season will be a very important season for the team, but also for us drivers,” says Leclerc. “And it’s a good chance. Everyone’s expectations are very high. We want to make sure we can translate everyone’s hard work into results this season.”

“I am more than ready for this season,” Sainz is also fired up for the start. “Now it’s time to take the next step with the team. We drivers and the team want to achieve more successes in 2022,” the Spaniard clearly indicates the expectations.

‘Ferrari F1-75 TITLE CONTENDER’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/17/title-contender-radical-new-ferrari-car-explained/

Fortitude

17th February 2022, 19:01

Russell on Mercedes’ F1 2022 car: “Huge amount of improvement to be made”
Mercedes will unveil the all-new W13 to the world on February 18 as it looks to win an unprecedented ninth consecutive constructors’ championship in 2022.
F1
Connor McDonagh
12 Feb 2022

In an interview on Mercedes’ website, Russell spoke about the new challenges the teams face amid the new regulations for this year.

“First impressions of W13 have been interesting,” Russell said. It’s a very different car to the previous era and the characteristic of how the downforce is produced is completely different so we’re still learning as we’re going.

‘W13 Improvement’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996369/1/russell-mercedes-f1-2022-car-huge-amount-improvement-be-made

What time is Mercedes 2022 F1 car launch and how can I watch it?
The W13 will be unveiled on Friday 18 February
Sports Staff

Mercedes will launch their new F1 car for 2022, the W13, at a launch event on Friday.

The Brackley-based squad have won eight consecutive constructors’ championships and will be hoping their new challenger is the class of the field once again as Formula 1 enters a new era.

‘W13 Launch Time’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/mercedes-f1-car-launch-time-watch-online-b2017276.html

Big Moments for Mercedes F1: George Russell’s Seat Fit, Lewis Hamilton to Return
17 Feb 2022, 11:02 UTC ·
by Monica Coman

The new Formula One season is close, and all teams are getting ready for it. Be it the car reveal or the new driver, Mercedes-AMG Petronas has a big season ahead.

George Russell will be replacing Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas, who drove alongside Hamilton from 2017 to 2021. In the 2022 season, Bottas will be racing for Alfa Romeo.

‘W13 Big Season Ahead’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/big-moments-for-mercedes-f1-george-russells-seat-fit-lewis-hamilton-to-return-181897.html

Formula One chief Ross Brawn fears speed of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes 'could be impacted' by the bitter title tussle with Red Bull last season and that the seven-time champion's team may start the new season off the pace
• Mercedes and Red Bull fought bitterly until the end for the F1 titles last season
• But Ross Brawn fears it may impact both heading into the 2022 campaign
By Philip Duncan, Press Association
Published: 08:34, 17 February 2022

'Mercedes and Red Bull could be impacted,' said Brawn. 'Last year, human resources were devoted to fighting a very intense world championship. Some of the teams further back didn't have that consideration.

'If I had been Ferrari or McLaren in the very early part of last year, I would have put everything into the 2022 car.

'That is what happened in 2009. The year before there was a big battle between Ferrari and McLaren and they fell flat on their faces. I don't think it will be that severe but is a good point.

‘W13 could be impacted by 2021’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10522615/F1-chief-Ross-Brawn-fears-speed-Lewis-Hamiltons-Mercedes-2022.html

Mercedes and Red Bull "could be impacted" by brutal F1 title fight - Brawn
Ian Parkes
Thursday 17 February 2022 00:01

Mercedes and Red Bull could be forced to play catch up at the start of the new F1 season following their brutal title battle that unfolded throughout last year.

That is the verdict of F1 managing director motorsports Ross Brawn who would not be surprised if the fight to the wire that culminated in a controversial ending in Abu Dhabi ultimately took its toll on the title protagonists with regard to the development of this year's cars.

‘W13 catch up’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75914/mercedes-and-red-bull-could-be-impacted-by-brutal-f1-title-fight-brawn/

MERCEDES ON THE HUNT FOR THE NEXT LEWIS HAMILTON
Abby Bathurst
16/02/2022, 08:56

Mercedes have announced the line-up for their junior drivers for the 2022 season as the hunt for the next Lewis Hamilton continues.

With seven junior drivers in the programme, Mercedes have a a strong team for the future. But will one of them become the next Lewis Hamilton?

“The Mercedes young drivers of today, will hopefully be our champions of tomorrow”

The hunt is on’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/mercedes-on-the-hunt-for-the-next-lewis-hamilton/

F1nKS

17th February 2022, 21:07

Abu Dhabi GP - 108 million viewers
Super Bowl - 101 million viewers

This is why the Liberty media purchased the rights to F1. Higher ceiling.

Fortitude

18th February 2022, 06:36

Gary Anderson: Disappointing Ferrari F1-75 feels disjointed.
What is clear is that Ferrari has headed down a different avenue to the rest. The key question is whether that avenue leads to where it wants to get to.
By Gary Anderson
17 Feb 2022, 19:08

This is very different from the Aston Martin or the McLaren approach, both of which have a continuous slot gap between the first and second elements. Ferrari does not.

To reduce the area of stagnation where the airflow hits the front of the nose and doesn’t know where to go, Ferrari has gone for a pointy design. The front element has a large spoon section in the middle, which is quite wide and also lower.

This is about trying to make this spoon area work to produce front downforce. The front two elements mount the front wing to the nose and the third and fourth elements run into the sides of the nose.

‘Disappointing Ferrari F1-75’, ‘Ferrari F1-75 feels disjointed’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-disappointing-ferrari-f1-75-feels-disjointed/

The key technical decisions behind Ferrari’s unconventional F1-75 design
2022 F1 season
Posted on
17th February 2022, 19:1117th February 2022, 19:11 | Written by Will Wood

Ferrari’s unconventional design for its new F1-75 was born out of a “creative” mindset across all areas of car design, say the team’s technical leaders. Ferrari’s head of chassis project development, Fabio Montecchi, says that the new chassis had a far longer lead time in design compared to a typical new car.

“The first key factor for the design of a car that is so different from its predecessors is time management,” Montecchi explains. “We allowed much more time than usual for the design phase, examining in depth all the rule changes in order to squeeze out every ounce of performance, exploring a large number of solutions through studies, simulations and bench tests.

Montecchi says Ferrari embraced “the involvement and empowerment of each individual designer,” during the car’s development, so that “everyone feels the excitement and uniqueness of the challenge posed by these massive changes.”

“With no reference points available from previous seasons what makes the difference is the creativity and talent of each designer, the excellence of our analysis tools, the lucidity and courage to choose the most promising solution, even if it is not the most conventional one and in this, we believe we have done a good job.”

‘Ferrari F1-75’ Empowerment, ‘Ferrari F1-75’ Creativity, ‘Ferrari F1-75’ Lucidity and Courage, ‘Ferrari F1-75 Squeezing out every ounce of Performance’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/17/the-technical-decisions-behind-ferraris-unconventional-f1-75-design/

Where Ferrari’s radical F1 design embraces the unconventional
The unveiling of Ferrari’s latest challenger is always one of the most anticipated events in Formula 1 and there was plenty to see when the covers came off its radical design for the F1-75.
By: Matt Somerfield
Feb 17, 2022, 9:15 PM

It’s also clear that the Ferrari F1-75 is the most complete car we’ve seen so far, but even given the team's openness during the launch there’s bound to be aspects of the car it has attempted to conceal and which will be revealed over the course of the next two tests.

The overall design philosophy used by Ferrari is probably best summed up by Fabio Montecchi, Head of chassis project engineering: “With no reference points available from previous seasons, what makes the difference is the creativity and talent of each designer, the excellence of our analysis tools, the lucidity and courage to choose the most promising solution, even if it’s not the most conventional.”

‘Ferrari’s radical F1-75 design’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/ferrari-radical-f1-design-new/8262554/

'Brave' Ferrari are riding high on confidence as they hunt for championships
Senior writer
Lawrence Barretto
17 Feb 2022, 19:15

Ferrari exist to go racing and win world championships. That lofty ambition has been a step too far in the last decade or so, but the Prancing Horse’s loyal fanbase can be buoyed by the confidence sweeping through the team, which launched their interpretation of the 2022 regulations with the F1-75…

Ferrari, it seems, have been ambitious and not played it safe, knowing that if they have got the new car – built to new rules – right, this is a cracking chance to catch Mercedes and Red Bull and fight at the front once more, ending years of hurt in the process.

“That’s the best challenge and it’s what makes our best work so enthralling. I’d like the F1-75 to be up for the fight on track at every Grand Prix, to go toe-to-toe with our rivals, aiming to be the very best. We have a responsibility to our company and to our partners. But most of all, I’d like this car to perform in such a way that our fans can once again be proud of Ferrari.”

‘Proud FerrariF1-75’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.brave-ferrari-are-riding-high-on-confidence-as-they-hunt-for-championships.46l6PMsDTlLLvbe8cexlL9.html

FERRARI FORCED INTO ‘DARING DESIGN SOLUTIONS’ WITH F1 ENGINE
By Edd Straw

Formula 1’s imminent engine freeze forced Ferrari to produce some “daring design solutions” for its 2022 power unit, according to its head of power unit Enrico Gualtieri. Gualtieri describes the 2022-spec Ferrari power unit as “an unconventional project, extreme in terms of vehicle installation, layout and many of the internal parts”.

During 2022, the power units will be homologated and frozen in specification until the end of 2025 ahead of the anticipated introduction of the next-generation engines the following year. Gualtieri was asked about the effect of these looming deadlines had on the design process…

“It has certainly made an impact,” said Gualtieri. “Let us say that, compared with past years, it has stimulated, even forced us, to go for even more daring design solutions, given the significant time limits, in particular the coming freeze. We have had to take all our programmes to the absolute limit. We have had to keep the door open for all possible evolutions, right until the last moment.”

Ferrari F1-75 Engine Development’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/ferrari-forced-into-daring-design-solutions-with-f1-engine/

LECLERC: EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH BECAUSE WE ARE FERRARI
Paul Velasco
17 February, 2022

Charles Leclerc is aware of the burden of expectation on Ferrari where serial winning is expected and is fully motivated to turn things around in 2022.

Leclerc said on the occasion of the F1-75 launch at Maranello: “Of course expectations are high because we are Ferrari, we are the team that is expected to win all the time.”

“What makes me confident about this year’s car is the work that I’ve seen in the past few months. It’s never easy to know until you’re really on track for the first qualifying of the year and see the final picture. But the feeling is good,” added Leclerc.

‘FerrariF1-75 expected to win all the time!’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/17/leclerc-expectations-are-high-because-we-are-ferrari/

Fortitude

18th February 2022, 14:11

Mercedes-Benz AMG reveals W13 race car for 2022 F1 season.
The W13 might not be as dominant as some of its recent predecessors, however.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran February 18, 2022

Mercedes-Benz AMG on Friday unveiled its new W13 E Performance race car set to compete in the 2022 Formula One World Championship.

Powering the W13 is Mercedes' own power unit, which the team also supplies to Aston Martin, McLaren and Williams. F1 power units consist of a 1.6-liter turbocharged V-6 and two motor-generators, one on the driveline and another integrated with the turbocharger.

Teams will get their first taste of how their new designs perform during the first of F1's two pre-season tests, scheduled for February 23-25 at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The first race of the season is the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled for March 20 at the Bahrain International Circuit.

‘W13 might not be as dominant’;

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1135106_mercedes-benz-amg-reveals-w13-race-car-for-2022-f1-season

Mercedes reveal more shots of the silver W13
Date published: February 18 2022 - Mark Scott

Mercedes have officially taken the covers off their new car for the 2022 season – the W13 – at a special launch event at Silverstone.

Mercedes have revealed in their initial technical specification of the W13 that the front suspension is made up of a carbon fibre wishbone and pushrod-activated torsion springs and rockers. The rear suspension is pullrod-activated.

‘W13 Silverstone Special Launch’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-w13-gallery/

First picture: New Mercedes W13 makes track debut at windy Silverstone
2022 F1 season
Posted on
18th February 2022, 13:37 | Written by Keith Collantine

Mercedes’s new W13 has run on track for the first time ahead of the 2022 F1 season.

Despite heavy winds from storm Eunice battering much of Britain, the team took advantage of the opportunity to hold a filming day at Silverstone, where the new car was presented for the first time earlier today.

‘W13 shake down’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/18/first-picture-new-mercedes-w13-makes-track-debut-at-windy-silverstone/

Mercedes reveal sheer magnitude of 2022 changes
Date published: February 18 2022 - Mark Scott

Mercedes have revealed they have changed more parts of the power unit for this year than in any other season since 2014.

“For 2022, it has been a wide and deep project, and we have changed more parts of the PU for this year than in any season since 2014,” Hywel Thomas, head of the Mercedes engine programme, said at the W13 launch.

“Because it’s been such a significant change, we modified our overall approach to design and development. We started earlier and had more points along the journey, where we could experiment with some of our technologies.”

“And it wasn’t a case of spreading the same amount of effort over a longer period, it was about having a very high level of activity over a longer period.”

‘W13 Modifications’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-reveal-sheer-magnitude-of-2022-changes/

Russell: 'Incredible' to finally get to see W13 rolled out
Andrew Lewin18/02/2022 at 13:31

New Mercedes driver George Russell was thrilled to finally get to see the team's 2022 car unveiled before the world media this week, and gave it an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "It feels incredible," he beamed.

“We’ve seen all the drawings, we’ve had so many meetings and presentations about it. But suddenly seeing it all come together, seeing all of the men and women who have put so much hard work and grit into making this, and coming together here, I think it looks incredible."

‘Incredible W13’;

https://f1i.com/news/432295-russell-incredible-to-finally-get-to-see-w13-rolled-out.html

Mercedes has made biggest change to F1 engine since 2014
The Race.
18 Feb 2022, 10:22

Hywel Thomas, head of the team’s powertrain programme, said that while the 2022 engine “builds on the generation of championship-winning power units” and involved the usual work on “finding more performance, more reliability and taking the overall package of the power unit further”, F1’s major chassis rules changes also meant substantial changes in packaging demands.

“We have some very good simulation tools and of course we use those to make estimates of where the chassis will end up, but we don’t know for sure. And that means we won’t really know precisely how the PU will need to be used and the way it needs to react while out on track, until we are running on the circuit.”

“We have to cover quite a lot of possibilities to make sure that PU is ready for whatever turns up at the end of the experience.”

W13 PU BIG changes;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes-has-made-biggest-change-to-f1-engine-since-2014/

Hamilton sends warning: ‘Wait until you see me this year’
by Fergal Walsh

“If you think that what you saw at the end of last year was my best, wait until you see this year.”

“I always feel like through these sort of experiences you can turn that emotions into strength and into power, and that’s what I’m doing. “I’m putting that into my training. I’m putting that into the work I have with the men and women in this team.”

Hamilton sampled Mercedes’ W13 car for the first time on Friday at a Silverstone shakedown, hours after it was publicly launched.

‘W13 Launch’, ‘Wait until you see me this year’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/18/hamilton-sends-warning-wait-until-you-see-me-this-year/

Fortitude

18th February 2022, 17:11

Gary Anderson’s verdict on Mercedes’ 2022 F1 design.
I like the overall concept. It is following the trend of what I would have pursued if I was still involved in F1 design.
By Gary Anderson
The Race
18 Feb 2022, 14:56

Some areas such as the load distribution of the front wing and the leading edge and splitters of the underfloor I like. The sidepod lines also look right, although I suspect AlphaTauri might be a little tidier in this area.

I think Mercedes has missed a trick on the front wing mounting system that Aston Martin and McLaren have gone for with the forward element creating a full-width slot gap.
But that’s a simple bolt on component so can change easily if you have a couple of million dollars left within your budget cap.

‘W13 overall concept liked’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Mercedes

Russell’s first Mercedes run at stormy Silverstone gave him “goosebumps”
2022 F1 season
Posted on
18th February 2022, 15:2218th February 2022, 15:44 | Written by Will Wood

George Russell said Mercedes firing up the new W13 gave him “goosebumps” as he prepared for his first run as a Mercedes Formula 1 race driver.

“This morning it gave me goosebumps when the car was fired up for the first time,” Russell said. “I’ve driven so many laps in the simulator, I’ve seen so many drawings of it, I’ve had so many meetings about it, but there’s nothing like going to a race track.”

Despite the high winds, the conditions were safe enough for Russell and team mate Hamilton to complete an initial run with the car to test basic systems and that the drivers were comfortable in the car.

‘W13 gives “goosebumps”!’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/18/first-mercedes-run-at-stormy-silverstone-gave-russell-goosebumps/

First Images of Mercedes F1 W13; Team Says Car Is '98% New' for 2022
Mercedes hopes to add to record streak of eight consecutive Formula 1 Constructors' Championships
BY MIKE PRYSON
Feb 18, 2022

“Ever since work on W13 began, I have seen an excited enthusiasm in our team members like never before, thanks to the scale of opportunity that these technical regulations provide,” said Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. “Towards the end of the year when the car build project truly came together, I felt a deep passion across the whole organisation, not only in the technical arena but across our bases at Brackley and Brixworth who were embracing a mindset of 'we can do this.'"

‘W13 can do this’, ‘yes the W13 can’;

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a39133087/first-images-mercedes-f1-w13/

Mercedes: W13 aero packaging required 'huge amount of redesign'
Phillip van Osten18/02/2022 at 15:43

Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott says the aero constraints imposed by F1's new regulations required a "complete internal repackaging" for its W13.

"We have talked a lot about the aerodynamic changes, because these are most visible, and these regulations aim to improve overtaking," commented Mercedes' tech boss at Friday's presentation.”

"In fact, most of the car has had to change, which has been a huge challenge for the whole team. Getting to the desired aero shapes has meant a complete internal repackaging, right down to the electrical layout and where we fit things like the ECU.”

W13 Complete Internal Repackaging’;

https://f1i.com/news/432306-mercedes-w13-aero-packaging-required-huge-amount-of-redesign.html

Mercedes W13 track shots released from Silverstone
Date published: February 18 2022 - Mark Scott

Launch day for the Silver Arrows began with a special presentation at the iconic British track with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, a returning Lewis Hamilton and new team-mate George Russell all interviewed prior to the covers coming off the W13.

With the talking over, it was time for some action. With Hamilton on filming duties, it was down to Russell to rack up the first miles on the W13 clock.

However, Mercedes got a little more time than they bargained for as they performed their private shakedown during Storm Eunice, which was bringing gusts of up to 90mph in some areas of the UK.

‘The W13 Storm Eunice Shakedown’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-w13-track-shots-released-silverstone/

Russell: Mercedes can’t afford intra-team rivalry in 2022
by Fergal Walsh
18 Feb 2022, 16:36

George Russell says Mercedes can’t afford to have a heated rivalry between himself and team-mate Lewis Hamilton in 2022.

“Lewis and I need to work together, we can’t focus too much on each other because things are constantly changing and that’s why we need to take a step back.

“We hope Mercedes will still be the fastest team, the fastest car on the grid but there are no guarantees and we need to not be naive to that and work together to ensure that we are.”

‘W13 – No Guarantees the fastest car’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/18/russell-mercedes-cant-afford-intra-team-rivalry-in-2022/

Mercedes W13 on track at Silverstone shortly after launch
Editor
18 February, 2022

Hywel Thomas, Mercedes engine boss, gave insight 9into the mood at Brackley ahead of the big day: “For all of us, who are so involved and invested, that is quite emotional, to see the chassis and PU go down the pit lane as one for the first time.

“To hear the engine, to sit back and reflect on all the components that are working in there together. All the people, the hard work, the effort. It’s always slightly mind-blowing, and it’s a lovely moment to message back to the factory, telling them the car has hit the track,” added Hywel.

The Mercedes W13 will be trucked this weekend to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the first three days of testing from 23 to 25 February, followed by a second test in Bahrain from 11 to 13 March, before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on 20 March.

‘Emotional launch of the W13’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/18/mercedes-w13-on-track-at-silverstone-shortly-after-launch-formula-1-2022/

Fortitude

19th February 2022, 09:59

New team apply to the FIA to enter Formula 1.
Michael Andretti is pushing ahead with plans to enter Formula 1, formally asking the FIA for permission to field a brand new team, according to his father, Mario.
Author Mike Seymour
19/02/2022, ‎20‎:‎54

Mario Andretti recently explained to RacingNews365.com that his son was "not giving up" on securing an F1 entry, following Andretti Autosport's failed attempt to buy a majority stake in the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo F1 operation.

The potential takeover towards the end of last year was all but confirmed, with Andretti looking to acquire an 80 percent share of Islero Investments, the current owner of Sauber, which operate the Alfa Romeo F1 team.

New F1 team;

https://racingnews365.com/new-team-applies-to-the-fia-to-enter-formula-1

Revealed: How Andretti's team plan to enter Formula 1
19/02/2022, ‎08‎:‎30
Author Mike Seymour

There is, however, a tentative plan for a manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, in which the F1 chassis would be built.

Andretti says his son is going "all in" to make the project happen, with plans also including a Formula 2 and Formula 3 entry in the future, to cover all steps on the F1 ladder.

"From where I stand, I'm excited about it, as you can imagine," Andretti continued.

"No one loves Formula 1 more than I do, and just to have the family involved, in this respect, with Michael [going] all in... his plans are to field a Formula 2 and a Formula 3 team eventually, out of all of it.

"He will be based in England; it's all set up, but I can't tell you at the moment... I cannot finalise all of those aspects.

‘Team Plan’;

https://racingnews365.com/revealed-how-andretti-team-plan-to-enter-formula-1

Michael Andretti would build new F1 team's cars in Indianapolis, says Mario Andretti
NATHAN BROWN | Indianapolis Star

Mario Andretti says his son Michael would be “ready to go the next day,” should his application to the FIA to create a new Formula 1 team be approved. The goal is to have the team on-track by 2024.

In an exclusive interview with IndyStar, the elder Andretti divulged that F1’s possible 11th two-car team, to be named Andretti Global, would have its home base in England with the cars made at a yet-to-be-built “state-of-the-art” facility in Indianapolis near the team’s IndyCar and Indy Lights headquarters.

When reached for comment, Andretti Autosport confirmed Michael’s application to the FIA but said it could offer no further comment.

Mario said the team has already secured an engine partner, though he wouldn’t confirm the automaker. At the moment, Mercedes supplies power units for itself, Williams, McLaren and Aston Martin, while Red Bull makes engines for itself and sister team AlphaTauri, and Ferrari for itself, Alfa Romeo and Haas. Renault, which runs in F1 under its sports car brand "Alpine" most recently served as an engine supplier for McLaren in 2020 and currently makes its own engines.

‘Ready to go the next day’;

https://eu.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2022/02/18/michael-andretti-has-applied-formula-1-team-starting-2024/6851237001/

Andretti eyes 2024 F1 entry
NEWS STORY
19/02/2022

"I don't know how confident you can feel, but you just hope that the best intentions are forward. From Michael's standpoint, there's a huge commitment. It's serious and absolutely in good faith, but all that is in the hands of the FIA and the Formula 1 teams to accept it. This isn't just on a whim or a bucket list thing. This is for real. Michael, once he sets his sights on something, he's relentless. He's aligned himself with the right people to support it, and he's doing it right."

Andretti entering the sport would be great news for the F1's owners, Liberty Media, for among the boxes it ticks is that it is American and would no doubt bring an American driver into the sport.

With F1 enjoying unprecedented popularity in the US - with a soon to be confirmed race in Las Vegas joining those at COTA and Miami - there has probably been no better time for such an entry.

‘Ticks the Boxes’;

https://www.pitpass.com/71833/Andretti-eyes-2024-F1-entry

Andretti announces advanced plans for 11th Formula 1 team
F1
FEBRUARY 19TH 2022

The team, to be called Andretti Global, will be based in England, said Mario in an interview with the Indianapolis Star. However, the cars are set to be built in a new “state-of-the-art” factory in Indianapolis, where Andretti Autosport’s IndyCar and Indy Lights teams are based.

Formula 1’s growing popularity in America, combined with its new cost cap, will make it relatively easier for Andretti to find enough sponsorship to fund the team. Viewing figures increased by 58% last year, compared with 2020, and the US Grand Prix saw a record 400,000 attendance across the weekend. This year, the Miami Grand Prix joins the calendar.

‘Andretti Global’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/andretti-announces-advanced-plans-for-11th-formula-1-team

Andretti Has Officially Applied to Enter Formula 1 in 2024
Mario took to social media to spread the word, with confirmation from Andretti Autosport following shortly thereafter.
FEBRUARY 18, 2022
JAMES GILBOY

When Haas joined Formula 1 in 2016, its arrival marked the first time in 30 years that an American team had competed at the highest level of open-wheel racing. Nobody knew at the time, but it marked the beginning of F1's surge in popularity in the United States, driven largely by Netflix's Formula 1: Drive to Survive, which helped build a record-setting American fanbase that has enticed F1 to add a second U.S. race to its calendar.

Soon, F1's roots in American soil could deepen further, as 1978 F1 champion Mario Andretti has confirmed via social media that his racing dynasty has applied to enter its own F1 team.

If approved, and if Haas sticks around, the 2024 season will mark the first time the grid will have consisted of 11 teams since 2016, the final year for Manor F1. It'd also be the first season with two American entries since 1977, when Interscope faced off against Chesterfield, though they were only customer teams using bought-in cars. One doesn't have to look much further back to determine the last time two American constructors competed in F1—that was 1975, when Penske, Shadow, and Vel's Parnelli Jones Racing all entered their own cars.

‘Andretti Autosport Drive to Survive’;

https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/44362/andretti-has-officially-applied-to-enter-formula-1-in-2024

Fortitude

19th February 2022, 19:03

Alpine to launch 2022 F1 car two days before testing.
The French outfit will launch the A522 on February 21, just two days before pre-season testing gets underway in Barcelona.
F1
Connor McDonagh
26 Jan 2022

Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso will remain alongside Esteban Ocon for a second season.

Ocon took the team’s first win since 2013 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, while Alonso returned to the podium for the first time since his days with Ferrari in Qatar in the second half of the year.

‘Alpine F1 Launch’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/995734/1/alpine-launch-2022-f1-car-two-days-testing

Alpine boss responds to Prost outrage
February 17, 2022 · by thejudge13

Alpine boss responds to four time F1 Champion Alain Prost’s scathing comments – Alain Prost was outraged with Laurent Rossi the current Renault Alpine boss, to whom he considered responsible for his departure. Rossi has responded with an interview with the French publication L’Equipe.

“Relations became more and more complicated, I felt that there was a lot of jealousy” alledges the Frenchman before adding that “Laurent Rossi’s wish is to be alone, not to be influenced by anyone (…)” and that “There is a real desire to put many people aside. Laurent Rossi wants all the limelight.”

And now, Laurent Rossi replied to him with an interview in the same publication saying: “I was indeed very visible [within the team], because I needed to understand what was going on in the field. And then, being an engineer, I know how my peers work.”

‘Alpine F1 understanding’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/17/alpine-boss-responds-to-prost-outrage/

Rossi: The old Alpine structure was not working
Reuters
18 February, 2022

“I want to say that the old structure was not working,” Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi told Reuters and two other journalists in a select media round-table. We went through the season, we never made a fool of ourselves, it was just fine.

“Now was it the right structure to move forward and take the team to the next level because the team has been plateauing and rather was in almost a negative slope,” he added, referencing the triple-pronged leadership matrix management style that was put in place last year at Alpine

‘Alpine F1 Triple-Prolonged Matrix Management abandoned’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/18/rossi-the-old-alpine-structure-was-not-working-in-formula-1/

Otmar Szafnauer joins Alpine as their new team principal just one month after leaving Aston Martin and has set the French F1 manufacturer the goal of challenging for the championship 'within the next 100 races'
• Alpine have revealed Otmar Szafnauer will be their new team principal for 2022
• Bruno Famin also joins as executive director of Renault's Viry engine operation
• Szafnauer left Aston Martin last month after 12 years at the Silverstone-outfit
• By Kieran Lynch For Mailonline
• Published: 16:48, 17 February 2022

Alpine have appointed former Aston Martin boss Otmar Szafnauer as their new team principle as part of a wider management restructure at the Renault-owned Formula One outfit.

A goal has been set for Alpine to fight for the championship within the next 100 races.

‘100 Race Target for F1 World Championship [EL PLAN!]’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10524373/Otmar-Szafnauer-joins-Alpine-new-team-principal-just-one-month-leaving-Aston-Martin.html

Rossi: 'Overachiever' Szafnauer knows what it takes to build a team
Phillip van Osten18/02/2022 at 06:51

Szafnauer's move to Enstone was an open secret since the end of last season and a question of when rather than if, especially in the wake of his exit from Aston Martin earlier this year.

At the helm of Force India and its Racing Point iteration, Szafnauer built his reputation as a diligent manager who blends his savvy expertise with a keen sense of productivity

‘F1 Team building’;

https://f1i.com/news/432214-rossi-overachiever-szafnauer-knows-what-it-takes-to-build-a-team.html

Alpine set for blue & pink livery as BWT becomes F1 title sponsor
F1
Connor McDonagh
11 Feb 2022

BWT will be the Alpine Formula 1 team's title sponsor for the 2022 season, with the new livery set to feature blue and pink.

The new deal will see the team renamed as BWT Alpine F1 Team.

‘BWT Alpine F1’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996317/1/alpine-set-blue-pink-livery-bwt-becomes-f1-title-sponsor

Fortitude

20th February 2022, 08:49

'Midfield teams will be challenging for F1 wins in 2022' says Ross Brawn.
Ross Brawn led the changes to F1's 2022 regulation. He says they are still on course to level the playing field and explains why doing nothing was not an option — even after the thrilling 2021 season.
February 17th 2022
Author Adam Cooper

“I’m very excited about the coming season,” says Brawn.

The new aero package is very much Brawn’s baby: “F1 is in a great place. And I think this is another great step. It will take a little while to settle down and bed in. But the alternative, which was to leave the cars alone, really wasn’t a great alternative.”

“And there’s lots of optimism for the season. And I think we’ll see some interesting results this year from some of these young hotshoes who are coming through. They get the right car behind them, and we can all have a lot of fun.”

‘F1 Hotshoes!’, ‘F1 Optimism for the Season’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/midfield-teams-will-be-challenging-for-f1-wins-in-2022-says-ross-brawn#

Red Bull suffer nightmare first track session and Mercedes may have same problem
RED BULL had their shakedown test at Silverstone scheduled for Thursday.
By STUART BALLARD
07:01, Sat, Feb 19, 2022

Thursday was the first scheduled opportunity for both Verstappen and Perez to get their hands on the car around a track.

Verstappen did get a small run in the RB18, reportedly completing 50 laps around Silverstone.

But the shakedown test proved a nightmare for Perez in particular as he failed to get on track due to poor weather conditions, according to RacingNews365.

‘Red Bull shakedown’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1567978/Red-Bull-Mercedes-F1-news-Max-Verstappen-Sergio-Perez-Lewis-Hamilton-George-Russell

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto looking to copy Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen car tricks
FERRARI will have a close eye on Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's cars.
By MIKAEL MCKENZIE
06:50, Sun, Feb 20, 2022

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says he will observe, copy and introduce any ideas that he spots on his rivals' cars during pre-season testing and the first few Grands Prix. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are still expected to be handed the strongest cars on the grid as they continue their title challenge.

"I think that the first tests and the first Grands Prix will tell us how well we have done, but I also think that it will be very important at the beginning of the season to understand the behaviour of these cars, to adapt, to correct, and possibly even to copy,” Binotto told Canal+.

‘Ferrari keeping a close eye’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1568749/Ferrari-Mattia-Binotto-Lewis-Hamilton-Max-Verstappen-F1-news

Aston Martin reveal F1 Barcelona test line-up
Sam Hall
Thursday 17 February 2022 16:50

Aston Martin has confirmed how Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll will divide the three days of running at the first pre-season test of 2022 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
F1's pre-season begins with a three-day session at the Spanish track from February 23-25.

‘Aston Martin F1 Barcelona test line-up’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/76003/aston-martin-reveal-f1-barcelona-test-line-up/

McLaren to run shakedown ‘very close’ to Barcelona test
Date published: February 14 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

McLaren do plan to give the MCL36 a shakedown run before the opening testing period at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

“Similar to probably every other team, we’re also planning to do a filming day very close to the start of the official test in Barcelona,” McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl told Motorsport.com.

“That’s in the schedule. [We] still have a lot of boxes to tick in the next week to be finally ready for that.

‘McLaren MCL36 boxes to tick’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclaren-shakedown-run-pre-barcelona-test/

FIA aiming to avoid "nasty surprises" in Bahrain opener
Ian Parkes
Friday 18 February 2022 08:15

The FIA has revealed to assisting the 10 F1 teams in the build-up to the new era of aerodynamic regulations with a series of legality checks on their cars in a bid to avoid what it has described as "nasty surprises" at the first race in Bahrain.

Asked whether there were any alarm bells ringing from the FIA's perspective over what it had witnessed so far, the head of single-seater technical matters Nikolas Tombazis said: "We have seen some cars launched. We're also undergoing a process with the teams and doing individual sessions with them to track their legalities so that we try to avoid nasty surprises in the first race. That is proceeding okay as a process."

Conceding to seeing "a few surprises here and there", Tombazis added: "There are some areas where there is a bit more difference between the cars than we expected, where engineers have applied their innovative skills to come up with solutions.”

‘A few surprises here and there’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75966/fia-aiming-to-avoid-nasty-surprises-in-bahrain-opener/

Fortitude

20th February 2022, 18:52

How Alpine set the groundwork to kick ‘El Plan’ into high gear for 2022.
A rebrand to Alpine for 2021 marked a fresh start with fresh opportunities, as well as a revised target for the future. Driver Fernando Alonso would later encapsulate Alpine’s renewed mentality and overall dedication to the future by coining the mantra of “El Plan”.
2022 F1 season
Posted on
20th February 2022, 18:16 | Written by Will Wood

Rossi made it very clear that, for the team, there was a new target in their sites – and the ambitions went far beyond mere podiums. The new timeframe for success was now 100 races – roughly over five seasons beginning in 2021 – to become a championship winning team. (EL PLAN)

Alonso and Ocon will likely both be looking to move closer to the front of the field in 2022 but, this year more than any, it’s almost impossible to judge what could happen when the radical new cars are let loose in anger at Bahrain. But when the team do unveil their new car on Monday, it will be with the confidence of knowing they now feel they have all the pieces in execute ‘El Plan’ and begin the process of turning their dreams of championship glory into a reality.

‘EL PLAN’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/20/how-alpine-set-the-groundwork-to-kick-el-plan-into-high-gear-for-2022/

Fernando Alonso looks ready for 20th F1 season as he shares training insight.
Fernando Alonso is counting down the days to his 20th pre-season in Formula 1, with him sharing some insight into his training programme with just a week to go until the first test at Barcelona gets underway.
By George Dagless
Published: 16 Feb 2022, 08:53

For the drivers, meanwhile, pre-season preparation has already been underway for a while and it’s certainly not a new experience for Alonso who is set to enter his 20th Formula 1 campaign.

He appears as committed as ever to being on top of his game, though, with him preparing his neck muscles for the season to come by putting his head in this resistance band and trying to not let it get the better of him:

‘Fernando Alonso committed’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87973477-fernando-alonso-looks-ready-for-20th-f1-season-as-he-shares-training-insight

Alonso reveals hopes for 2022 Alpine challenger
Ian Parkes
Monday 7 February 2022 13:55

Fernando Alonso has revealed his hopes for the new Alpine A522 after the team stepped up its trackside processes last year.

"More power on the straights and more downforce in the corner, that is what we are aiming for, all drivers," explained Alonso.

"The trackside is quite strong now. We saw [last year] we scored, both cars, in a race where we maybe didn't have the pace to score with both cars so we are strong in many areas.”

‘Alpine A522 hopes’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/75348/alonso-reveals-hopes-for-2022-alpine-challenger/

Alonso big wish for this season
February 9, 2022 · by thejudge13

Alonso wants “a more competitive package” this season

“What I want to have on track in a few days in Barcelona? Just a more competitive package coming out of our factories in Enstone and Viry. We have been working for several months and we have high hopes,” said Fernando Alonso.

‘Fernando’s big wish’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/09/alonso-big-wish-for-this-season/

Renault putting engine performance before reliability
Date published: February 20 2022 - Frank Parker

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi says Renault are favouring a more performance-driven direction with their engine, ahead of outright reliability.

Rossi admits it was a difficult decision but hopes the team can iron out any reliability concerns from a good performance benchmark.

“Either reliability or performance, you can’t very well have both,” said Rossi, quoted by Motorsport-Total.com. “So where do we push the development? During the [development] year, we had some moments when reliability was lacking. That’s a choice we made because our only leverage [last season] was reliability.”

‘Renault favouring more performance’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/renault-performance-before-reliability/

Alpine Reinforces Management Structure with New Team Members, Appointment of Otmar Szafnauer as Team Principal
By Ashley Cline
February 20, 2022

BWT Alpine F1 Team have announced Otmar Szafnauer as their new Team Principal last Thursday, as well as the appointment of Bruno Famin as the Executive Director of Alpine Racing in Viry-Châtillon and Davide Brivio as Director of Racing Expansion Projects. This series of management changes come as part of a review launched in November 2021, with the purpose of enhancing team operations in light of 2022’s new technical regulations.

‘Management structuring in detail’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/alpine-reinforces-management-structure-with-new-team-members-appointment-of-otmar-szafnauer-as-team-principal/

Fortitude

21st February 2022, 09:30

SEASON REVIEW: 2021 Formula 1 World Championship – Alpine F1 Team.
It has already been an eventful build-up to 2022 for Alpine, after the French-side parted ways with their Executive Director Marcin Budkowski. It’s difficult to see how Alpine can improve in 2022 after arguably achieving the best they could in 2021.
By Nick Golding
February 2, 2022

In order to move up the order next season Alpine will have to take the fight to one of the big teams in the sport. It seems unlikely that Alpine will be able to compete regularly against Mercedes, Red Bull Racing or Scuderia Ferrari, leaving only the Mclaren F1 Team who in themselves are considered as a real potential underdog for 2022, after their rapid progression since 2020.

Alpine should be looking to again seal at least fifth in the Constructors’ Standings, anything higher would resemble an exceptional season. For this too happen both Alonso and Ocon need to kick the ground running at the start of the campaign, a clean and positive winter for the team could give their drivers the best chance of doing so

Alonso will just be looking to do what he does best, deliver consistent points week in week out, the Spaniard is also well used to adjusting his driving style to new technical regulations in the sport. This could play massively in his favour at the start of 2022, where the cars will all be drastically different to recent years due to the new technical regulations and guidelines.

‘Alpine F1 El Plan’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/season-review-2021-formula-1-world-championship-alpine-f1-team/

Alonso "stronger" after achieving "main goal" of F1 return
Sam Hall
Monday 31 January 2022 12:46

Fernando Alonso has declared he feels "strong" ahead of the new F1 season after completing his comeback year.

The Spaniard was outclassed in the early races of his comeback by team-mate Esteban Ocon but as the races passed, Alonso's pace steadily improved.

His podium in Qatar as well as a stout defence against Lewis Hamilton in Hungary to protect the lead of Ocon served as a reminder of those doubting Alonso's continued talents.

"I am happy, I am happy with the comeback," said Alonso in a post-season media briefing including GPFans.

‘Fernando happy and strong’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/74829/alonso-stronger-after-achieving-main-goal-of-f1-return/

Alpine CEO not ruling out white F1 livery
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 21, 2022

The tantalising prospect of a white 2022 livery is not being ruled out by Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi. Actually, the Renault-owned team is preparing to reveal a blue and pink car for the start of the all-new regulations era, with the latter colour marking the switch of Austrian water company BWT from Aston Martin to Alpine.

The next exciting rumour is that a sponsorship with Real Madrid, one of the most successful football clubs of all time, could be on the cards for Alpine.
“I don’t think Alpine has enough money to sponsor Real Madrid,” Rossi laughed.
“If an agreement is reached, we will paint the car white,” Renault CEO Luca de Meo added.

‘Alpine A522 car colour scheme’;

https://grandpx.news/alpine-ceo-not-ruling-out-white-f1-livery/

Leaked images of the real Red Bull & Alpine’s 2022 F1 car
February 20, 2022 · by thejudge13

The French manufacturer, Alpine, will unveil its 2022 car on tomorrow evening (Monday, 2ast February 2022) at around 5.30pm (UK) in an event that will be broadcast live on the team’s various social channels.

Alonso and Ocon’s car will take to the track on Tuesday 22nd of February for a shakedown, while the team will then take part in the first winter test of the year at the same circuit (23rd to 25th February).

‘Alpine A522 shakedown Tuesday 23rd February 2022’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/20/leaked-images-of-the-real-red-bull-alpines-2022-f1-car/

WATCH the Alpine A522 launch for the 2022 Formula 1 season
Published by Alex Shahini on February 21, 2022

A team that managed a few surprise performances throughout the 2021 season is that of Alpine. After a shock win at the Hungarian Grand Prix, the racing outfit looks to better their P5 in the constructors’ championship with the Alpine A522.

Pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is only two days away and French outfit Alpine is one of the last to reveal the highly anticipated 2022-spec Formula 1 challengers. Driven for the second season by veteran World Champion Fernando Alonso and 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix race winner Esteban Ocon, the team hopes to improve their P5 finish after positive results in last year’s campaign.

‘Alpine A522 launch is GO’;

https://www.carmag.co.za/speed/formula-1/alpine-a522-launch/undefined

Fortitude

21st February 2022, 17:31

Will Alpine’s end its F1 stagnation in 2022? Our verdict
Alpine – which launches its 2022 F1 design in France on Monday evening – has already revealed a substantial management and technical line-up reshuffle for the new season.
The Race
21st Feb 2022, 13:38

Alpine is neither a top team nor one on a clear path that is taking it there.

You look at McLaren and you see direction. You look at Ferrari and you see vast potential. Alpine is a bigger organisation than Sauber or AlphaTauri with heavyweight infrastructure and which even manufactures its own power units. It used to be a giant but now punches well below its weight, almost as if it’s permanently misfiring. It’s still aspiring to be an actual challenger, in much the same way as Aston Martin. Yet the route to that aspiration is not obvious.

Four-time F1 champion Alain Prost has also departed from his advisory role, firing a broadside at Alpine on the way.

‘Alpine A522 still aspiring’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/will-alpines-end-its-f1-stagnation-in-2022-our-verdict/

Why Alpine's engines are keeping the Renault name alive
21/02/2022, ý15ý:ý00
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Thomas Maher

Speaking exclusively to RacingNews365.com, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has explained why the team's engines continue to be badged as Renault.

Despite the F1 team rebranding for 2021, and changing their base livery colour to the traditional Alpine blue, the team opted against rebranding their engines. As a result, the Alpine team continued to be powered by Renault engines last year, and this will not change for 2022.

‘Renault alive’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-alpines-engines-are-keeping-the-renault-name-alive

Alpine opts for performance over reliability with new engine design
Phillip van Osten21/02/2022 at 12:07

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi directed the French outfit to go all-in on the development of its new engine for 2022, opting to put performance over reliability.

"It's either reliability or performance, as you usually have a hard time having both," Rossi told the media. "So it's just where do you push the envelope?

"During the year [of development] we experienced a couple of moments where the reliability was not there, but that's our choice because the only lever we are going to have at our disposal this year is reliability.

‘Alpine A522 push the envelope’;

https://f1i.com/news/432459-alpine-opts-for-performance-over-reliability-with-new-engine-design.html

Renault pushing performance over reliability with new split-turbo F1 engine
Renault says it is ready to risk reliability headaches with its new split-turbo Formula 1 engine, after electing to push its performance limits.
By:
Jonathan Noble
Feb 21, 2022, 9:33 AM

The French manufacturer has built an all-new power unit for this season which most significantly sees it finally adopt the split turbine and compressor concept pioneered by Mercedes.

Renault is clear that it needs to lift its power figures if it is going to fight at the front of the grid over the next few years, and Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi says he has urged his engine staff not to play things safe and focus only on reliability.

Instead, he has told them to push on in seeking performance gains, as he feels that it will be easier to cure a fast but fragile power unit under F1's new engine freeze rules rather than having to recover any laptime deficit.

‘Renault all-new power unit’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/renault-pushing-performance-over-reliability-with-new-split-turbo-f1-engine/8365638/

Alpine Boss Says Renault’s Artificial Intelligence Expertise Can Help F1 Team
3 Feb 2022, 10:35 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose

The Alpine chief exec knows there is still a substantial performance gap between his team and rival squads such as Mercedes and Red Bull. However, his side does have a bit of an ace up their sleeve, thanks to parent road car company Renault, reports Autosport.

“The fact that Formula 1 is moving more and more towards less and less physical testing, with more and more simulations and data analysis, in the Renault group, we have AI machine learning scientists, of top-notch quality.”

‘Renault’s Artificial Intelligence’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/alpine-boss-says-renaults-artificial-intelligence-expertise-can-help-f1-team-180691.html

How Renault’s AI can push Alpine forward in F1
Date published: February 3 2022 - Ben Johnston

“We want to win races and possibly a championship, and that’s by the end of 2024 or 2025, depending on when the regulations period ends,” he (Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi) said.
“I believe we have all the tools to get there in the specific environment. We have AI machine learning scientists, of top-notch quality, which has been used for the past 20 years everywhere on the manufacturing side, on marketing, everywhere.”

‘Alpine A522 AI machine learning’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/renault-ai-alpine-benefit/

Fortitude

22nd February 2022, 10:10

Alpine launch not one, but two, A522 liveries.
Alpine have taken the covers off their 2022 car, the A522, just two days before the start of pre-season testing.
Date published: February 21 2022 - Michelle Foster

Formula 1 has a new look this season, the sport adopting ground effect aerodynamics in a bid to create cars that are easier to follow which would lead to better racing.

To date no two teams designs have been the same with the nose, sidepods and edges of the floors catching the eye.

But with the Alpine, we’re going to have to a little longer to see the actual A522 in all of its glory as the car is already in Barcelona for a filming day on Tuesday.

‘Alpine A522 two liveries’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine-unveil-their-2022-challenger/

GALLERY: Check out Alpine’s special pink livery for the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs
21 February 2022

Alpine unveiled their blue-and-pink A522 challenger for the 2022 season in a dramatic launch show from Paris. But there was a pink-and-blue challenger to be shown off too, as the team revealed a special livery for the first two Grands Prix of the year.

For the season-opening Bahrain and Saudi Grands Prix, the A522 will wear a predominantly pink paint job, in a nod to new title sponsors BWT, before reverting back to the team’s more regular blue-dominated livery thereafter.

‘Alpine A522 pink paint job’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.gallery-check-out-alpines-special-pink-livery-for-the-bahrain-and-saudi.3mh7BVJ5iKd300PH9IZiML.html

Alpine to run alternative pink livery for first two 2022 F1 races
by Fergal Walsh
11 hours ago

Alpine has confirmed that it will run a predominantly pink livery for the opening two races of the 2022 Formula 1 season.

The inclusion of pink comes the deal it signed with Austrian water treatment company BWT, who is its title sponsor for the upcoming season.

However, for the opening two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, a revised livery will be used, in which the car will be mostly pink.

‘Alpine A522 two races pink’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/21/alpine-to-run-alternative-pink-livery-for-first-two-f1-races-of-2022-season/

First pictures: Alpine reveal new car and two liveries for 2022 F1 season
2022 F1 season
Posted on
21st February 2022, 17:4922nd February 2022, 9:51 | Written by Keith Collantine

With Otmar Szafnauer arriving from Aston Martin to take over as team principal following the departure of former executive director Marcin Budkowski.

“I’ve had the displeasure, I would say, of racing against these formidable competitors,” said Szafnauer. “I remember too well the win in Hungary where they didn’t put a foot wrong and I congratulate them that they are such competitors, a group of racers and I look forward to joining them and helping them not just beat the Aston Martins of this world but everybody else on track.”

‘Alpine A522 formidable competitors’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/21/first-pictures-alpine-presents-new-livery-2022-f1-season/

Blue and pink, pink and blue: A look at the Alpine A522
Date published: February 21 2022 - Henry Valantine

Pink has returned to the Formula 1 grid, with the BWT-sponsored Alpine A522 being unveiled to the world on Monday evening.

As with their sponsorship of Racing Point and Force India before that, BWT’s influence has seen pink added to the blue colour scheme seen last season in Alpine’s debut year on the grid.

‘‘Pink has returned’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine-a522-launch-gallery/

Fortitude

22nd February 2022, 10:41

Gary Anderson: Alpine’s solid 2022 launch spec hints at secrets
It does look like a neat and tidy package and somewhere positive to start from.
21 Feb 2022, 21:06
By Gary Anderson

It’s the only team using the Renault power unit package, so that means just one team and two drivers for development feedback, while reliability-wise that’s just two units worth of mileage for each race weekend – and one during pre-season testing.

Compare that to its rival works teams – Mercedes has eight sets of info, Ferrari six and Honda (under the Red Bull name) four – that definitely is a limitation and will hurt development.

It is going to have to live with that lack of feedback. But what’s crucial is that the feedback is listened to which has not always been the case in the past.

‘Renault power feedback’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-alpines-solid-2022-launch-spec-hints-at-secrets/

Alpine: Redesigned power unit boosted A522 aero gains
Phillip van Osten22/02/2022 at 08:37

Alpine technical director Matt Harman says the new architecture of Renault's 2022 engine allowed the team's engineers to "express themselves" aerodynamically while designing the A522.

"At the very beginning of these regulations, we actually started with the power unit mainly because it does set some of the key areas of the car aerodynamically," said Harman.

"We did a full review of this area of the car and we decided to change the architecture of that power unit extensively in all areas including the internal combustion engine, the ERS, the turbo and its positioning in the car and that has given us some real gains in terms of our ability to express ourselves aerodynamically and achieve that ultimate lap time of the car."

‘A522 aero gains’;

https://f1i.com/news/432537-alpine-redesigned-power-unit-boosted-a522-aero-gains.html

Alpine found “real gains” from redesigned Renault power unit for 2022
2022 F1 season
Posted on
21st February 2022, 19:37 | Written by Keith Collantine

Alpine have found significant performance gains from the new power unit Renault has developed for the 2022 season, according to the team’s technical director.

“The RE22 is a power unit that we’ve reviewed back-to-front,” said Harman. “We have looked at every aspect of it in terms of its integration into the chassis, its base performance and the combination of the two.”

“We’ve looked at the ERS system and its attributes. We’ve looked at the ICE, we’ve looked extensively on the structures that support the ICE. We’ve also looked at some of the electrical machines in terms of the MGU-K and also the turbo, making some quite big changes in that area to complement the A522 architecture and again, to allow us to extract maximum performance from both the power unit, the chassis and the combined product of the two.”

‘Finding “real gains” from redesigned Renault power’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/21/alpine-found-real-gains-from-redesigned-renault-power-unit-for-2022/

Engine overhaul allowed Alpine to ‘express ourselves’ on aero
The Race
21 Feb 2022, 19:24

The changes cover a “back to front” review of the power unit, says Alpine technical director Matt Harman, with the engine’s “integration into the chassis, its base performance and the combination of the two” the priority. But the integration of the chassis and power unit is being overseen by new Alpine technical director Matt Harman – a former Mercedes High Performance Powertrains employee.

Unsurprisingly, Harman’s messaging around the launch of Alpine’s A522 has leant heavily on improved integration of the Enstone and Viry facilities – making the focus “not local optimums but broad overall laptimes for the race car”.

“At the very beginning of these regulations, we actually started with the power unit mainly because it does set some of the key areas of the car aerodynamically,” said Harman.

‘Alpine A522 ‘express ourselves’ on aero’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/f1-engine-overhaul-allowed-alpine-to-express-ourselves-on-aero/

Podcast: Our verdict on Alpine’s 2022 F1 car
The Race
Monday, 21st Feb 2022, 23:08

Alpine is a works team that has been aggressive with its power unit design and that has a strong driver line-up spearheaded by Fernando Alonso, yet as we explain in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast, it has conservative objectives for 2022.

There’s a look at the major change to the power unit configuration, and what that means for the car packaging.

We also take a close look at the sidepod concept and the reasons for the various aerodynamic decisions that have been made with the car.

‘Listen to the verdict’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/podcast-our-verdict-on-alpines-2022-f1-car/

ANALYSIS: Have Alpine discovered an aerodynamic sweet spot with distinctive A522?
Special contributor
Mark Hughes
21 February 2022

A first glance at the computer render of the Alpine A522 which will shake down on Tuesday at Barcelona suggests it’s a neat-looking car.

The visual points of distinction between the A522 and other cars we’ve seen so far in this 2022 launch period are short, heavily downward-ramped sidepods which form a completely separate structure from a deep engine cover, without the converging of the two parts of bodywork seen on other cars.

‘New PU, Distinctive aerodynamics’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-have-alpine-discovered-an-aerodynamic-sweet-spot-with-distinctive.3dOMxn9vVxEdnZGuUOqup5.html

Fortitude

22nd February 2022, 11:11

Alonso: It’s been a year and a half waiting for these car.
“I came back to the sport … because of this regulation,” said 40-year-old Alonso, at the launch of Alpine’s 2022 challenger in Paris, when asked if the new rules could be a game-changer. “So it’s been a year and a half waiting for these cars.”
Reuters
21 February, 2022

Alonso, who scored a podium last year and whose future beyond this season will hinge on how competitive the team can get, said he was confident they were ready to take on 2022.

“I’m more optimistic than last year probably because the new rules gives you that hope that everything can change and you (can) be competitive from race one,” he said.

In the team press release he said: “It’s good to be back and I’ve been working hard to be ready for the new season. The build-up has been a long time coming after the rule change was delayed due to the pandemic.

‘Fernando Alonso optimistic’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/21/alonso-its-been-a-year-and-a-half-waiting-for-these-car/

Ocon choosing to ignore rivals’ development rumours
Date published: February 21 2022 - Henry Valantine

Esteban Ocon is preferring to focus on himself and Alpine this year, rather than getting himself wrapped up in the inevitable development war in Formula 1. “This year is extremely exciting for Formula 1 and for us as a team,” said Ocon, quoted by Formula1.com.

“It’s like the cards have been redistributed, it’s a fresh start and there is going to be a real mix without immediately knowing who will be at the front.”

“We don’t know what will happen; you could say that provides some anxiety, heading into the unknown, but I find that exciting. It’s not necessarily about who will start the season the quickest, but more about who will end it the quickest.”

‘Esteban Ocon focus’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/esteban-ocon-ignore-rival-development/

Alonso 'confident' of Alpine's F1 chances
Issued on: 21/02/2022 - 20:42

Paris (AFP) – Double world champion Fernando Alonso said on Monday Alpine are "confident" of their chances this Formula One season as they presented their new car.

"The car looks fantastic with the new regulations in place and I like the new livery.

"We have a new engine and we're confident we had a good development in place for this new generation of car," he added.

‘Alpine A522 looks fantastic’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220221-alonso-confident-of-alpine-s-f1-chances

Alonso ready to fight: This is why I came back to F1
Fernando Alonso is excited by the potential for the 2022 rules reset to shake up the pecking order in Formula 1.
Yesterday, ‎19‎:‎15

Fernando Alonso has declared that he and Alpine are "ready" for the challenge of Formula 1's all-new technical regulations, which come into play in 2022.

"2021 was a good season for us; Esteban won a race, I was back on the podium and it was a kind of continuation of the 2020 performance from Renault," said Alonso at the launch of Alpine's 2022 F1 car, the A522.

"I think the team did an amazing job in the last year, building this car, so we are all very motivated. We won't know where everyone stands until [the first race in] Bahrain, but we're excited to take the car for its first spin in testing this week," he (Alonso) said.

‘Fernando Alonso ready to fight’;

https://racingnews365.com/alonso-ready-to-fight-this-is-why-i-came-back-to-f1

Alonso: Alpine’s car has “interesting solutions” to F1’s new rules
2022 F1 season
Posted on
21st February 2022, 18:5421st February 2022, 18:56 | Written by Will Wood

Alonso says Alpine’s new car has been designed to embrace the new technical regulations in an “interesting” way. “The new car, I really like the livery,” Alonso said. “I like the colours, the combination.

“Obviously the technical side of it, we have to keep secret. We have to first hit the track and see how it behaves. I think it’s going to be a very intense winter for us where we need to develop the car as fast as we can and learn from the new regulations. But we have some interesting solutions on the car and let’s see if we can unlock the performance as soon as possible.”

“This my second year with Alpine and, yeah, I’m more optimistic than last year probably,” Alonso said. “The new rules give you that hope that everything can change and you can suddenly be competitive from race one. So I’m optimistic. I’m confident that the team did a good job with the car and we’re ready to go.”

‘Alpine A522 “interesting solutions”!’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/21/alonso-alpines-car-has-interesting-solutions-to-f1s-new-rules/

Ocon opens up on relationship with supposedly ‘difficult’ Alonso
Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon ended 2021 P10 and P11, respectively, in the Drivers' Championship.
by Rob Kershaw
4 February 20224 February 2022

Esteban Ocon has refuted the notion that Alpine team-mate Fernando Alonso is a hard man to work with, revealing that he has only had pleasant exchanges with the Spaniard. He partnered the Frenchman at Alpine in 2021, and Ocon has described him as a “hell of a racer” but denies he is difficult to work with.

“A lot of people said Fernando was very difficult to work with, that he had a reputation for breaking team-mates and all that,” he said, as quoted by Racer.

“I wanted to see it from my eyes, I wanted to see if what people were saying was true and in the end it wasn’t. We’ve just had a fantastic collaboration all together.

‘Fantastic collaboration’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/ocon-opens-up-relationship-supposedly-difficult-alonso/

Fortitude

22nd February 2022, 19:04

Fighting talk from Szafnauer in new Alpine role.
Away from the aesthetics, Otmar Szafnauer was clear in his own personal targets with his new team and wants to be the person to help build and maintain a strong bond within Alpine, providing the team with a platform for real success in the years to come.
Date published: February 21 2022 - Mark Scott

Asked what he felt he could bring to the Alpine team in his new role, Szafnauer replied: “I will bring my style of collaborative leadership.

“I heard Luca [De Meo, Renault CEO] mentioned that the glue that keeps us all together is very important and I too feel that the glue that keeps us all together, pointing in the right direction, is the key to this.

‘Alpine A522 Glue’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/otmar-szafnauer-fighting-talk-alpine/

Szafnauer: Great to team up with Ocon again at Alpine
Phillip van Osten21/02/2022 at 19:11

New Alpine team boss Otmar Szafnauer is delighted to rekindle his working relationship with Esteban Ocon but the American is equally happy to work with Fernando Alonso.

Szafnauer oversaw Ocon's development at Force India during two seasons – in 2017 and 2018 – when the Frenchman raced alongside Sergio Perez.

"I know Esteban very well from his two seasons at Force India," he said. "Back then, he was young, raw, hugely talented and very quick on-track. In fact, not much has changed since. His talent is clear to see, and I was very happy and proud to see him claim his first Grand Prix win last season.”

Otmar Szafnauer and Esteban Ocon;

https://f1i.com/news/432512-szafnauer-great-to-team-up-with-ocon-again-at-alpine.html

‘I know how good Alpine can become’ says new Team Principal Szafnauer, after launching 2022 challenger
21 February 2022

Newly-installed Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer has vowed to bring success to the Enstone/Viry-based outfit, after he helped launch the team’s A522 challenger for the 2022 season.

“Everyone knows Fernando’s exceptional qualities. His experience is invaluable, and I thoroughly believe the team’s line-up is amongst the strongest on the grid. It’s going to be enjoyable to work with a motorsport legend in Fernando and to reunite with Esteban.”

‘Otmar Szafnauer vow of Alpine success’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.i-know-how-good-alpine-can-become-says-new-team-principal-szafnauer-after.27Y1TMFue237AhSYavfPT3.html

Fifth place the minimum target for 2022 – Alpine
by Fergal Walsh
22 Feb 2022, 09:18

Alpine has set its minimum target for the 2022 Formula 1 season as fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship, according to its Chief Executive Officer Laurent Rossi.

“So far, we have hit our targets and we are happy with the progress we are showing, but we have to be realistic that this year all the cards are thrown in the air.

“We don’t know where we are going to be until we all hit the track. However, what we all need to bear in mind is that where we start isn’t important; it’s where we finish.

‘It’s where Alpine A522 finish’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/22/fifth-place-the-minimum-target-for-2022-alpine/

Alpine make positive prediction for 2022 Formula 1 campaign
By George Dagless
Published: 22 Feb 2022, 13:20

What matters most, though, is how it looks against the stopwatch and, speaking at the launch event in Paris yesterday, Alpine’s technical director Matt Harman explained that the team is feeling confident over potential gains thanks to a rethink with their entire power unit.

“We did a full review of this area of the car and we decided to change the architecture of that power unit extensively in all areas, including the internal combustion engine, the ERS system, the turbo and its positioning in the car.

“That has given us some real gains in terms of our ability to express ourselves aerodynamically and achieve the ultimate lap time of the car.

‘Positive Alpine A522;’

https://www.givemesport.com/87975793-alpine-make-positive-prediction-for-2022-formula-1-campaign

Alpine eyes adding rivals’ best designs to its ‘load of upgrades’
The Race
22/02/2022, 13:22

Alpine has “a load of upgrades” planned for the second pre-season Formula 1 test and opening round in Bahrain and will “try and pick the best pieces” off other cars for future development.

Alpine chief technical officer Pat Fry said: “The first two tests and the early races there’s going to be a massive step in learning.”

“We’ve obviously had our own ideas of what this set of rules means. We’re going to see nine other options of what that is. We’ll try and pick the best pieces out of everything.”

‘Picking the best bit and pieces out of nine other options’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/alpine-eyes-adding-rivals-best-designs-to-its-load-of-upgrades/

New Alpine Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer Extremely Excited For 2022
By Nick Golding
February 22, 2022

Szafnauer is incredibly entering his 24th season in F1, in that time he has seen plenty of technical regulation changes, something which he is very excited about for the upcoming season where the team will be hoping they’ve mastered the A522.

“This time of year is always filled with anticipation and excitement. This season, that is only amplified as Formula 1 heads into a new era. I’m very excited to see the A522 on-track and seeing how we can keep developing the entire package over the course of the season.”

“Right now is a fantastic moment. It’s when the talking stops and the on-track actions take over. Everyone’s hard work has certainly paid off in designing and creating the car. I’m very proud to be joining this team and being part of the transition and future progress.”

‘Alpine A522 extreme excitement’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/new-alpine-team-principal-otmar-szafnauer-extremely-excited-for-2022/

Fortitude

23rd February 2022, 05:50

Alpine’s Pat Fry: “It’s going to be interesting to see the ten different versions of the cars”.
“The key area for this year for every team is getting the most from the floor”
By Paul Hensby
February 22, 2022

“Of course, we’re all looking forward to seeing the A522 on track and seeing all the hard work at Enstone and Viry over the last couple of years come to fruition.”

“I strongly expect there to be many differences between the cars, especially at first when we see for the very first time how we’ve all interpreted the rule book,” he concluded. “Some parts are fairly set such as the rear wing and the front wing.

“I’m sure there will be some interesting concepts that we’ll see from other teams, which we’ll assess back at base after the tests and, equally, that will work vice versa. The intrigue is all part of the excitement when you roll out of the garage for the first time at testing.

‘Ten different versions of the cars’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/alpines-pat-fry-its-going-to-be-interesting-to-see-the-ten-different-versions-of-the-cars/

Five big questions ahead of the Barcelona F1 test
22/02/2022, ‎20‎:‎00
Author Tom Leach

Pre-season testing is almost upon us. At 08:00 GMT on Wednesday morning, 23 February, Formula 1 cars will hit the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the first of six four-hour sessions over a three-day period.

RacingNews365.com looks ahead to what promises to be a revealing Barcelona test with five big questions.

Which teams have cracked the code of F1's new regulations?

Will fewer testing days have a lasting impact?

Who will get the early edge in the teammate battles?

Can anyone match Mercedes in the engine stakes?

Have F1's new regulations delivered?

‘Five big questions’;

https://racingnews365.com/five-big-questions-ahead-of-the-barcelona-f1-test

Barcelona pre-season test: Day 1 driver line-up
by Motorsport Week

This week’s three-day test is running at Spanish Grand Prix venue the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with track activity due to take place from 09:00 to 13:00, and from 14:00 to 18:00.

Each team is permitted to field one car on each day; some teams will run only one driver each day while others will split duties between their regular racers.

‘Day 1 driver line-up’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/23/barcelona-pre-season-test-day-1-driver-line-up/

The big talking points as F1 rivals get back on track
By Luke Slater and Uche Amako
February 23, 2022 — 11.30am

Formula One testing is in Barcelona for the next three days, and while a Mercedes rivalry will be in the spotlight, there are plenty more subplots ahead of the 2022 F1 season.

Can George Russell fire a warning to Lewis Hamilton?

Mercedes’ decision to focus on 2022 could be justified

Are Red Bull on the back foot?

Ferrari could finally produce a title-contending car again

Expect Daniel Ricciardo to make a faster start than he did last year

Aston Martin and Alpine - big investment, but are they faster?

Will McLaren’s 2015 nightmare be revisited

Speed difference

‘Big talking points’;

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/the-big-talking-points-as-f1-rivals-get-back-on-track-20220223-p59yxe.html

F1 2022 cars: From Mercedes to Red Bull, what we know about every new Formula 1 car ahead of testing
By Sam Cooper
February 22, 2022 2:06 pm

With nine out of 10 teams having unveiled the product of their hard work, here is what we have learned ahead of the new season:

Teams have taken a wildly different approach to car design

We still do not know exactly how each team’s car will look

Predicting the early frontrunners is a tough ask

‘The known variables’;

https://inews.co.uk/sport/formula-one/f1-2022-cars-new-formula-1-car-testing-mercedes-red-bull-1475079?ITO=newsnow

5 things to watch for when 2022 pre-season running begins in Barcelona

Staff writer
Greg Stuart
22 February 2022

We’re pretty much done and dusted with the 2022 launch season, and now it’s time for all 10 teams to hit the track for three days of pre-season running. Here’s what to watch for at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as this year’s on-track action gets under way.

1. A new era of F1 begins

2. Who’s showing their true hand – and who’s sandbagging?

3. Will any team have reliability issues?

4. New and returning faces

5. Will teams practice following another car?

‘Watching and observing’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.5-things-to-watch-for-when-2022-pre-season-running-begins-in-barcelona.6QwR0TGIUaif5Xo1ADfdks.html

F1 pre-season testing: Six big 2022 questions to be answered in Barcelona
Daniel AustinTuesday 22 Feb 2022 12:35 pm

Despite its peculiar billing as a mere ‘shakedown’, this is a pre-season test in all but name, with teams engaging in three days’ worth of running across Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Each squad will run one car in Barcelona, with drivers splitting their time in the cockpit with their respective team-mates.

Though some media will be able to attend the Barcelona test, the event will not be broadcast live, so fans will only be able to follow the action and glean information via photography and reports. That doesn’t meant that we won’t learn plenty, though, before the second formal test takes place in Bahrain on 10-12 March.

These are six big questions we could find out answers to from this week’s test.
Can cars really follow each other more closely?

Are the lap times much slower than last season?

How big is the new tyre visibility problem?

Why has the Alfa Romeo not been launched yet?

What is really going with Red Bull’s aero package?

Is the Alpine engine reliable?

‘Six BIG questions’;

https://metro.co.uk/2022/02/22/f1-pre-season-testing-six-big-2022-questions-to-be-answered-in-barcelona-16147971/?ito=newsnow-feed

Fortitude

23rd February 2022, 06:11

What to expect from F1’s first pre-season test at Barcelona?
Despite considerable interest surrounding the new cars, the first time they will run on track together will be behind closed doors with no live timing or television coverage.
F1
Lewis Larkam
22 Feb 2022

With no fans in attendance, F1 is treating the 23-25 February test as effectively being an extended shakedown session, before a second three-day event in Bahrain - which will be broadcast - takes place between 10-12 March.

‘Shakedown behind closed doors’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/996753/1/what-expect-f1-s-first-preseason-test-barcelona

Barcelona running to conclude with wet tyre test
Date published: February 22 2022 - Jon Wilde

Each team will be allowed to use 30 sets of tyres over the three days from an allocation of 35 slicks, three intermediates and three wets.

The latter are to be used on the final half-day, Friday afternoon, when the circuit will be dampened artificially if necessary. That will not happen though if it has rained earlier in the week and the wet tyres have already had to be rolled out.

‘Wet tyre test’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/barcelona-test-conclude-wet-tyres/

Test line-up for Barcelona
NEWS STORY
22/02/2022

Ahead of the opening three-day test, only Ferrari and Alpine have yet to confirm their line-ups.

While there is talk of sandbagging this is unlikely to be the case, for with the focus on reliability outright pace won't be an issue until Bahrain.

One thing F1 bosses will be hoping for however is an early clue as to whether the aero regulations overhaul has impacted the whole issue of dirty air, and whether cars will not be able to follow one another more closely.

‘Early clues’;

https://www.pitpass.com/71848/Test-line-up-for-Barcelona

All 20 Formula One drivers return to action for first time since Abu Dhabi controversy at PRIVATE pre-season testing event in Barcelona this week - but with no live TV coverage, no fans and new regulations changing the game, NOBODY knows what to expect
By Kieran Jackson For Mailonline
Published: 19:03, 22 February 2022

• F1 pre-season testing gets underway over three days in Barcelona this week

• It marks the first chance for the drivers to get to grips with their brand new cars

• New regulations should trigger improved wheel-to-wheel racing this season

• Lewis Hamilton is back on the track alongside his fellow competitors for the first time since the controversial end to the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi

• With no fans, no live lap times and no live TV, there is a big sense of the unknown

‘The Unknown’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10538579/F1-knows-expect-20-drivers-return-pre-season-testing-Barcelona.html

How to follow the Barcelona F1 test live
‎21‎ ‎February‎ ‎16‎:‎40
Author RacingNews365 Staff

Where can I watch the F1 test days live?
Unfortunately for fans, the first pre-season test in Barcelona is taking place behind closed doors, with no live television coverage.

However, you can stay up to date with all the goings-on in our aforementioned daily live blogs, which will feature the latest lap times, developments and updates from the paddock, along with detailed reports for the morning and afternoon sessions.

‘Live Blogs’;

https://racingnews365.com/how-to-follow-the-barcelona-f1-test-live

FORMULA 1 - TESTING SCHEDULE
FORMULA 1 PRE-SEASON TRACK SESSION 2022

Get up to speed with everything you need to know about 2022's pre-season track session, which takes place at the 4.675-kilometre Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya - home of the Spanish Grand Prix - over three days on February 23-25, in preparation for this year’s official pre-season test in Bahrain on March 10-12.

‘Using the links you can find the full track schedule, plus the latest news headlines, circuit information and daily reports’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2022/Pre-Season-Track-Session.html

Fortitude

23rd February 2022, 14:41

Hamilton checks out Red Bull RB18’s radical sidepods.
The RB18 features a striking undercut on the sidepods as well as a narrow inlet, a concept that is very different to anyone else’s.
Date published: February 23 2022 - Michelle Foster

Weeks after unveiling a show car instead of the real deal, Red Bull’s RB18 is in the public eye for the first time in pre-season testing.

Red Bull was one of the first teams to launch their 2022 championship but, instead of a genuine car, they gave us a show car.

The team said at the time that they did not want to let their rivals in on their secrets, keeping their cards – and their car – close to the chest.

‘Red Bull RB18 a concept that is very different to anyone else’s’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bulls-radical-rb18-and-its-undercut-sidepods/

Red Bull uncovers radical RB18 at Barcelona test
by Fergal Walsh
23/02/2022, 09:43

Red Bull’s 2022 Formula 1 car, the RB18, made its first appearance at the pre-season shakedown in Barcelona on Wednesday.
The energy drink-backed squad held a launch for the car earlier this month, however its livery was revealed on a show car produced by F1.
Red Bull conducted a shakedown of the car at Silverstone ahead of pre-season testing, but no imagery of the run was made public.

‘Radical RB18’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/23/red-bull-rb18-f1-car-breaks-cover-in-barcelona/

Ted Kravitz expresses excitement at Red Bull's 'super impressive' new car
By George Dagless
Published: 23 Feb 2022, 10:37

Sky’s Ted Kravitz has been left hugely impressed with the design, saying the car as a whole looks like the best of what everyone else has done all combined:

‘That [Red Bull] car has all the bells and whistles on it that we’ve seen as ideas cropped up in individual form on every other car in the pit lane. It’s got the low nose, it’s got the little main flap of the front wing that’s detached from the nose, it’s got the little hole that Ferrari have, it’s got the sculpted side pods of the Mercedes, it’s got all the tricks that we’ve seen individually on each car, on one car,” Kravitz said to Sky.

‘RB18 Bells and Whistles’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87976178-ted-kravitz-expresses-excitement-at-red-bulls-super-impressive-new-car

Max Verstappen offers first thoughts after taking new Red Bull for a spin during Formula 1 test
By George Dagless
Published: 23 Feb 2022, 11:55

After the run, he had this to say in terms of his early thoughts on the RB18.
“We got our first impression of the RB18 at our filming day last week and the car looks good. The rules are very different this year and so it is nice to get your first few laps in and get a feel for it.”
“I don’t have any aims for the season yet, I just want to rock up to the track and try and do the best I can, like I do every single year. If the car is quick, I am sure we can do a very good job again.”

‘Max Verstappen’s first thoughts’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87976236-max-verstappen-offers-first-thoughts-after-taking-new-red-bull-for-a-spin-during-formula-1-test

Leclerc leads Norris as F1 2022 pre-season testing begins
23/02/2022
By Matt Beer

Ferrari was fastest on a smooth opening morning of 2022 Formula 1 pre-season testing as the new rules era began at Barcelona.

Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ new recruit George Russell swapped the top spot through the morning, with the Ferrari on top with a 1m20.165s set on the mid-range C3 compound tyres when the field paused for the lunchbreak.

Lando Norris managed to split them with a late lap in the McLaren, just over three tenths of a second down on Leclerc and a similar margin in front of Russell.

‘Formula 1 pre-season testing as the new rules era began’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/leclerc-leads-norris-as-f1-2022-pre-season-testing-begins/

Leclerc tops first F1 test session of new era
Sam Hall
Wednesday 23 February 2022 12:10

Charles Leclerc has topped the order in the first F1 session of 2022 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The new era of F1 began in earnest at the Spanish Grand Prix venue and it was Ferrari that struck the first blow with a time of one minute 20.165secs.

F1 WEDNESDAY MORNING RESULTS
1 - Leclerc - Ferrari: 1:20.165 [80 laps] 2 - Norris - McLaren: 1:20.474 [50 laps] 3 - Russell - Mercedes: 1:20.784 [77 laps] 4 - Vettel - Aston Martin: 1:21.276 [52 laps] 5 - Tsunoda - AlphaTauri: 1:21.638 [43 laps] 6 - Verstappen - Red Bull: 1:22.246 [80 laps] 7 - Alonso - Alpine: 1:23.317 [54 laps] 8 - Latifi - Williams: 1:23.379 [66 laps] 9 - Mazepin - Haas: 1:24.505 [20 laps] 10 - Kubica - Alfa Romeo: 1:25.909 [9 laps] 11 - Schumacher - Haas: NO TIME SET

‘‘New era F1’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/76351/leclerc-tops-first-f1-test-session-of-new-era/

Fortitude

23rd February 2022, 19:18

Barcelona Test: Norris leads Ferrari, Mercedes on busy Day 1.
The McLaren driver was first on track in the morning and would post a 1m19.568s in the afternoon on the C4 Pirelli tyres, the second-softest in the range, putting him six-tenths clear of the field.
Ben Issatt

23 February 2022

Ferrari's new F1-75 has made a stir ever since it was launched, and the early signs are positive as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished P2 and P3 on the C3 tyre, which was the most common compound used.

The Scuderia also racked up the most laps, managing 153 laps of the Spanish Grand Prix circuit between their drivers.

Mercedes sat as the third quickest team with fourth-placed George Russell's morning best of 1m20.784s a tenth quicker than teammate Lewis Hamilton, who ran after lunch.

‘Busy Day 1’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15201-barcelona-test-norris-leads-ferrari-mercdes-on-busy-day-1

Reigning champion Verstappen encouraged by Red Bull reliability after mega stint on Day 1 in Spain
23 February 2022

Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen donned the #1 on his brand new Red Bull RB18 as he clocked nearly 150 laps on the first day of pre-season running in Barcelona – and that reliability saw him leave the opening day with a smile.

Asked about the RB18, which took a completely different form than when the livery was revealed earlier in the month, he said: "Oh yes, it’s completely different, but I think it looks good – but at the end of the day, what’s the most important is that it’s fast, so that’s what we’re trying to see.”

"Everything was working quite well today so it’s a good start and yes, of course then I will look into what we can do tomorrow. Of course, Checo [Perez] is driving tomorrow, but it’s just about doing a lot of laps and just getting a bit of mileage on all the parts to see if everything is holding up."

‘Red Bull Reliability after Mega Stint’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.reigning-champion-verstappen-encouraged-by-red-bull-reliability-after-mega.1TF7OUs96q7UCCEucUG8rJ.html

The first losers in F1 2022’s pre-season battle
The Race
23/02/2022, 18:37

Alfa Romeo’s new Formula 1 signing Valtteri Bottas admits his team had a “compromised” first day of pre-season testing in Barcelona, while fellow Ferrari customer Haas didn’t fare much better.

Bottas took over from reserve driver Robert Kubica after the mid-day break, but the pair would combine for just 32 laps in the camouflage-liveried Alfa

It was the lowest tally recorded during the day and was only just over a fifth of what the day’s most prolific team in terms of mileage – its supplier Ferrari – managed.

‘Compromised First Day’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-first-losers-in-f1-2022s-pre-season-battle/

Cooling Leak, Damaged Floor Affect Haas on Opening Day of Testing
By Paul Hensby
February 23, 2022

Pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya did not start the way the Uralkali Haas F1 Team were hoping for as they completed only forty-three laps across the eight hours of running on Wednesday.

A cooling leak during the morning session meant Nikita Mazepin could only manage twenty laps on board the VF-22, leaving him down in fifteenth place of the sixteen drivers to take to the track, but the Russian says it is important for them to get significant running in on Thursday to catch up.

Mick Schumacher took over the car in the afternoon, but repairs to a damaged floor left him able to complete only twenty-three laps, with Haas one of only two teams not to break through the one-hundred lap bracket alongside Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN.

‘Haas Cooling Leak and Damaged Floor’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/cooling-leak-damaged-floor-affect-haas-on-opening-day-of-testing/

Gary Anderson: The old ground effect obstacle facing F1 teams
23/02/2022, 15:03
By Gary Anderson

One of the main surprises of Formula 1’s 2022 pre-season test so far is the amount of porpoising the cars are suffering from.

It wasn’t visible in the simulations for the majority of teams, but most of them are struggling with it now their cars have hit the real-life circuit.

Porpoising isn’t a new problem, in fact, it was quite the challenge back in the old days of ground effect F1 cars, and now on the first day of pre-season testing here at Barcelona, it seems some teams are having similar problems.

‘Ground Effect Porpoising’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-the-old-ground-effect-obstacle-facing-f1-teams/

F1 – Norris quickest on day one of pre-season testing as new era of F1 gets underway in Barcelona
FIA Press Release.
23.02.22, 18:37

Lando Norris went quickest on the opening day of testing in Barcelona as Formula 1’s new era got underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The McLaren driver ended the session more than half a second clear of the Ferrari cars of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Formula 1 Pre-Season Test Barcelona – Day One
1 Lando Norris McLaren 1:19.568 103
2 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:20.165 +0.597s 80
3 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:20.416 +0.848s 73
4 George Russell Mercedes 1:20.784 +1.216s 77
5 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:20.929 +1.361s 50
6 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin 1:21.276 +1.708s 52
7 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri 1:21.638 +2.070s 121
8 Fernando Alonso Alpine 1:21.746 +2.178s 127
9 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:22.246 +2.678s 147
10 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo 1:22.572 +3.004s 23
11 Alex Albon Williams 1:22.327 +3.192s 67
12 Mick Schumacher Haas 1:22.926 +3.358s 23
13 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1:23.327 +3.759s 67
14 Nicholas Latifi Williams 1:23.327 +3.759s 66
15 Nikita Mazepin Haas 1:24.505 +4.937s 20
16 Robert Kubica Alfa Romeo 1:25.909 +6.341s 9

‘FIA Review’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-norris-quickest-day-one-pre-season-testing-new-era-f1-gets-underway-barcelona

The ‘curiosity’ sparked by the dawn of F1’s fascinating new era
F1
Lewis Larkam
23 Feb 2022

The fascination surrounding the opening day of Formula 1 pre-season testing was typified by Lewis Hamilton stalking the pitlane as proceedings kicked off on Wednesday morning.

While his new Mercedes teammate George Russell was getting the first opportunity to drive the W13 at Barcelona, Hamilton spent time eyeing up the competition during a wander through the pitlane.

Hamilton spent time observing all the cars but was particularly interested in Red Bull’s radical new challenger as he paused outside reigning Max Verstappen’s garage.

‘F1 ‘curiousity’ for Hamilton’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/996823/1/curiosity-sparked-dawn-f1-s-new-era

Fortitude

24th February 2022, 07:36

Five early pointers on F1’s radical new cars from the first day of testing.
While it’s far too early to draw conclusions about who’s quick and who isn’t, we’ve already gleaned the first details about F1’s bold new era.
2022 F1 season
Posted on
23rd February 2022, 22:3323rd February 2022, 23:27 | Written by Keith Collantine

The first day of testing is over, and five more remain, after which we may have learned a lot more about F1’s exciting new era.

Same problem, different solutions

Early performance predictions were way off

Slow is slower, quick is quicker

The jury is still out on overtaking

This is not a test

‘Five early pointers’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/23/five-early-pointers-on-f1s-radical-new-cars-from-the-first-day-of-testing/

Analysis: The 2022 cars are slower, but at the same time, quicker
by Ryan Wood
23 Feb 2022, 21:44

Unfortunately you can’t read too much into testing, especially not the timesheet – if you bet on that order you’re almost guaranteed to lose. The only indicator on the timesheet that provides some insight is the amount of laps a team completes during the day.

We can’t say at this moment in time which cars looked the most planted, we didn’t get the chance to witness them all, but we can safely say they remain very impressive machines.

Something else of note was the fact cars were seen following one another closely. Again it’s too early to say whether the new rules have had their intended effect, by allowing cars to follow closely without losing downforce, but the first signs appear bright as they were noticeably able to remain close through corners with little sliding.

‘Follow Closely, Little Sliding’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/23/analysis-the-2022-cars-are-slower-but-at-the-same-time-quicker/

‘Surprisingly Straightforward’ Opening Testing Day for Mercedes in Spain – Shovlin
By Paul Hensby
February 23, 2022

Andrew Shovlin, the Trackside Engineering Director at Mercedes, admitted the day was ‘surprisingly straightforward’ as the W13 proved to be reliable, although the same could be said for many of the teams on the opening day of testing.

Shovlin says the limited testing available to teams – they have just six days in total before the season begins in earnest next month in Bahrain – so it is important to maximise the time they have on track and learn as much as they can as early as they can, particularly with the new aero regulations coming into effect this season.

‘‘Maximise the time’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/surprisingly-straightforward-opening-testing-day-for-mercedes-in-spain-shovlin/

“We’ve spent a long time preparing for this moment” – Fernando Alonso
By Nick Golding
February 23, 2022

Alonso was the sole driver for Alpine on the opening day of the official shakedown, the Spaniard got to grips with the A522 at his home circuit, completing a very impressive 129 laps. The Double World Champion also got the opportunity to be the first of the team’s drivers to test their new RE22 power unit. Alonso thoroughly enjoyed his first day back after the winter break and is incredibly proud of what Alpine have achieved.

“The feedback from Fernando was good” – Alpine’s Matt Harman

Alpine Technical Director, Matt Harman, like Alonso was very proud to see the A522 finally out on track, after two and a half long years of preparation ahead of this year’s dramatic technical regulation changes. Harmann was pleased with the overall reliability of the car on the opening day and is excited to see Esteban Ocon behind the wheel on Thursday.

‘Impressive 129 laps’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/weve-spent-a-long-time-preparing-for-this-moment-fernando-alonso/

'Most important thing is the car is fast', says happy Max
Andrew Lewin23/02/2022 at 20:09

There were no complaints about his new company car from world champion Max Verstappen, who completed a whopping 147 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on the first day of pre-season testing in 2022.

Red Bull's head of race engineering Guillaume Rocquelin said that today's endurance run had met all their expectations. "Today went really well for the team. We gave ourselves the optimistic target of 700km and we finished around three laps short of that, which for the first day of testing is quite unusual.

‘A whopping 147 laps’;

https://f1i.com/news/432889-most-important-thing-is-the-car-is-fast-says-happy-max.html

Winners and losers after the first day of F1's Barcelona test
23/02/2022, ‎21‎:‎10
Author Tom Leach

Who have been the big winners and losers from the first day of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya?

Winner: Red Bull and Verstappen
Winner: McLaren and Norris
Winner: F1's biggest teams

Loser: Haas and Schumacher
Loser: Alfa Romeo

https://racingnews365.com/winners-and-losers-after-the-first-day-of-f1s-barcelona-test

Ted's Notebook: Testing Day 1
23 Feb 2022, 20:54

Ted Kravitz recaps all the stories from the opening day of Formula 1's first pre-season test from Barcelona.

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/12549827/teds-notebook-testing-day-1

Fortitude

24th February 2022, 10:16

2022 pre-season testing day two in pictures
Pictures from the second day of testing for the 2022 F1 season at the Circuit de Catalunya.
24th February 2022, 9:3524th February 2022, 9:39 | Written by Keith Collantine

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/24/2022-pre-season-testing-day-two-in-pictures/

Lewis Hamilton takes to the track as an early pace-setter on day two of F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona... as defending champion Max Verstappen gets the day off from Red Bull with Sergio Perez flying solo
By Nathan Salt For Mailonline
Published: 08:42, 24 February 2022

• Day two of Formula One's pre-season testing is underway over in Barcelona
• Max Verstappen has the day off after punching in 147 laps on Wednesday
• Lewis Hamilton came out for a quick three laps as teams check aerodynamics
• Multiple drivers emerged with 'aero rakes' on their cars to monitor performance

‘Day two early pacer’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10546447/Lewis-Hamilton-takes-track-early-pace-setter-day-two-F1-pre-season-testing.html

Mark Hughes: Verstappen’s Button-esque new driving style
Feb 24 2022
By Mark Hughes

Gone were the high-energy acrobatics through the slow corners and the generally aggressive body language of his high-rake Red Bull of old.

In the new super-low-rake car, he was driving like a more extreme version of Jenson Button!

Incredibly smooth, early on the brakes, but early on the power too, super-smooth steering inputs. It’s as if he had developed a special style – in the simulator? – predicated upon maximising the effectiveness of the powerful new underfloor venturi tunnels.

‘Verstappen Button-esque’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mark-hughes-verstappens-button-esque-new-driving-style/

F1 Testing: Who will go fastest on day two in Barcelona?
24th Feb 2022, 10:07

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/12550149/f1-testing-who-will-go-fastest-on-day-two-in-barcelona

Lando Norris aims to play down McLaren expectations after day 1 test success
By George Dagless
Published: 24 Feb 2022, 09:02

McLaren driver Lando Norris has sought to play down expectations after topping the timesheets on day one of Formula 1 testing on Wednesday in Barcelona. He’s urged caution over expectations, though, and rather amusingly suggested he’d rather have not come first as it only increases hopes at a stage of the year where nothing can really be knowingly predicted.

“I can be happy enough, but today is not about lap time.”

“I don’t care if I’m first or last. If anything it’s worse if you’re first as everyone thinks we’re amazingly fast, which I don’t really reckon we are. But no, I think a good day in terms of the laps and the program.”

‘McLaren Caution’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87976531-lando-norris-aims-to-play-down-mclaren-expectations-after-day-1-test-success

Fortitude

24th February 2022, 16:15

First Red Flag of 2022 in F1, Perez Stopped on the Barcelona Track.
2022 F1 pre-season testing has begun in Barcelona. The track has seen McLaren doing well, while Red Bull’s Sergio Perez stopping on the same circuit meant a red flag had to be waved – this year’s first.
24 Feb 2022, 14:11 UTC ·
by Florin Amariei

Honda previously said it might encounter some issues with the E10 fuel, but the cause of a sudden loss of power hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Formula 1 said in a press statement that both World Champion Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez would be able to get back on the track in Barcelona on Thursday afternoon, after Red Bull Racing has flown new parts in Spain.

‘Some issues with the E10 fuel’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/first-red-flag-of-2022-in-f1-perez-stopped-on-the-barcelona-track-182488.html

Second red flag interrupts F1 testing action
Thursday afternoon's test session in Barcelona has been interrupted by another red flag.
‎24‎ ‎February‎ ‎14‎:‎26
Author Thomas Maher

With 90 minutes gone in the afternoon, Nikita Mazepin brought out the red flags as he ground to a halt in the third sector of the lap.

The Russian driver had completed just nine laps of the circuit at the time of the stoppage. Haas have confirmed that Mazepin stopped as a result of a damaged fuel pump on his VF-22.

‘Damaged Fuel Pump’;

https://racingnews365.com/second-red-flag-interrupts-f1-testing-action

Ricciardo fastest in F1 Barcelona testing
Ian ChadbandAAP
Thu, 24 February 2022 10:35PM

Daniel Ricciardo was all smiles after setting the early pace on the second morning of Formula One pre-season testing.

Just as his British teammate Lando Norris had led the timesheets after the opening day, Australian Ricciardo followed up by being quickest in the new McLaren through the first session on Thursday.

Ferrari also impressed, with Carlos Sainz second fastest behind Ricciardo's best of 1min 20.355sec.

‘Ricciardo fastest’;

https://thewest.com.au/sport/motorsport/ricciardo-fastest-in-f1-barcelona-testing-c-5830538

Christian Horner delivers positive update on new Red Bull car's performance
By George Dagless
Published: 24 Feb 2022, 13:09

Of course, it’s early days and testing is only a vague barometer of performance for the rest of the season but Horner seems happy enough with what he has heard from his drivers in the embryonic stages of F1 2022:

”I think the team have done a wonderful job, obviously balancing the pressures of last year and developing the current car. We don’t know how quick it is, but the initial feedback is positive.”

“It looks different to our competitors but only time will tell if we’ve got it right. Max was happy with the balance this morning. It’s a get to know it process, before they get to work on performance.”

‘Red Bull early days’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87976605-christian-horner-delivers-positive-update-on-new-red-bull-cars-performance

VERSTAPPEN SET TO CONTINUE HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH RED BULL
Lena Ferle
24/02/2022, 14:07

According to De Telegraaf, this contract could not only be extended until 2025 or 2026 but even into the new engine era.

Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, is understood to have flown to Graz to negotiate the contract with Helmut Marko before the tests in Barcelona.

Marko himself announced last month that Verstappen’s earnings are already at the limit of what Red Bull can pay.

‘Max Verstappen contract’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/verstappen-set-to-continue-his-partnership-with-red-bull/

Hamilton comments on Ferrari at test
February 24, 2022 · by thejudge13

Reported by L’Equipe in France, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the performance of the Scuderia at the moment.

“We have no idea where everyone stands. It’s exciting.

“For the Scuderia, they said last year that they were going to focus on this season. So we’ll see if they’re seven months ahead of the competition or not,” said the Mercedes driver.

‘Seven months ahead?’;

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/24/hamilton-comments-on-ferrari-at-test/

Teams underestimated F1 2022’s ‘porpoising’ problem – Ferrari
Feb 24 2022
By Valentin Khorounzhiy

Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Mattia Binotto believes the porpoising issue encountered by many of the teams with their new ground-effect 2022 cars has been widely “underestimated” and won’t be an easy fix.

Asked about the issue during a Thursday team bosses’ press conference, Binotto acknowledged: “I think that most of us at least underestimated the problem by where we are on track we are bouncing more than expected.

“We knew certainly that the ground [effect] situation would be different. It’s a learning process.

‘Poirpoising learning process’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/teams-underestimated-f1-2022s-porpoising-problem-ferrari/

Fortitude

24th February 2022, 19:04

Ferrari "nowhere near the limit" despite table-topping pace.
Carlos Sainz has warned Ferrari is "nowhere near the limit" despite team-mate Charles Leclerc topping the order on day two of F1 pre-season testing in Spain.
Sam Hall & Ian Parkes
Thursday 24 February 2022 17:45 - Updated: 17:49

Despite the promising early signs for the Scuderia, Sainz refused to get carried away and issued a caution to the team's rivals.

“It was a good start in terms of reliability," said the Spaniard. "We managed to complete testing so far without a single issue which is an encouraging start for us. This is what we are here for in Barcelona.

Going one step further, Sainz refused to even categorise the opening two days as "a "good start", instead declaring it "normal because we didn’t have any single problem so far and I managed to do a whole run plan".

‘Table-topping Scuderia’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/76476/ferrari-nowhere-near-the-limit-despite-table-topping-pace/

Mercedes ‘definitely behind’ two rival F1 teams at the moment
The Race
24 Feb 2022, 18:10

New Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell believes his team is “definitely behind” rivals Ferrari and McLaren after two days of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

“We’re seeing some interesting things out there,” Russell said. “That’s what testing is for. Some teams are looking pretty fast, a red team [Ferrari] and an orange team [McLaren] in particular look very, very competitive.”
“Let’s see what tomorrow brings and what we can do between this test and Bahrain.”

‘A red team and an orange team look very, very competitive’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes-definitely-behind-two-rival-f1-teams-at-the-moment/

F1 2022 car porpoising a ‘safety concern’ at its worst
24/02/2022, 18:31
By Scott Mitchell

Grand Prix Drivers Association director George Russell says some of the car porpoising seen in Formula 1 testing would be a “safety concern” if it goes unaddressed.

Mercedes driver Russell said this is one of the factors contributing to a “really intriguing” pre-season test, where this phenomenon has surprised teams as they could not simulate it in advance.

“We didn’t experience it too much for one reason or another,” said Russell. “It’s not very pleasant at all and from what I’ve seen from other teams in particular it would be a safety concern.”

‘Porpoising a ‘safety concern’ at its worst’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/f1-2022-car-porpoising-a-safety-concern-at-its-worst/

Gallery: Day 2 of Formula 1 testing at Barcelona
by Ryan Wood
24/02/2022, 17:45

We’re officially two-thirds of the way through the first Formula 1 pre-season test, with just one day remaining. Charles Leclerc was fastest on day two, despite a small excursion through the gravel. Check out the best images from the day.

‘Formula 1 Gallery’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/24/gallery-day-2-of-formula-1-testing-at-barcelona/

Formula 1: All 10 teammate battles ranked from #10 to #1
by Ian Higgins
24/02/2022, 17:45

With some expectations already set from the 2021 Formula 1 season, which intra-team battles could boil over and become the headline of 2022?

Last season, teammate rivalries with genuine friction were hard to come across in the competitive portion of the grid, with only Ferrari’s combination of “golden child” Charles Leclerc and quick-adapter Carlos Sainz consistently finding themselves on the same pieces of track come Sunday.

With that being said, which teams on the 2022 Formula 1 grid should expect collaboration from their drivers and who should prepare for mutually assured destruction between unforgiving competitors?

‘Collaboration or Mutual Destruction?’;

https://beyondtheflag.com/2022/02/24/formula-1-ranking-10-teammate-battles-2022/

Meanwhile in Barcelona
Posted on February 24, 2022 by Joe Saward

The big news in Barcelona came this evening when Haas announced that it will run a white car tomorrow, without Uralkali branding and without the livery as previously seen. This is quite significant in the circumstances.

The key point is that Ferrari has now completed 303 laps, which is considerably more than everyone else. AlphaTauri has done 268, Alpine 252, Aston Martin 248, Williams 240, Mercedes 233, McLaren 229 and Red Bull 225, while Haas (151) and Alfa Romeo (124) are still lagging behind.

‘White car branding’;

https://joesaward.wordpress.com/2022/02/24/meanwhile-in-barcelona/

We underestimated the porpoising problem, says Binotto
NEWS STORY
24/02/2022

While it was mainly Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes that was affected by the phenomenon on Wednesday, a number of teams were also compromised by the process by which the car bounces on its suspension as it momentarily loses downforce then gains it again as the flow of air going underneath the car stalls at a certain speed, and as a result have made changes to their floors overnight.

Nonetheless, Mattia Binotto admits the teams should have been prepared for the possibility and have underestimated the threat. "I think most of us at least underestimated the problem, in terms of being on track and bouncing more than expected," he said.

"When you're setting these cars up with the ground effect floor, the situation it's different. It's a learning process," he added.

‘Mercedes Porpoising Compromise’;

https://www.pitpass.com/71867/We-underestimated-the-porpoising-problem-says-Binotto

Fortitude

25th February 2022, 08:39

‘Orange and red cars’ take early lead in 2022.
Mercedes and Red Bull do not appear to be the early pacesetters as the Formula 1 teams begin testing their all-new cars for the radically different 2022 era.
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 25, 2022

When told that McLaren looks like an early title favourite, team boss Andreas Seidl pointed to the Ferrari motorhome: “I see them a bit ahead at the moment.”

In fact, Carlos Sainz was so comfortable with his Ferrari that he admits to “deliberately” driving behind his countryman Fernando Alonso to see if following another car is easier in 2022.

When asked if Red Bull is concerned it hasn’t produced an instant race winner for the new era, Christian Horner answered: “It’s still early in development.

‘Orange and red cars’;

https://grandpx.news/orange-and-red-cars-take-early-lead-in-2022/

Who was ‘tidy’ and who looked ‘strange’? Gary Anderson trackside
25/02/2022, 06:22
By Gary Anderson

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to see Formula 1 cars built to all kinds of regulations, including the first generation of ground effect cars in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Having focused on the cars from a technical perspective on the first day of testing, I was able to watch these new cars from trackside for the first time both in the morning and afternoon sessions.

One of the things I was looking out for today was the porpoising that has become a big talking point. This is when the rear of underfloor gets too low to the ground at high speed and effectively stalls, leading to the rear end rising as the aero load disappears and creating a kind of oscillation in the car.

The AlphaTauri is one that stands out as just looking tidy.

Of the usual frontrunners, the Mercedes did look a bit strange. Watching through Turns 7-8, the left-right at the bottom of the hill up to Campsa, the car seemed to wander and be a little imprecise at the front end.

‘Gary Anderson’s main impressions’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/who-was-tidy-and-who-looked-strange-gary-anderson-trackside/

Charles Leclerc: “Our aim is to drive as many kilometres as we can”
By Paul Hensby
February 24, 2022

After ending day one second fastest on Wednesday, Charles Leclerc went to the top of the timing screens on Thursday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and the Monegasque racer was delighted to get significant mileage on his F1-75.

The Scuderia Ferrari driver set a best lap of 1:19.689 in the afternoon session and completed seventy-nine laps of the Spanish track, although he acknowledges ending fastest means very little at this stage of testing. He did suffer a small spin but was able to keep the car going and did not lose any track time.

Team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr. started the day in the car and was equally pleased with his day, with the Spaniard ending fifth fastest overall.

However, Sainz was happier to get another seventy-one laps in the books and work through their programme more than the lap times, and he continues to grow in confidence behind the wheel of the F1-75.

‘Growing confidence behind the wheel of the F1-75’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/charles-leclerc-our-aim-is-to-drive-as-many-kilometres-as-we-can/

Red Bull: Checo’s feedback pretty much the same as Max’s
Jad Mallak
24 February, 2022

Red Bull’s second day of Formula 1 testing at Barcelona was not as smooth as their first, but at least their drivers’ feedback on the RB18 is identical.

Sergio Perez got the chance to driver the team’s new RB18 on Thursday, but could not match Max Verstappen‘s tally of 147 laps achieved on the previous day, as the Mexican suffered from gearbox issues that curtailed his running to only 78 laps with a best time of 1:21.430 putting him seventh on the time screens.
Red Bull however, do not seem worried about their gearbox niggle, but were happy with Perez’s settling-in with the new car. Guillaume Rocquelin, Head of Race Engineering said of the day: “Checo got up to speed pretty quickly this morning and his feedback is pretty much the same as Max’s, which means we know where we are going and everything is fairly settled.

‘Red Bull know where they are going’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/24/red-bull-checos-feedback-pretty-much-the-same-as-maxs/

Williams Racing Barcelona Test Day Two 2402022
By Andrew Hooper
February 25 2022

The Williams Racing Team would complete their second day of pre-season testing at the Barcelona circuit on a day that saw the team start to push the car more as they continued to explore areas of improvement in the car. There would be some minor issues but despite this both Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi were still able to work through extensive test programs.

As yesterday, both race drivers shared the workload today and both were able to learn from the other. Tomorrow is the final opportunity to exercise the car before we go to Bahrain for the back to back test and race, it should also present us with the first chance to look at the new 2022 wet tyres as Pirelli are planning wet the track tomorrow afternoon.

Cla Driver Laps Time Gap
1 Charles Leclerc 78 1'19.689
2 Pierre Gasly 147 1'19.918 0.229
3 Daniel Ricciardo 126 1'20.288 0.599
4 George Russell 65 1'20.537 0.848
5 Carlos Sainz Jr 71 1'20.546 0.857
6 Sebastian Vettel 73 1'20.784 1.095
7 Sergio Perez 78 1'21.430 1.741
8 Nikita Mazepin 41 1'21.512 1.823
9 Alex Albon 47 1'21.531 1.842
10 Guanyu Zhou 71 1'21.885 2.196
11 Nicholas Latifi 61 1'21.894 2.205
12 Lance Stroll 55 1'21.920 2.231
13 Mick Schumacher 66 1'21.949 2.260
14 Esteban Ocon
125 1'22.164 2.475
15 Valtteri Bottas 21 1'22.288 2.599
16 Lewis Hamilton 40 1'22.562 2.873

‘Williams F1 learning’;

https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st202931.htm

Russell: Mercedes behind Ferrari and McLaren
Jad Mallak
25 February, 2022

A bold statement from the 24-year-old Briton, after only the second day of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Mercedes faced some data logging issues that curtailed Lewis Hamilton’s morning running, as the team struggled with balance, with the seven-time World Champion only dead last in the timing screens (1:22.562), with only 40 laps on the board.

The team’s Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin added: “We had a difficult morning with Lewis, experiencing a data logging issue that delayed our start and in general, we were struggling a bit more with the balance.

“[Mercedes are] certainly not ahead, pretty sure of that,” Russell went on. “We all know that we are on different programmes but we definitely know from the average of all the different runs, we’re behind them at the moment. So let’s wait and see. “The championship’s not won in Barcelona pre-season testing, but it’s certainly been an intriguing two days for now,” Russell insisted.

‘Mercedes Behind’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/25/russell-mercedes-behind-ferrari-and-mclaren/

Ferrari offer their take on F1's 2022 pecking order
24 Feb 2022, ‎21‎:‎30
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Team Principal Mattia Binotto says it is far too early to brand Ferrari's new F1-75 as one of 2022's fastest cars, despite topping the timing tower on day two of pre-season testing in Barcelona.

"I think it is very, very early days," he said, speaking to selected members on the media that included RacingNews365.com. "[All of the teams] are very close, which was one of the objectives of the new regulations. I think it is impressive to see that we are all so close from the start, and we are all looking very different. There are so many different designs and shapes, which is great for F1.

While Binotto may be keen to play down the hype being generated by his car's pace, he could not hold back his delight as their growing lap count. Ferrari ended Wednesday with more laps on the board (153) than any other team and repeated the trick on Thursday (150).

‘Could not hold back their delight at their growing lap count’;

https://racingnews365.com/ferrari-offer-their-take-on-f1s-2022-pecking-order

“A Good day from many Angles” – Ricciardo Reflects on First Day in MCL36
By Paul Hensby
February 24, 2022

Daniel Ricciardo had his first taste of the MCL36 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Thursday, with the Australian leading the way in the morning session before dropping to third overall in the afternoon. The McLaren F1 Team driver was delighted with the reliability of the new car and praised the team for the hard work in preparing it in short order, so it was ready for testing.

“A good day from many angles,” admitted Ricciardo. “I think reliability was great. That’s on the team and everyone who’s worked hard to put this car together, so massive thank you to them.”

“They’re pretty awesome to build a whole new car, put it on track and have it run so smoothly, so big thanks to them again. Both days have been over 100 laps, which for me and Lando gives us more opportunity to learn the car and push ourselves, so really pleased with that.”

‘Good day for McLaren from many Angles’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/a-good-day-from-many-angles-ricciardo-reflects-on-first-day-in-mcl36/

Fortitude

25th February 2022, 13:25

Fernando Alonso's car goes UP IN SMOKE on final day of testing in Barcelona as his Alpine team said the former world champion asked to stop the car due to 'loss of pressure'.
Fernando Alonso was forced out of his car on the final day of Formula One pre-season testing in Barcelona after the vehicle went up in smoke.
By Richard Martin For Mailonline
Published: 11:44, 25 February 2022

• Fernando Alonso's car suffered a mechanical on the final day of testing on Friday
• The Spaniard's Alpine vehicle went up in smoke during a lap in Barcelona
• Before the incident, Alonso had recorded a faster lap than Max Verstappen

‘UP IN SMOKE’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10551347/Fernando-Alonsos-car-goes-SMOKE-final-day-Formula-One-testing-Barcelona.html

Verstappen on top as Red Bull make up for lost time
Max Verstappen and Red Bull set the early pace during the final morning of pre-season testing in Barcelona.
25th Feb 20222, ‎10‎:‎05

Red Bull moved to the top of the times as F1 testing continued at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Friday morning, with Max Verstappen at the wheel.

Verstappen made several improvements over the course of the opening two hours, working his way down to a best time of 1:19.765 – set on the Medium (C3) compound tyre.

‘Max Verstappen improvements’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen-on-top-as-red-bull-make-up-for-lost-time

F1 Barcelona day 3 morning round-up: Russell puts Mercedes on top
Mercedes topped the times during testing for the first time in 2022 thanks to George Russell
February 25th 2022
Author James Elson

George Russell set the fastest time during a disrupted session which saw four red flags. His time of 1min 19.233sec is the fastest so far of the test, but he did it in amongst a bevy of stoppages.

Several cars got out for the early running, with Max Verstappen putting in the second fastest lap of 1min 19.756sec. He also set the most laps at 69.

In third was Sebastian Vettel. The German had shown reasonable (relative) pace, but his run then came to a halt when his car stopped towards the end of this morning’s session – the Aston Martin was 0.15sec off Verstappen.

‘Russell, Verstappen, Vettel, 1, 2, 3’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/barcelona-day-3-morning-round-up-russell-puts-mercedes-on-top#

Ferrari 'outsiders' for F1 world championship, says Mattia Binotto
By George Dagless
Published: 25 Feb 2022, 12:58

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has said that the Scuderia are ‘outsiders’ for the Formula 1 world championship this season despite their strong early showings in testing in Barcelona this week.

Binotto has said that Ferrari remain underdogs heading into the new season, and it’s clear he is not getting carried away: “If you look at the amount, it’s a couple of sessions on the entire year, it’s maybe a tenth per lap, if you are very good,” he said via Autosport.

“If I look at Mercedes and Red Bull, how strong they were last year, no doubt that as teams they are very, very strong. And I think the regulations are in place to help the ones that are less efficient.”

‘Ferrari ‘Outsider’!’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87977131-ferrari-outsiders-for-f1-world-championship-says-mattia-binotto

Carlos Sainz says Ferrari has yet to show max performance despite impressive winter testing
By George Dagless
Published: 25 Feb 2022, 10:52

Carlos Sainz has said that the Ferrari is nowhere near the limit of its performance at Barcelona testing in a potential warning to the rest of the field over the Scuderia’s levels for the coming Formula 1 campaign.

“It was a good start in terms of reliability,” said Sainz. “We managed to complete testing so far without a single issue which is an encouraging start for us. This is what we are here for in Barcelona.”

“For you guys [the media,] unfortunately, it is not very exciting because we are nowhere near to the limit of the car or finding where the performance is but we are doing laps and we are completing them nicely.

‘Scuderia nowhere near performance limit’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87977054-carlos-sainz-says-ferrari-has-yet-to-show-max-performance-despite-impressive-winter-testing

Ricciardo thinks Red Bull and Mercedes are keeping their pace secret.
McLaren and Ferrari are hogging the headlines thanks to their impressive pace and reliability in Barcelona, but Daniel Ricciardo has warned that Red Bull and Mercedes are not showing their cards just yet.
25/02/2022, ‎09‎:‎40
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Dieter Rencken

"It's hard to quantify who's ahead of the moment, for sure," he said. "On the one hand, all you want is laps and we've had both days over 100 laps. I think we're in a good place from that point of view.”

"We seem to be at the pointy end of the times, but yeah, I don't think Mercedes and Red Bull have really done anything, showing any cards yet, so I don't really look [into it] too much.”

"Ferrari, I think they look solid, they look consistently good. But yeah, I'm not trying to read too much into it yet."

‘Secret Pace’;

https://racingnews365.com/ricciardo-red-bull-and-mercedes-are-keeping-pace-secret

F1's porpoising problem makes testing an even tougher read - MPH
Formula 1's big aero problem has rendered testing almost impossible to read into says Mark Hughes
February 25th 2022
Author Mark Hughes

The recurrence of one of the occupational hazards of ground effect cars from four decades ago somewhat blindsided the teams despite their state of the art simulation tools. The sudden increase and subsequent choking-off of underbody downforce as it approaches the ground isn’t something that can be replicated in a wind tunnel.

You’d already be damaging the tunnels’ belts before getting it to the point where the airflow stalls. Even in CFD the complexity of the equation of a moving body over the ground and the volatility of the stall pattern is beyond the capability of current programmes. And there’s no-one around in the aero departments who are familiar with the phenomenon from forty-odd years ago.

‘Occupational hazards of ground effect cars has blindsided the teams’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/f1s-porpoising-problem-makes-testing-an-even-tougher-read-mph#

Pirelli to conduct wet-weather test in the final session of Barcelona running
25 February 2022

The final day of pre-season running in Barcelona will see the drivers test Pirelli's 2022 wet and intermediate tyres on an artificially soaked track.
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has hosted the first pre-season sessions of 2022, but the third and final day will see F1's official tyre suppliers, Pirelli, test their 18-inch wet compounds.

‘Wet-Weather Testing’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.pirelli-to-conduct-wet-weather-test-in-the-final-session-of-barcelona.5A4VGc2SmxevFnwtNvwVG9.html

Fortitude

25th February 2022, 15:38

Alpine end F1 testing early as they reveal cause for Fernando Alonso stoppage.
Alpine have decided to curtail their test running early with Fernando Alonso suffering a stoppage this morning in Barcelona on the final day of the first Formula 1 test.
By George Dagless
Published: 25 Feb 2022, 12:51

“After further investigations in the garage following Fernando Alonso’s on-track stoppage earlier this morning, the team can confirm the issue was a problem with the hydraulics. A minor sealing issue led to a fire in the back of the car.”

“The team has successfully completed 266 laps during the three days of the Barcelona shakedown. Repairs on the car will continue, and as a result we won’t be running for the remainder of the day. We look forward to be back in action at the next test in Bahrain.”

‘Early testing Alpine F1ending’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87977154-alpine-end-f1-testing-early-as-they-reveal-cause-for-fernando-alonso-stoppage

Alpine heads home early following hydraulics issue
Phillip van Osten25/02/2022 at 13:21

The Alpine team has announced that it will take no further part in pre-season testing following damage sustained by its car on Friday morning.

Fernando Alonso was just 12 laps into his final day of running when he was forced to stop his car on-track with a smoking rear end.

‘Home Early’;

https://f1i.com/news/433181-alpine-heads-home-early-following-hydraulics-issue.html

F1 handed overtaking warning after new cars fail "perfect demonstration"
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Friday 25 February 2022 14:35

Asked if the regulations have shown signs of working during his running, Mercedes driver Russell said: "I think the following has been improved but the slipstream effect has been reduced quite substantially so I don't really know.”

"You obviously need that delta in the straights to overtake because you can only overtake at the end of a straight and into a corner. We can follow closer but from what we have seen, the slipstream effect is definitely less effective. We will have to wait and see.”

McLaren driver Norris added: "Me and George had a perfect demonstration of it. I didn't want to let him past while he was on a quick lap so I screwed him over and held him up a bit. That is what you do in testing. “

‘Improved following, slipstream effect reduced’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/76541/f1-handed-overtaking-warning-after-new-cars-fail-perfect-demonstration/

Ricciardo "sore" as F1 return delivers "a shock to the body"
Sam Hall
Thursday 24 February 2022 20:14

Daniel Ricciardo is confident "there are good early signs" for McLaren despite feeling sore after a full day in the MCL36.

“I’m a little bit sore but it was okay," said Ricciardo. "Just to get in the car again and to go through the motions again and get your body into it and all of those feelings.”

"It’s only been two months. The off-season was a bit shorter because of such a late end to last season so it didn’t feel too foreign but there is always still a bit of a shock to the body.”

‘Shock to the body’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/76494/ricciardo-sore-as-f1-return-delivers-a-shock-to-the-body/

F1 drivers hit the track in the wet, Haas end their test early
Friday afternoon's session in Barcelona started in wet conditions after the track was soaked by water trucks, giving tyre supplier Pirelli some much-needed data.
25th Feb 2022, ‎15‎:‎05
Author Mike Seymour
Co-author Aaron Deckers

F1 drivers got their first proper taste of wet running in 2022 as this week's pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya entered its closing stages. Water trucks artificially dampened the track during the one-hour lunch break to give drivers some experience on the Wet and Intermediate tyres, in turn providing Pirelli with some useful data for the upcoming season.

F1 drivers got their first proper taste of wet running in 2022 as this week's pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya entered its closing stages.

Water trucks artificially dampened the track during the one-hour lunch break to give drivers some experience on the Wet and Intermediate tyres, in turn providing Pirelli with some useful data for the upcoming season.

‘Wet track testing’;

https://racingnews365.com/formula-1-drivers/daniel-ricciardo

Driver feedback positive after first days in new F1 cars
Associated Press
25 February, 2022

In a positive sign Formula 1 may have it right with the 2022 regulation changes to improve racing, drivers were mainly upbeat with their insights and reviews of the new generation cars, after the first couple of days of preseason testing.

One of the quirks of the new F1 cars, with floors designed to increase downforce made the cars bouncier on straightaways.

“They bounce around a bit, and they are a little bit stiff, so it is a bit more vicious inside of it,” Williams driver Alex Albon said. “You are moving around, you are feeling everything. But at the end of the day, they’re quick and everyone’s done a great job.”

‘Feedback positive’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/25/drivers-feedback-after-two-days-in-the-new-2022-new-f1-cars/

Russell concerned over ‘substantially’ reduced slipstream with 2022 F1 cars
by Fergal Walsh
25/02/2022, 15:26

“I think the following has been improved but the slipstream effect has been reduced quite substantially,” Russell said.

“We can follow closer but from what we have seen, the slipstream effect is definitely less effective. We will have to wait and see.

“I got right up behind Lando, I was a car-length or two behind him and didn’t catch the straight, so that was slightly concerning so let’s see.”

‘Reduction of slip stream’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/25/russell-concerned-over-substantially-reduced-slipstream-effect-with-2022-f1-cars/

Fortitude

26th February 2022, 04:22

Lewis Hamilton and rival F1 drivers 'may have to wear teeth guards' due to car problems.
Sky F1 reporter Ted Kravitz has insisted that Lewis Hamilton and his fellow F1 drivers may have to wear ‘teeth guards' due to issues with the new cars.
By LIAM LLEWELLYN
20:09, Fri, Feb 25, 2022

Sky F1 reporter Kravtiz explained: "I prefer to call it bouncing because it's just bouncing along. It's a problem.

"If it continues, the cars will literally shake themselves to pieces and won't be able to finish the race.

"It is a reliability issue. It needs to be fixed. Ferrari already cut holes in their floor to stop them going along bouncing.”

‘Teeth Guards’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1572112/Lewis-Hamilton-Max-Verstappen-drivers-teeth-guards-F1-news

Teething troubles, wet weather runs and fun 2022 cars – What we learned from Day 3 of pre-season running at Barcelona
Senior writer
Lawrence Barretto
25 February 2022

As sunset approached at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Friday, Lewis Hamilton bolted to the top of the timesheets to make it a Mercedes one-two on the third and final day of pre-season running. It’s wise not to read too much into that level of performance – but there was still plenty we did learn…

Mileage not as strong on final day

Niggles start to creep in for some

2022-spec F1 cars are fun to drive

‘Mileage, Niggles and Fun’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.teething-troubles-wet-weather-runs-and-fun-2022-cars-what-we-learned-from.2z5SU2BoUgo6d0x5zGVpx9.html

Ted's Notebook: Testing day three
25 Feb 2022, 20:42

Sky F1's Ted Kravitz looks back on the final day of Formula 1's first pre-season test from Barcelona.

‘Ted’;

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12551632/teds-notebook-testing-day-three

All you need to know after the third day of F1 testing
Looking back over the third and final day of F1 testing in Barcelona are Dieter Rencken and Thomas Maher, in this special series of podcasts reviewing every day of the action.
26/02/2022, ‎20‎:‎10
Author Thomas Maher

Looking back over the third and final day of F1 testing are RacingNews365.com Editorial Director Dieter Rencken and F1 journalist Thomas Maher, in this special series of podcasts reviewing every day of the action in Barcelona.

‘RacingNews365 Podcast’;

https://racingnews365.com/all-you-need-to-know-after-the-third-day-of-f1-testing

Lewis Hamilton, George Russell on top, Max Verstappen pays 'no attention' to times in testing
Hamilton, controversially edged out for the 2021 title by Verstappen in the season finale in Abu Dhabi, clocked a best time of 1min 19.138 seconds.
Agence France-Presse February 26, 2022 09:26:43 IST

Friday times:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:19.138 (94 laps),
2. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:19.233 (66),
3. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:19.556 (74),
4. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:19.756 (59),
5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Aston Martin) 1:19.824 (48),
6. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:19.831 (44),
7. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 1:20.072 (92),
8. Alexander Albon (THA/Williams) 1:20.318 (94),
9. Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams) 1:20.699 (13),
10. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren) 1:20.750 (86),
11. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren) 1:20.827 (52),
12. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine) 1:21.242 (12),
13. Guanyu Zhou (CHN/Alfa Romeo) 1:21.939 (41),
14. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri) 1:22.469 (40),
15. Nikita Mazepin (RAF/Haas) 1:26.229 (9),
16. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo) 1:30.433 (10)

‘Testing times’;

https://www.firstpost.com/sports/lewis-hamilton-george-russell-on-top-max-verstappen-pays-no-attention-to-times-in-testing-10409841.html

Podcast: The stories behind the laptimes in F1 testing
The Race
26th Feb 2022, 00:10

With Mercedes and Red Bull occupying the top positions on the timesheets, is it going to be more of the same in 2022, or have McLaren or Ferrari take a step forward?

Aston Martin and Alpine were in the middle of the times, but how costly was Pierre Gasly’s final-day accident and what can be read into Sebastian Vettel’s last-day pace?

With Williams having a low profile test, it was left to Alpine, Haas and Alfa Romeo to sit at the bottom of the timesheets. We explain what went wrong and what, unseen, went right for those teams.

‘Lap Times Stories’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/podcast-the-stories-behind-the-laptimes-in-f1-testing/

What we learned from F1’s first 2022 pre-season test
The Race
Friday, 25 Feb 2022, 22:29

It’s been clear for a while that the new cars were not going to be as slow as was first suggested when the regulations were proposed way back in late 2019.

Slower times were never a stated target, rather a likely consequence of rules designed to cut downforce and reduce areas of development.

The closer we got to testing the greater the indication that actually, pretty soon these new cars wouldn’t be any slower at all.

Well now we have our first reference points. These cars produce laptime in a slightly different way as they are quicker down the straights and through the high-speed corners but worse in the slow-speed stuff.

‘The learning process’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-we-learned-from-f1s-first-2022-pre-season-test/

Fortitude

27th February 2022, 09:10

Alonso believes Ferrari has the fastest car.
Ferrari completed the most laps of any team with 439 over the three days, while their fastest lap time, courtesy of Charles Leclerc, was just over half-a-second shy of Lewis Hamilton’s benchmark, yet it was set on the C3 tyres, while Hamilton went all the way to the highest-grip C5 rubber.
Date published: February 27 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

“Ferrari seems to be the fastest car, which is surely a surprise,” Marca quote Alonso as having told TVE. “For Carlos [Sainz] it’s great news and for Spain in general.”

Of course he is not discounting Mercedes though, who did set the ultimate pace in Barcelona, Hamilton topping the three-day timings with a 1:19.138, just under a tenth up on new team-mate George Russell. “Mercedes has also turned [out] fast,” Alonso stated.

‘Ferrari 439 laps’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernando-alonso-ferrari-fastest/

Ferrari Looking Promising After Strong Barcelona Test Closes
By Nick Golding
February 26, 2022

Scuderia Ferrari brought an end to their testing programme at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, having racked up more laps than any other team, filling the Italian’s with plenty of confidence ahead of the Official Pre-Season Test.

Sainz completed an impressive 92 laps, taking his three day total to 236. Combined, the Ferrari drivers completed 439 laps, the most racked up by any team in the paddock across the three days. Ferrari have clearly designed not only a reliable car but a fast one too, the F1-75 was consistently towards the front of the timing sheets, even though the order is somewhat irrelevant at testing.

‘Scuderia Ferrari Looks Promising’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/ferrari-looking-promising-after-strong-barcelona-test-closes/

Kravitz: Ferrari showed enough to have Mercedes ‘worried’
Date published: February 26 2022 - Henry Valantine

Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz feels the three-day shakedown in Barcelona showed Ferrari have enough pace to have “worried” reigning Constructors’ champions Mercedes.

The Scuderia showed consistent pace throughout all three days of running in Spain and completed more laps than any other team, proving early on they have produced a reliable car in the F1-75.

It’s famously tricky to predict how the teams shape up after test running due to the ‘sandbagging’ measures that try to prevent them showing their full hand in terms of pace, but Kravitz believes Ferrari are in a strong position right now – with Red Bull being the only slight unknown as it stands. “They’ve shown enough in the first two days to have Mercedes worried; the only question is what have Red Bull got, and we learned a bit of that today.”

‘Mercedes worried about the Ferrari F1-75, Red Bull unknown’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ted-kravitz-ferrari-barcelona-best-team/

Haas’ Guenther Steiner: “We had three days of testing but really we only managed one”
By Paul Hensby
February 26, 2022

Guenther Steiner feels the Haas F1 Team are behind the eight ball at this stage of pre-season testing after managing only nine laps on the third and final day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Friday.

Steiner, the Team Principal at Haas, says the team will hope to have put all their gremlins behind them when testing resumes at the Bahrain International Circuit next month, the final test before the season gets underway at the same track.

‘Three days to do ONE day of testing’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/haas-guenther-steiner-we-had-three-days-of-testing-but-really-we-only-managed-one/

McLaren’s Andreas Seidl: “The hard work from the entire team has been crucial”
By Paul Hensby
February 26, 2022

Andreas Seidl says the McLaren F1 Team can leave the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with plenty of data to go through after three positive days of pre-season testing

Seidl, the Team Principal at the Woking-based squad, said a lot of hard work the team went into preparing the MCL36 ahead of the new season, and getting as much mileage on the car as they did was a reward for all of them.

“It’s been a productive first three days for us in Barcelona, and we leave Spain with plenty of data to analyse before we head to Bahrain for the official pre-season test and Grand Prix,” said Seidl.

‘Plenty of McLaren data’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/mclarens-andreas-seidl-the-hard-work-from-the-entire-team-has-been-crucial/

Vettel: Aston Martin not seeing the peak of the mountain
Date published: February 26 2022 - Michelle Foster

Losing half a day of testing to an oil leak, Sebastian Vettel says at the moment Aston Martin are not “seeing the peak” of the mountain they need to climb.

It started out well for Aston Martin, 119 laps on day one and 129 on day two, with Vettel P6 on both days. However, day three, Friday’s running, didn’t go according to plan. Vettel stopped out on track on his 48th lap of the morning due to an oil leak that caused a small fire.

‘Aston Martin Mountain’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sebastian-vettel-not-seeing-mountain-peak/

Binotto claims 'porpoising' no longer a problem for Ferrari
Andrew Lewin 27/02/2022 at 08:42

Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto says that his team has already got on top of the 'porpoising' problems that many teams ran into during this week's pre-season shakedown tests at Barcelona.

“On the bouncing, I think it was an issue but it's not any more," he told the media at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday. "Somehow we are managing the situation.”

“If we're looking at this on Thursday afternoon and earlier on Friday, I think we are bouncing a lot less."

‘No ‘porpoising’ at Ferrari’;

https://f1i.com/news/433340-binotto-claims-porpoising-no-longer-a-problem-for-ferrari.html

Pirelli’s Mario Isola: “We can be pleased with how the three days of testing went”
By Paul Hensby
February 26, 2022

Mario Isola says Pirelli Motorsport can be pleased with how the first real test with their eighteen-inch tyres on 2022 machinery went at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last week, with plenty of laps being run by all ten teams.

“We can be pleased with how the three days of testing went, which of course represented the debut of our 18-inch tyres on these new single-seaters, with all the tyre testing up to now having been carried out using only mule cars,” said Isola.

‘Pirelli’s 18-inch tyre debut positive’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/pirellis-mario-isola-we-can-be-pleased-with-how-the-three-days-of-testing-went/

Fortitude

27th February 2022, 12:50

Alfa Romeo finally reveal their 2022 F1 car, the C42.
Alfa Romeo became the last Formula 1 team to reveal their 2022 car, the C42, which was revealed on Sunday, two days after the conclusion of the first pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Editor
27 February, 2022

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN: “The start of the season is always an exciting time, one in which we see the fruit of the work of hundreds of people over a long period of time.

“The C42 is a car we look forward to seeing racing, not just because it is the first we built in this new regulations cycle, one in which racing should be closer and more thrilling, but because we have the utmost confidence in this car helping the team make a big step forward towards the front of the grid.”

Jan Monchaux, Technical Director of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN: “As we unveil the C42, it may feel like the start of a new season: we know, however, that this launch is just a milestone in a much longer journey in which our whole staff in Hinwil has invested so much time, resource and energies.

‘Alfa Romeo Car Launch’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/27/alfa-romeo-finally-reveal-their-2022-f1-car-the-c42/

Alfa Romeo has fix for problems that shocked it in F1 test
27/02/2022, 10:37
By Edd Straw

Alfa Romeo Formula 1 technical director Jan Monchaux expects that running at a higher ride height and floor modifications will be the long-term solution to the problem of porpoising that left the team “taken aback” during the early running of the C42.

“To be fully transparent and honest, we didn’t anticipate that,” said Monchaux when asked by The Race if the problem was expected and what the definitive fix will involve.”
“We had discussed during the last months about those kind of phenomena that could happen but none of our tools – windtunnel and other simulation tools – were giving a hint of it. We were a bit taken aback, which has been the case for probably all of the teams or most of the teams.”

‘Alfa Romeo has the fix’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/alfa-romeo-has-fix-for-problems-that-shocked-it-in-f1-test/

ANALYSIS: Why Alfa Romeo have gone bold with innovative C42 design
Technical contributors
Mark Hughes and Giorgio Piola
27 February 2022

Although Alfa Romeo’s C42 already completed F1 pre-season running over three days at Barcelona last week, it did so in camouflage livery which at its official launch today was replaced by an updated variation on Alfa’s traditional red and white colours.

notable design features include:

• A quite sophisticated front wing
• A push-rod rear suspension (like Red Bull, AlphaTauri and McLaren) and an unusual geometry of its front push-rod layout
• Similar packaging of the Ferrari cooling system, as seen on the Ferrari itself (and the Haas), giving sidepods which are fat but heavily undercut at the front, with heavily louvred sidepod tops

‘Alfa Romeo notable design features’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.analysis-why-alfa-romeo-have-gone-bold-with-innovative-c42-design.46SaG3FccMCoEe3vQyJoOg.html

Alfa Romeo reveal 2022 F1 challenger: the C42 is born
FEBRUARY 27, 2022 in Motorsport

The Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN C42 is the first car produced in Hinwil under the budget cap regulations and for the new era of Formula One starting in 2022. Designed by a team led by Technical Director, Jan Monchaux, this car is a radical departure from the past as it embraces the possibilities dictated by the new ground-effect floor, updated aerodynamic package and 18-inch, low profile tyres. The C42, powered by a new Ferrari engine, is a racing machine designed to battle, as the new regulations will allow closer racing and competitive fighting from the front to the rear of the grid.

In the hands of 10-times race winner, Valtteri Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu, the first F1 driver from China and the only rookie on the grid in 2022, the C42 is ready to impress.

‘C42 to impress’;

https://www.racecar.com/news/95335/motorsport/alfa-romeo-reveal-2022-f1-challenger-the-c42-is-born

Alfa Romeo warn of ‘steep development curve’ in 2022
Date published: February 27 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Alfa Romeo say the development curve will be at its steepest in 2022 at the start of this all-new regulatory era.

Alfa Romeo’s technical director Jan Monchaux said: “As we unveil the C42, it may feel like the start of a new season: we know, however, that this launch is just a milestone in a much longer journey in which our whole staff in Hinwil has invested so much time, resource and energies.

“Designing and building this car has been a huge undertaking and we can be proud of what we have achieved, but our work is not finished.

‘Unfinished work, steep development curve’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alfa-romeo-steep-development-curve-2022/

Bottas aiming to be 'best version of myself' at Alfa
Andrew Lewin27/02/2022 at 12:04

Speaking to the media at the launch of the C42 on Sunday, Bottas insisted that he saw this as the start of a new chapter and a time of fresh opportunities.

“I absolutely feel that I have still so much to do to get better, and so much more to give to the sport,” he said. “As a driver I think you never, never stop learning as long as you want to.

"It truly feels like now I can just be the best version of myself instead of trying to be something else and trying too hard," he continued. "I’m always looking at areas that I can be better."

‘Never stop learning as long as you want to’;

https://f1i.com/news/433383-bottas-aiming-to-be-best-version-of-myself-at-alfa.html

Seventh a decent target for Alfa Romeo – Vasseur
by Phillip Horton
27/02/2022, 08:45

“The most important thing is to improve, always to improve and close the gap with the best ones on the grid,” said Frederic Vasseur.

“You can have different KPIs in terms of performance, but for sure we are fighting for the championship and, at the end of the day, the final target is to improve the championship position.

“We had a disappointing season last year with P9 and we want to do much better this season, but I also want to close the gap in terms of pure performance – because this is the reality of the job of the people back at the factory. “If it comes to numbers, I would say that P7 would be a decent target.”

‘Alfa Romeo target seventh’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/27/seventh-a-decent-target-for-alfa-romeo-vasseur/

It is time to look closer at the Alfa Romeo C42
Date published: February 27 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

It is not a surprise to see innovation on the C42, considering that Alfa Romeo put full focus into these new regulations, taking the hit of a difficult 2021 in the hope of reaping the rewards of this rule reset.

It was a troubled three days for Alfa Romeo, with Valtteri Bottas in particular struggling for track time as reliability woes persisted. With only 54 laps completed across the three days, Bottas set the lowest tally for any driver on the grid.

There is plenty of work ahead then for Alfa Romeo before the official pre-season test begins on March 10 in Bahrain, but now at last we have seen their challenger in its true colours which will grace the Bahrain International Circuit.

‘Alfa Romeo C42 full focus, with only 54 laps completed’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alfa-romeo-c42-closer-look/

Fortitude

27th February 2022, 18:24

ALFA ROMEO REVEALS C42 CAR LIVERY.
The C42 livery includes the traditional red and white of Alfa Romeo. The team have said this design is a “subtle nod to the past” that reflects on the “historical designs” and the “heritage” of the team.
27/02/2022, 14:16
Abby Bathurst

Alfa Romeo were the final team to launch their livery for the upcoming season. During pre-season testing in Barcelona, the cars had been running a camouflage livery but today the team launched its new design.

‘C42 from camouflage to red and white’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/alfa-romeo-reveals-c42-car-livery/

Alfa Romeo Unveils New 2022 F1 Car, One for the "New Era"
27 Feb 2022, 17:12 UTC ·
by Silvian Irimia

Designed by Jan Monchaux, the Technical Director, this car is radically different from last year's project with an updated aerodynamic package, that embraces the new ground effect floor advantages as well as 18-inch, low-profile tires. A new Ferrari engine powers the C42 to help Alfa challenge for points and even podiums.

"The C42 is a car we look forward to seeing racing, not just because it is the first we built in this new regulations cycle, one in which racing should be closer and more thrilling, but because we have the utmost confidence in this car helping the team make a big step forward towards the front of the grid," declared Frédéric Vasseur, the Team Principal of Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN.

‘C42 for the new era’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/alfa-romeo-unveils-new-2022-f1-car-one-for-the-new-era-182682.html

Vasseur 'quite confident' about Alfa Romeo reliability
Andrew Lewin27/02/2022 at 15:23

Valtteri Bottas was only able to complete 54 laps during his spell in the cockpit while his new team mate Guanyu Zhou managed 112 laps in total, with a damaged gearbox among the problems experienced.

“It’s our challenge, but I’m quite confident that we’ll be able to do it for next week,” he told the media at Sunday's launch event for the team's sparkling new livery. "For Bahrain I think we’ll be on the right way."

"It’s always the case with the new regulations, you have new issues coming in," Vasseur commented. "I think in two or three races, nobody will speak again about bouncing. We’ll have another issue or topic to discuss!”

‘Alfa Romeo confident on reliability’;

https://f1i.com/news/433388-vasseur-confident-about-alfa-romeo-reliability.html

Gallery: See Alfa Romeo’s new F1 livery on the track
by Fergal Walsh

On Sunday, Alfa Romeo launched its new livery for the 2022 Formula 1 season, following the three days of the pre-season shakedown in Barcelona.

Following the launch, the car made its way onto the F1 circuit as part of a filming day run, with mileage restricted to 100km. At the test in Barcelona, the Italian squad ran in a camouflaged livery but appeared to struggle during the event, setting the second-fewest number of laps, ahead of only Haas.

‘‘Sunday launch’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/27/gallery-see-alfa-romeos-new-f1-livery-on-the-track/

Bottas: There’s work to do, but also there is potential
Jad Mallak
27 February, 2022

Alfa Romeo officially revealed their 2022 F1 car, the C42, with its full livery on Sunday, after three troublesome days of pre-season testing around the Spanish venue, where the car had a one-off camouflaged paint job.

Speaking to the media at the C42 launch, Bottas said: “It feels like we are still in very early stages of actually discovering the car.

“For me, it was quite limited running that we had, only with two different tyre compounds, and only with very few set-up changes. So there’s still so much more to discover,” he explained.

‘Work to do’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/27/bottas-theres-work-to-do-but-also-there-is-potential/

Alfa Romeo’s new F1 livery makes track debut in Barcelona
F1
Connor McDonagh
27 Feb 2022

Guanyu Zhou was handed the first opportunity to take the newly-painted car out on track in Barcelona before handing over to test driver, Robert Kubica.

The C42 maintains the traditional red and white colours, with red more prominent for this season.

Zhou - who spent the last three seasons in F2 - will race alongside 10-time grand prix winner Valtteri Bottas.

‘C42 Track Debut’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/996961/1/alfa-romeo-s-new-f1-livery-makes-track-debut-barcelona

Fortitude

27th February 2022, 19:02

Beyond Alonso’s fire – Was Alpine’s test as bad as it seemed?
Fernando Alonso’s fiery stoppage on the final morning of Barcelona’s pre-season test brought Alpine’s low-key week to a premature yet dramatic end.
Feb 26 2022
By Scott Mitchell

“I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses,” says Permane. “I’m not saying we’re going to go out and beat Mercedes and Red Bull. But I think we are in a reasonable or in a decent position, honestly.”

after years of stagnation and a 2021 season in which Alpine finished fifth but definitely didn’t have the fifth-fastest car, this is a team that needs to progress towards the front rather than be quickest. Permane’s initial verdict is that the A522 looks like it might achieve that.

‘Alonso on fire’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/beyond-alonsos-fire-how-bad-was-alpines-f1-test/

Alpine purposely disguised progress in Barcelona.
Date published: February 27 2022 - Frank Parker

Alpine sporting director Alan Permane has said that not using DRS, and deliberately running heavier fuel loads has disguised any step forwards the team may have made.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, and I’m not saying we’re going to go out and beat Mercedes and Red Bull, but I think we are in a decent position,” said Permane, as quoted by Motorsport.com.”

“The lap Fernando did [on the final] morning, although it was only one lap, it’s very comparable to what [Max] Verstappen did at the same time, albeit Verstappen is using DRS. If you overlay the GPS, which we can do with the systems we have from the FIA, the traces are almost identical apart from the straights where we lose a huge amount of time.”

‘Alpine disguised progress’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine-purposely-disguised-progress-barcelona/

Binotto suspects sandbagging after ‘surprising’ results
Date published: February 27 2022 - Henry Valantine

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes some teams are sandbagging more than others on the grid, as he was left “surprised” by how closely matched the teams appeared to be in Barcelona.

“What surprised me is seeing all very different cars and despite that quite similar in terms of performance,” Binotto told Sky Italia.”

“When you see different conceptual choices, you expect to see that translated on track too with a performance difference.”

‘Sandbagging!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mattia-binotto-ferrari-sandbagging/

McLaren least affected by porpoising, Ferrari on top of it
“Porpoising” is the word doing the rounds in the Formula 1 community after the conclusion of the first pre-season session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Jad Mallak
27 February, 2022

The issue of “porpoising” can be sorted, but that will have an effect on pace, with Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey telling Auto Motor und Sport: “It’s not difficult to stop the bouncing. But it’s difficult not to do it losing lap time.”

Mercedes’ boss Toto Wolff, speaking to the same publication, added: “You can go up the rear with the ground clearance. But then you’re slow.”

McLaren seem to be the least team affected by the “porpoising”, and only experienced it when testing certain aero elements on the MCL36. “We had a couple of test items which appeared to promote it a bit more,” James Key, McLaren’s technical director, told Motorsport.com.

‘Porpoising solutions’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/27/mclaren-least-affected-by-porpoising-ferrari-on-top-of-it/

Williams happy with Strong Finish to Barcelona Shakedown
By Ross Sheppard
February 27, 2022

Williams Racing had an impressive first three days of on track action at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, getting some good mileage and managing to get to grips with the new FW44 car.

Head of vehicle performance Dave Robson was also happy with how the test went. He praised the teamwork of his colleagues and was glad to be working and getting to grips with a new car. This is what he had to say about their day.

“We had a strong finish to this first round of 2022 track running. Although we were held up this morning following some minor damage to a brake duct and some red flags, we managed a smooth afternoon, including our first experience of the 2022 Intermediate tyres, which we were able to share between Nicholas and Alex. As the track dried, we were able to complete the final round of data gathering before completing a sequence of long runs with Alex.

‘Williams shakedown happiness’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/williams-happy-with-strong-finish-to-barcelona-shakedown/

The key data from F1’s first test of its new cars for 2022
2022 F1 season
Posted on
26th February 2022, 7:1725th February 2022, 23:09 | Written by Keith Collantine

Interpreting the data from Formula 1 testing is always fraught with difficulty. That’s especially true when teams are having their first experiences with cars built to drastically changed regulations, as was the case this week.

For those hoping to see a close competition this year, the spread between the lap times offers some encouragement. The difference between the teams’ fastest and slowest times was 2.747 seconds, which is slightly higher than the 2.5s seen at last year’s race.

‘Data on Lap Times, Lap Time Comparisons and Mileages tabulated’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/26/the-key-data-from-f1s-first-test-of-its-new-cars-for-2022/

Marko ranks Red Bull among front runners after first test
Date published: February 27 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Red Bull driver programme boss Helmut Marko believes his team are still one of the top contenders following Barcelona.

Predicting the order based on the first pre-season outing is never ideal, but Marko has seen enough to suggest that Red Bull will go into the 2022 season as a front runner still.

“We believe that we are among the front runners,” he told Motorsport-Magazin.com.

‘Red Bull Front Runners’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut-marko-red-bull-among-front-runners/

Russell expecting upgrades en masse in Bahrain
Date published: February 27 2022 - Henry Valantine

George Russell says he is expecting every team to bring improvements with them to pre-season testing in Bahrain, after three days in Barcelona.

“I think we’ll see it with all the teams,” Russell said, quoted by Motorsport.com. “We’ve got this massive regulation change. We’ve all arrived in Barcelona with our best estimate of where we need to place the car.

“It’s been incredibly intriguing and for all of us there’s been a lot of unexpected issues, which have been quite visible,” Russell said.

‘Upgrades and improvements’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-bahrain-upgrades/

Fortitude

28th February 2022, 09:00

Why a four-decade-old problem took F1 teams by surprise.
Simulation tools are just that – simulations. Porpoising was the big talking point of the first pre-season Formula 1 test at Barcelona, with many teams admitting to being surprised at the extent of the problem despite it being a well-understood phenomenon.
The Race.
28/02/2022, 07:17
By Edd Straw

So with F1 teams using vast arrays of simulation technologies, how could a problem the risks of which are so well known not be detected before the cars ran on track for the first time? The answer is simple. Simulation tools are just that – simulations. They are not the real world and have limitations despite being developed and refined over a long period of time.

One of the most effective simulation tool available to the teams remains the windtunnel. However, simulating the behaviour of the car and the underfloor aero in the windtunnel at extremely low ride heights is outside of its parameters.

“The way the floor’s working, especially at lower ride heights in the windtunnel, makes it a difficult area to explore because Red Bull wouldn’t enjoy us putting stripes in their belt,” explained AlphaTauri technical director Jody Egginton.

‘Simulation did NOT reveal a four decade old problem’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/why-a-four-decade-old-problem-took-f1-teams-by-surprise/

McLaren surprised to escape 'porpoising' issues in Spain
Andrew Lewin 28/02/2022 at 07:23

The engineers at McLaren were also scratching their heads - but in their case it was because they were barely being troubled by 'porpoising' at all, and had been left to wonder why that was the case.

"Where we are, it hasn't really been a topic for us so far," stated McLaren technical director James Key. "We suffer from it a bit, but it's not a major concern or a major distraction for the drivers. We had a couple of test items which appeared to promote it a bit more,” he added. “But then removing them reduced it so you can fix it aerodynamically as well.”

“I’d love to make out that we've been super clever but the reality is this is very difficult to simulate," Key admitted. "It's not to say it couldn't come back with further development of course.”

‘McLaren scratching their heads’;

https://f1i.com/news/433396-mclaren-surprised-to-escape-porpoising-issues-in-spain.html

Ferrari ‘chose to be disciplined’ when evaluating test
Date published: February 27 2022 - Jon Wilde

Carlos Sainz says Ferrari “chose to be disciplined” in evaluating the unofficial Barcelona test where they arguably looked the pick of the bunch.

The Scuderia encountered no significant issues and were also quick, especially on the first two days before Mercedes and Red Bull began to unleash some pace from their new challengers.

“As a team, we are very disciplined in not having expectations because we don’t rely at all on these tests,” said Sainz on Sky Italia, his total of 236 laps over the three days at the Circuit de Catalunya having been the highest among the 21 drivers in action, 24 ahead of second-placed Daniel Ricciardo. You will not see either a happy team or a disappointed one because we chose to be disciplined in not believing too much what happens during these tests.”

‘Scuderia discipline’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-disciplined-test-evaluation/

Alpha Tauri not noticing Honda’s F1 exit
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Officially, the Japanese manufacturer left F1 after winning the title with Red Bull and Max Verstappen at the end of 2021.

Actually, Honda engines are still in the four cars for 2022, the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) logos are now on the engine covers, and even Mashashi Yamamoto is still in the paddock.

‘Honda power’;

https://grandpx.news/alpha-tauri-not-noticing-hondas-f1-exit/

Bottas doesn’t share Russell’s safety concerns over ‘porpoising’
2022 F1 season
Posted on
28th February 2022, 7:1827th February 2022, 23:38 | Written by Keith Collantine

George Russell, who replaced Bottas at Mercedes during the off-season, said last week the bouncing seen at Circuit de Catalunya “has the potential to be a real safety concern”. However Bottas is confident teams will rapidly get it under control.

“For now I don’t think it’s a safety issue,” he said. “I think it’s just the way that the aero of the car works.

“Obviously it’s a fact that the lower you go with the car, the more you have downforce. And if you find a way to have a good ride in the car, being able to run it low, you might gain some performance. But obviously in some places [that comes] with a cost of the ride itself, especially in high speeds and over the bumps.

‘Safety concerns?’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/02/28/bottas-doesnt-share-russells-view-porpoising-is-a-safety-risk/

Andretti F1 team would be powered by Renault
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 28, 2022

Michael Andretti’s new Formula 1 entry for 2024 would be powered by customer Renault engines.

“We already know where our facility in the UK will be built and we have a formal engineer supplier agreement. I can talk about it being Renault now,” he said.

“I think there was a lot of speculation from Toto Wolff as he was worried it would be Ferrari.”

‘Andretti F1 with Renault’;

https://grandpx.news/andretti-f1-team-would-be-powered-by-renault/

Michael Andretti Says He Has Money, Reveals Backup Plan to Get into F1
Motorsports mogul trying to start his own team, has offer on the table to buy Haas F1 Team.
BY STEVEN COLE SMITH
Feb 28, 2022

“The plan for the future,” Andretti told Autoweek, “is to have an American team, with an American-built car, and American drivers. The immediate plan is to get approval and start working toward getting on the track for the 2024 season. An even more immediate plan would be to buy an existing team, “but none are available. Nobody is interested in selling.”

While Andretti wants to build the car itself in the U.S., it’s highly unlikely that would happen in the next few years. Europe is the technology base, and that’s almost certainly where the chassis would come from. Same with an engine supplier – it could be an American effort in the future, but not in the near term.

‘Andretti F1 back up plan’;

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a39252785/micheal-andretti-money-reveals-backup-plan-f1/

‘Chump change’: F1 giants ‘worried’ about US outfit Andretti’s $1bn plan to join grid by 2024
Max Laughton from Fox Sports
February 28th, 2022 7:42 pm

F1 broadcaster Will Buxton believes the sport’s giants are “worried” about the potential power of an Andretti Autosport entry into the field, which could come as soon as 2024.

But the global reach and strong backing of the team, which includes cars in IndyCar, Indy Lights, Indy Pro 2000, Formula E and a large stake in Supercars team Walkinshaw Andretti United - which won the Bathurst 1000 last year - has “the establishment” worried according to Will Buxton.

“Speaking to a lot of folks in the IndyCar paddock this weekend. The Andretti F1 project is serious. Very serious,” he tweeted. “They could pay the ($200 million) entry fee as chump change. And in a non budget capped era have funding to make the top 3 wince. No wonder the establishment are worried.”

‘Chumps change for Andretti F1 entry’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/formula-1-news-2022-andretti-team-bid-to-join-f1-cost-1-billion-price-tag-rivals-worried-about-new-constructor-colton-herta/news-story/347defd8d1b31cf9f028ece420446f9e

Fortitude

28th February 2022, 15:54

Gary Anderson: Is this why McLaren looks immune to porpoising?
Thanks to the wet running on the final afternoon, and some special photographic trickery, we now have some understanding of why that might be the case.
28 Feb 2022, 12:13
By Gary Anderson

But McLaren already appears largely to have eliminated the problem thanks to how powerful the vortices running down the side of the underfloor area.

These seal the low-pressure area from the outside world and, by being more energetic than those produced by McLaren’s rivals, make the floor less prone to stalling because they don’t try to seal the floor by running the sides of the floor more or less or ground.

Fortunately, the wet running creates spray and allows us to see exactly what is happening aerodynamically both on and off the car’s surface.

‘McLaren immunity’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-is-this-why-mclaren-looks-immune-to-porpoising/

Gasly says AlphaTauri AT03 felt 'positive straight out of the box' in Barcelona
28 February 2022

Pierre Gasly was buoyed by his AlphaTauri AT03’s performance straight out of the Barcelona pit lane, and despite a small crash on the final day he left Spain buzzing for the Bahrain Official Pre-Season Test.

The Frenchman completed 187 laps over the three-day programme – more than Day 3 leader Lewis Hamilton – while AlphaTauri managed 308 tours of Barcelona in total. Gasly said he'd been “super excited” to try the new breed of F1 car, and it seemed AlphaTauri’s AT03 did not disappoint.

‘AT03 Positivity’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.gasly-says-alphatauri-at03-felt-positive-straight-out-of-the-box-in.72lCm3AQXsDUi6JI2QSU7h.html

Albon: Ability to follow through corners a ‘nice surprise’
by Fergal Walsh
28/02/2022, 12:13

Alexander Albon has provided positive comments regarding the ability to follow cars through corners following the pre-season shakedown in Barcelona.

“It’s a nice surprise and it’s something which takes a bit of getting used to because the effect of following is… as you gain almost a memory from what you can and can’t do when you’re a certain distance from a car, how to back off, you learn the limits of following and that’s being recalibrated a little bit.

“I haven’t spent many laps behind other cars but you can tell it’s improved greatly and that’s great for the sport. Hopefully, it will translate well.”

‘Following in corners improved’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/02/28/albon-ability-to-follow-through-corners-a-nice-surprise/

Verstappen: The car will be completely different in Bahrain
Editor
28 February, 2022

Max Verstappen revealed that the Red Bull RB18 will be vastly different in Bahrain to what was seen during the first three days of testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last week.

Quoted by F1.com, Verstappen said: “I just focussed on doing a lot of laps and try to really nail down every single aspect of the car. What was positive is the car was running smooth.”

“I was happy with the balance – but Bahrain is going to be completely different, so heading into race one, the car will be completely different as well.”

‘Red Bull RB18 will be different’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/28/verstappen-saysthe-red-bull-rb18-f1-car-will-be-completely-different-in-bahrain/

Alonso: We’ve made a step forward on everything
Editor
28 February, 2022

Up in smoke is how Fernando Alonso’s final day of testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last week, nevertheless the Alpine driver saw the positives of the three days in his homeland.

“And keep… the reliability that we had last year; it was one of the strongest points of the car, finishing all the races and having no issues at all. So yes, you need to combine those two things: the performance and finishing the races.”

Alonso continued: “Until we go to Bahrain, we don’t know even what the others did as well on the engine side and how much progress everyone did this winter. There is new fuel, so we all lost performance with the new fuel, and we all try to recover that. So, let’s see in Bahrain.”

‘Step forward on everything’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/28/alonso-alpine-f1-team-2022-testing-made-a-step-forward-on-everything/

‘He’s strong’: Norris dismisses Russell’s comments about McLaren
Ferrari and McLaren both impressed during the first three days of testing in Barcelona, but Red Bull and Mercedes asserted dominance on day three.
by Rob Kershaw
28 February 202228 February 2022

As a result, Norris believes Mercedes are stronger than his compatriot would have us believe, and reckons that Mercedes and Red Bull – who were incontestably the two quickest teams last year – are still the top dogs.

“George obviously topped the timesheets [on Friday morning] so if he thinks we’re strong, we’re going to think he’s strong,” he told reporters.

‘He’s strong’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/hes-strong-norris-dismisses-russells-comments-about-mclaren/

Binotto: Some teams sandbagging more than others
Jad Mallak
28 February, 2022

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto believes teams are sandbagging, which makes the process of predicting the Formula 1 pecking order a bit premature.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italia, Binotto rebuffed the claims of Ferrari superiority, and insists it is too early to know who is fast and who’s not.

“For judging the performance is too early, I think,” he claimed. “Some teams are sandbagging more than others. We will see that with the tests in Bahrain and with the first races.”

‘Sandbagging’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/28/binotto-some-teams-sandbagging-more-than-others/

Lance and Sebastian review 2022 F1 Barcelona testing
28.02.2022
Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™

Lance and Sebastian combined to complete a total of 296 laps across the three days, adding up to a total of 1,377.880km, providing plenty of valuable data and insight into the AMR22.

Sebastian: "It has been a useful few days and we have learned a lot about the AMR22, although we, like all the other teams, still have a lot more to learn considering that we are all dealing with a brand-new generation of Formula One cars.”

Lance: "It was a shame not to complete any laps [on the final] afternoon but it has been great to be back behind the wheel of a Formula One car. "We have already learned a lot about the AMR22, which is important because the cars are so different this year.”

‘Plenty of data’;

https://www.astonmartinf1.com/en-GB/news/feature/lance-and-sebastian-review-2022-f1-barcelona-testing

Fortitude

1st March 2022, 02:54

Ricciardo says McLaren executed a 'pretty flawless' pre-season programme in Spain.
There were no complaints from Daniel Ricciardo after McLaren’s start to pre-season running at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last week, the Australian reckoning the team’s programme had kicked off without a hitch last week.
28 February 2022

“I think we’re in a good spot, but there’s always something to work on and improve. So, we’ll give the team some data to work with and some areas of work to do [and] I'll focus on what I can keep doing better,” said Ricciardo.

“Overall, a pretty flawless three days for the team, a really awesome start to the season. Thanks to everyone back at [the factory] for putting the hard work in over the winter to put us in this position.”

‘McLaren flawless’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ricciardo-says-mclaren-executed-a-pretty-flawless-pre-season-programme-in.FoWfPSUqPS6NzlGOPwDIk.html

Marko: Hamilton at his peak but age is slowly coming into play
Paul Velasco
28 February, 2022

“Hamilton delivered an incredible second half of the season. I can hardly imagine that he can drive at this level for much longer. He’s now at his peak, but age is slowly coming into play,” reckoned Marko.

As for 24-year-old Verstappen, the Austrian motorsport veteran is on record saying: “He is now World Champion and he will get even stronger.”

Marko was also bullish when summing up the three days of testing in Spain, speaking to F1-Insider: “We are satisfied. I’m sure we had more fuel onboard compared to most of the others. I think we are on par with Mercedes and just ahead of Ferrari.”

‘Verstappen will get even stronger’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/02/28/marko-hamilton-at-his-peak-but-age-is-slowly-coming-into-play/

How Red Bull broke all F1 traditions with the new RB18
28/02/2022, ‎18‎:‎30
Author Paolo Filisetti
Co-author Mike Seymour

Red Bull's aggressive-looking RB18 emerged for the first time last week, as pre-season testing got underway in Barcelona. But what makes it so special? RacingNews365.com technical analyst Paolo Filesetti explains.

Curiosity, in particular, swept the paddock at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya ahead of Wednesday's running, as media - and in turn fans - waited for their first glimpse of the RB18. Indeed, Lewis Hamilton was compelled to go on a tour of the pit lane to study rival designs, taking a moment to peer inside the Red Bull garage as 2021 title rival Max Verstappen got strapped into his car.

When it emerged, the latest car from designers Adrian Newey and Rob Marshall did not disappoint, revealing itself to be a machine that was anything but conventional. Not only did the bodywork shapes represent yet another interpretation of the new rules, but the whole concept of the car also caused a stir, particularly the suspension details.

‘RB18 anything but conventional’;

https://racingnews365.com/how-red-bull-broke-all-f1-traditions-with-the-new-rb18

Valtteri Bottas: “Since I joined, I have seen so much motivation within this team”
By Paul Hensby
February 28, 2022

Valtteri Bottas admitted to being impressed by the new Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN 2022 car, the C42, despite an underwhelming first pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

The Finn made the switch from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team during the off-season to replace his retiring countryman Kimi Räikkönen, and he is excited to see what lies ahead with his new team after the unveiling of the C42 on Sunday.

The C42 is the latest design to come out of Hinwil, and is the first designed to the new aero regulations that came into effect in 2022, and Bottas was pleased with how the car looked when the true paint work was unveiled to the world.

‘Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN motivation team’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/02/valtteri-bottas-since-i-joined-i-have-seen-so-much-motivation-within-this-team/

‘Somehow we are managing the situation’: Binotto on Ferrari porpoising
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto insists that the team looked at the issue and have solved it.
by Rob Kershaw
28 February 202228 February 2022

One of the key themes of the pre-season test in Barcelona was undoubtedly the aggressive manner in which the cars seemed to bounce up and down along the straight, and there is speculation that this may be cause for concern for some of the teams.

Not least of those was Ferrari, and a slow-motion video of Charles Leclerc’s car shaking his head around the cockpit made for slightly nauseating viewing.

However, team principal Mattia Binotto insists that the team looked at the issue, and have solved it. “On the bouncing, I think it was an issue but it’s not any more,” he told reporters on Friday – the last day of the first test.

‘Ferrari are managing Charles Leclerc’s car shaking his head around the cockpit’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/somehow-we-are-managing-the-situation-binotto-on-ferrari-porpoising/

Alfa Romeo ‘confident’ in reliability despite Barcelona woes
Date published: February 28 2022 - Henry Valantine

Alfa Romeo team principal Fred Vasseur has said he remains “confident” that the reliability of the C42 will improve, after a tough time in Barcelona.

“It’s our challenge, but I’m quite confident that we’ll be able to do it for next week,” he told reporters at the launch of the C42 over the weekend, quoted by F1i. “For Bahrain I think we’ll be on the right way.”

“We saw on our side and the other teams, everybody made big improvements over the first three days and will come back next week. All the teams [will develop] a new configuration to fix it completely.”

‘Alfa Romeo confidence’

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alfa-romeo-confident-c42-reliability/

Fortitude

1st March 2022, 09:04

Mercedes looking at ‘interesting’ Red Bull sidepods
Mercedes technical director Mike Elliott hinted the team will “have a think” about how the radical-looking Red Bull sidepods work, after the cars were in action in pre-season running in Barcelona.
Date published: March 1 2022 - Henry Valantine

The RB18’s sidepods raised eyebrows in the week for just how different they look compared to other cars in the field, as they are significantly raised and undercut and appear to have left more room underneath for air to flow.

Previous design processes led by Adrian Newey have not been strangers when it comes to technical innovation and trying something different, and the new set of regulations appear to have shown Red Bull take a different approach to the rest of the teams on the grid.

‘Red Bull Sidepods’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-interesting-red-bull-sidepods/

Verstappen expects Bahrain F1 test to be 'completely different'
01/03/2022, ‎07‎:‎00
Author Mike Seymour

Verstappen: Lap times will only matter in Q3 in Bahrain

Expanding on his first impressions of the new RB18, Verstappen explained that "everything was working well" up to this point.

"The car runs really well. In general, the weight is a bit up, but I really enjoy driving the car," he went on to comment, amid F1's rules reset for 2022.”

"It has a nice, stable balance and I think [the new cars] look cool as well – that's always nice to jump into.”

‘RB18 looks cool’;

https://racingnews365.com/verstappen-expects-completely-different-outlook-at-final-test

Ricciardo: Red Bulls, Mercs, haven’t showed anything yet
Jad Mallak
1 March, 2022

Daniel Ricciardo warns – despite McLaren’s encouraging Barcelona Formula 1 test – that Red Bull and Mercedes haven’t showed anything of their real pace yet.

The eight-time Grand Prix winner is adamant that the top teams are keeping their powder dry: “In any case, still your Red Bulls, your Mercs, they haven’t showed really anything yet.

“So we’ll see what happens when that kind of opens up a little more. But for now, focusing on ourselves… just trying to figure out still where we’re [weak].

‘Keeping the powder dry’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/01/ricciardo-red-bulls-mercs-havent-showed-anything-yet/

How fast the 2022 F1 cars really are
1st March 2022, 07:21
By Scott Mitchell

“The 2021 cars were amazing to drive and I think our starting point in terms of performance is not so far from last year,” says AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly.

“So, considering all the development that we’re going to see at the start of the season and over the next couple of months, I think we will see pretty much similar performances.”

This echoes a recent prediction from Aston Martin technical Andrew Green that before long the 2022 generation would be on a par with their predecessors.

‘Performance on par with predecessors soon’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Pre-Season+Testing

Tech Draft: Formula 1 2022 becomes real in Bahrain
Mark Kay
1 March, 2022

With the first showing of the new breed of Formula 1 cars at the ‘group’ shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya now ended, we eagerly anticipate the conclusion of ‘real’ pre-season testing in Bahrain in just over a week.

Who has the advantage? I honestly think that its Ferrari that holds the upper hand… Let me explain why.
The amount of wind tunnel and CFD testing resource available to a team under this system is dependent on its finishing position in the previous year’s Constructors’ Championship.

With Ferrari’s disastrous finishing position of 6th in the 2020 Championship, this means that out of the Big 3 of Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull, it is the Scuderia that has benefited the most from the resource handicapping system under which F1 has administered since the beginning of 2021.

‘Scuderia benefits’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/01/tech-draft-formula-1-2022-becomes-real-in-bahrain/

Russell: Active suspension solves ‘Porpoising’ with a click of your fingers
Jad Mallak
1 March, 2022

Russell channels his inner engineer. George Russell spoke to the media about the issue, he said: “We just saw with the Charles video just how bad it was for them. So, I think we will need to find a solution.

“I guess if active suspension was there, it could be solved with a click of your fingers. And the cars would naturally be a hell of a lot faster if we had that.

“I’m sure all the teams are capable of that, so that could be one for the future. But let’s see in Bahrain. I’m sure the teams will come up with some smart ideas around this issue.

‘Click of your fingers’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/01/russell-active-suspension-solves-porpoising-with-a-click-of-your-fingers/

Ferrari has ‘most powerful engine’ – Wolff
ANDREW MAITLAND
FEBRUARY 28, 2022

“I think the McLaren and the Ferrari are looking incredibly strong,” said Mercedes’ George Russell, who admitted that the German team is not “fully happy” after the first test in Barcelona.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff agreed: “We have the feeling that Ferrari currently has the most powerful engine. But we’ve only had three days of testing and winter testing can be deceiving.”

Wolff’s Ferrari counterpart Mattia Binotto insisted: “We’re not the favourites, we’re the outsiders.”

‘Ferrari most powerful engine’;

https://grandpx.news/ferrari-has-most-powerful-engine-wolff/

‘It’s great news for Spain’: Alonso tips Sainz and Ferrari to have championship run in 2022
Fernando Alonso has tipped Ferrari to be the quickest team in 2022 after three days of pre-season testing in Barcelona.
by Rob Kershaw
28 February 202228 February 2022

Alpine’s Fernando Alonso believes that his former Ferrari team have put together the best package ahead of the 2022 season.

“Ferrari seems to be the fastest car, which is surely a surprise. For Carlos it’s great news and for Spain in general,” he told TVE.

‘Carlos Sainz tipped to be the 2022 F1 World Champion’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/its-great-news-for-spain-alonso-tips-sainz-and-ferrari-to-have-championship-run-in-2022/

Fortitude

1st March 2022, 15:30

Gary Anderson: How Red Bull’s dramatic sidepod design works.
It’s all about ensuring the highest-quality, highest-speed airflow to the rear of the car and maximising the ground effect aero by sealing the underfloor.
1st March 2022, 9:24
By Gary Anderson
The Race

The front of the sidepods are designed to push the airflow around the sides of the car. That airflow is sent in several different directions. Together, these set up a vortex that travels down the outer edge of the rear part of the floor.

These are crucial for sealing the underfloor from the outside world, which means the underfloor will produce much higher aerodynamic load. The last generation of ground effect F1 cars had side skirts that touched the ground, but these vortices form ‘virtual’ skirts to maintain the low pressure area beneath the underfloor.

‘Sidepod vortex sealer’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-how-red-bulls-dramatic-sidepod-design-works/

Red Bull RB18 is overweight, needs a diet
Jad Mallak
1 March, 2022

Red Bull’s RB18 may have turned heads around the Barcelona paddock during testing last week, but Adrian Newey’s latest Formula 1 brainchild has an underlying weight issue.

However it seems that all other cars are having weight problems, as they seem to be exceeding the current minimum weight of 795 kilograms, and some even by double digits.

Red Bull’s consultant Dr. Helmut Marko: “However it seems that all other cars are having weight problems, as they seem to be exceeding the current minimum weight of 795 kilograms, and some even by double digits.”

‘Red Bull RB18 Diet’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/01/the-red-bull-rb18-is-overweight-needs-a-diet/

Alfa Romeo ‘giving up performance’ to fix F1 porpoising issue
F1
Connor McDonagh
1 Mar 2022

Alfa Romeo technical director Jan Monchaux expects Formula 1 teams will have to compromise their own car performance to solve the issue of porpoising in 2022.

Cars were often bouncing down the start-finish straight on Barcelona when reaching high speeds, resulting in a loss of downforce into the next corner and potentially leading to other issues as the suspension is shaken.

Alfa Romeo was one of the teams most affected, completing only 165 laps across the three days of testing.

‘Alfa Romeo compromise’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/997017/1/alfa-romeo-giving-performance-fix-f1-porpoising-issue

Marko warns McLaren’s blistering pre-season pace could disappear
George Russell reckons McLaren look especially competitive ahead of the new season, but Dr Helmut Marko is not sure.
by Rob Kershaw
1 March 20221 March 2022

Dr Marko believes that the reason for McLaren’s notable pace in Barcelona was purely owed to them pushing harder than other teams, and jokingly suggested that they are looking for more sponsors.
“McLaren is chasing sponsors,” he quipped.

‘McLaren chasing sponsorship!’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/marko-warns-mclarens-blistering-pre-season-pace-could-disappear/

TECH TUESDAY: Why ripples and curls adorn the floors of the 2022 cars
Technical contributors
Mark Hughes and Giorgio Piola
01 March 2022

Because of the wide variation in cooling layouts and the associated sidepod design of the new generation of cars, the way in which teams are striving to maximise the effectiveness of the underbody venturi tunnels is similarly varied. The most visible area of this differentiation is in the wildly different contouring and detail of the outer edges of the floor.

‘Ripples and curls’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.tech-tuesday-why-ripples-and-curls-adorn-the-floors-of-the-2022-cars.1OHf3EXwhbt521IpbXUtVt.html

Ferrari are still ‘far from best performance’
Date published: March 1 2022 - Henry Valantine

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc combined to rack up more laps than any other team throughout the pre-season shakedown, with 439 tours around the Circuit de Catalunya as the team collected valuable data on the 2022 cars for the first time.

While some teams are expected to bring significant upgrades to the official pre-season test in Bahrain from March 10, Binotto does not expect Ferrari to make the same kind of changes to their car and make the most of what’s available to them.

“The first step for us is to optimise what we have, as Carlos said, we are still far from the best performance, not only because we are running high fuel or the best engine mode, but simply because I think there is a lot more to exploit from the car itself.

‘Ferrari ‘chilled’ with minimal upgrades’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-best-performance-ahead-2022/

Fortitude

2nd March 2022, 08:39

Some Bahrain updates ‘not quite in spirit of the rules’.
According to the German publication, none of the teams “showed all their cards” in Barcelona with one engineer saying Formula 1 “won’t see the delicate things that could lie in a grey area until we get to Bahrain”.
Date published: March 2 2022 - Michelle Foster

As such Sky Sports’ pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz predicted prior to Spain that there would be “some controversies with who has interpreted the rules in a way that wasn’t intended by the FIA. There might be some controversies over flexing floors and different ideas.”

Apparently the CAD data that the FIA have already seen in order to check the legality of the upgrades that are coming, shows that some are “sailing close to the wind and bringing solutions that do not quite correspond to the spirit of the regulations.”

‘Spirit of the Rules’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/some-bahrain-updates-not-quite-in-spirit-of-the-rules/

Things We Learned From F1 Testing in Barcelona
1 Mar 2022, 18:15 UTC ·
by Silvian Irimia

One of the most popular questions from last year was whether Mercedes and Red Bull will have enough time to develop the 2022 car after a titanic fight for both World Championships until the final race. In addition, they had the harshest restrictions on aerodynamic testing.

But after the three days in Spain, Mercedes drivers topped the timesheet with a one-two finish, and Red Bull's own Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were right behind them in third and fourth. However, these times are still potentially misleading because Mclaren and Ferrari seemed faster than the Silver Arrows on some sessions.

‘Potentially Misleading Times’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/things-we-learned-from-f1-testing-in-barcelona-182889.html

Why Russell's proposed porpoising solution would cause more problems
St March 2022, ‎15‎:‎10
Author Mike Seymour
Co-author Paolo Filisetti

George Russell has called for the return of active suspension to combat porpoising in F1. But as RacingNews365.com technical analyst Paolo Filisetti explains, such a move would be far from straightforward.

In response to Russell's comments, RacingNews365.com's Paolo Filisetti explains why the return of active suspension is not feasible on several levels.

‘Causing more problem’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-russells-proposed-porpoising-solution-would-cause-more-problems

Ferrari boss responds to Hamilton's pre-season comments
01/02/2022, ‎16‎:‎00
Author Mike Seymour

Mattia Binotto has given his reaction to Lewis Hamilton's suggestion that Ferrari could be well clear of the field in the 2022 development race.

"I'm pretty sure that they will be two or three months ahead of us by the time we will be in Bahrain!" Binotto told Sky Sports, ahead of Mercedes posting the fastest time of the test on the final day of action.

"I think that it's very difficult today to judge the performance and the relative competitiveness between the teams.

‘Mercedes will be two or three months ahead of us’;

https://racingnews365.com/ferrari-boss-responds-to-hamiltons-pre-season-comments

Five things we learned from the first F1 test of 2022 at Barcelona
F1
Lewis Larkam
2 Mar 2022

There was huge intrigue surrounding the event given it was the first time F1’s new generation of cars had run collectively on track, and there were some fascinating storylines to emerge.

It may have looked like 'business as usual’ as Mercedes ended the test with a 1-2 ahead of 2021 rival Red Bull, but lap times from pre-season can be hugely misleading and should always be taken with a pinch of salt.

Nevertheless, there was still plenty to glean across three days of running in Spain as teams completed plenty of miles and encountered the usual winter testing gremlins. (See video link)

‘Five pinches of salt’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/997056/1/five-things-we-learned-first-f1-test-2022

F1 NATION: Diving into 2022's opening pre-season running at Barcelona
01 March 2022

F1 is back and so is F1 Nation! Tom Clarkson, Damon Hill and Natalie Pinkham chat about the news, views and pre-season clues from three days of running in Barcelona.

Which teams have made strong starts, and which still have work to do?

Plus, the gang unpack rumours of 'brand-new' cars being prepared for the Official Pre-Season Test in Bahrain as squads aim to bring significant upgrade packages to the next sessions on March 10-12.

‘F1 Clarkson’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-nation-diving-into-2022s-opening-pre-season-running-at-barcelona.31VotNgYOphvKNrb9M1U2q.html

Fortitude

2nd March 2022, 16:43

Horner expects four-way F1 title battle with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
“There is the possibility we’re in for an absolutely epic year,” says Christian Horner, in a rare moment of calm between pre-season tests and ahead of the slog of a record-breaking 23-race season – assuming a venue is found to replace the cancelled Russian Grand Prix.
March 2nd 2022
Author
Damien Smith

We meet the Red Bull Racing team principal on a flying visit to the Milton Keynes campus – an accurate description of the place given the astonishing expansion of what started out as the relatively humble Stewart Grand Prix base all those years ago. In the office next door Adrian Newey buzzes around, likely hard at work taking on the learnings from the opening Barcelona test in preparation for three more days in Bahrain next week. He’s filled with porpoise – I mean purpose… and it’s clearly all go. Horner yawns several times during our chat, and it’s likely he’s been burning the candle at both ends. But he’s in a reflective mood, too.

‘Epic year ahead’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/horner-expecting-four-way-f1-title-battle-with-mclaren-ferrari-and-mercedes#

Gary Anderson: Adjusted F1 test times hint at Ferrari advantage
Mar 2 2022
By Gary Anderson

The first pre-season Formula 1 test at Barcelona gave us our first indication of the competitive order, and it seemed like business as usual with Mercedes fastest ahead of Red Bull.

But to help us understand a little better what the order appears to be, we can recalculate all of the best times of every driver to see what their pace would have been adjusted to the C4 tyre.

But I’ve looked back at what we’ve seen in the past from each team in terms of testing fuel loads to add a little extra context. I’ve used the 2020 test to the first race as the comparison given 2021 was affected by the carryover cars that impacted some more than others.

‘Tabulated order!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-adjusted-f1-test-times-hint-at-ferrari-advantage/

Why the 2022 F1 pecking order is expected to become clear at Bahrain test
2nd March 2022, ‎13‎:‎40
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Formula 1 is preparing to head to Bahrain for a double-header of events, starting with the official pre-season test before the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix one week later. Ferrari's Mattia Binotto believes that this is when the pecking order may become a little clearer. There have been plenty of mind games since Barcelona, with multiple drivers and teams keen to play down the competitiveness of their cars, even when topping the timesheets.

"In Barcelona, the first test was to collect data and, as we said, to try to understand the correlation," explained Binotto, speaking to members of the media including RacingNews365.com.

"But when we go to Bahrain, then it will be very close to the first race of the season. We will all, I believe, try to simulate some race simulations, quali[fying] simulations, how we try to extract the most of the performance from the car itself.

‘Pecking Order to become clear’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-the-2022-f1-pecking-order-is-expected-to-become-clear-at-bahrain-test

Lando Norris makes Mercedes performance prediction ahead of Bahrain trip
By George Dagless
Published: 2 Mar 2022, 12:05

“Mercedes never look that good in testing, only when they get to the first race. If they’re good in testing, that means they’re probably going to be incredible by the first race!”

“I think everyone’s worked on their own programmes and so on. Of course, everyone has different fuel loads and power modes and whatever.”

‘‘Mercedes Prediction’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87978960-lando-norris-makes-mercedes-performance-prediction-ahead-of-bahrain-trip

Kravitz on who’s hot and who’s not in Barcelona
Date published: March 2 2022 - Mark Scott

Sky Sports F1 paddock and pit-lane reporter, Ted Kravitz, has provided his initial assessment of 2022 field following the shakedown event in Barcelona. And, whilst it was a familiar duo in Mercedes and Red Bull at the top end of the timesheet, two other teams have caught Kravitz’s eye for all the right reasons based on his three days of observation.

“Undoubtedly McLaren and Ferrari,” was Kravitz’s answer when asked in a Sky Sports Q and A which teams have made the biggest step up since last year.

“After Day One it just felt like both of those cars could do decent lap times at a moment’s notice and more significant was Mercedes’ surprise at how quick McLaren and Ferrari were, and they’ve got all the GPS data to know that.

‘Kravitz on Hot’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ted-kravitz-assessment-2022-barcelona-test/

F1 confirm Bahrain testing schedule and when cars will be on track
01/02/2022, ‎11‎:‎10
Author Tom Leach

Formula 1 have confirmed that testing in Bahrain will run from 10:00 to 19:00 local time, which means 07:00 to 16:00 GMT.

If the test in Barcelona is anything to go by, there will also be a one-hour lunch break sandwiched between the four-hour sessions.

Cars are expected to be on track throughout the four-hour sessions as the likes Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari look to learn all they can about their new challengers.

‘Looking to learn’;

https://racingnews365.com/f1-confirm-bahrain-testing-schedule-and-when-cars-will-be-on-track

Fortitude

3rd March 2022, 09:24

Leclerc says Ferrari is ‘working harder than ever’.
Charles Leclerc said he felt “good” after Ferrari impressed during the first pre-season test in Barcelona but warned they were not focusing on performance at this stage.
Date published: March 2 2022 - Sam Cooper

“When you’re doing a lot of laps, you are certainly collecting data. So far I’m pleased by the fact that we did many laps which is important. Regarding the pace, it’s very early to judge. What I can see is that we are all very close, which was one of the objectives of the new regulations.”

“Overall, as Ferrari it was important for us to put focus and priority on 2022. We always said it was an opportunity. Now we are on track, we are trying to learn the car.”

“How we benefit from that, I think only the next months – not the next days – will tell us. To see the full potential of the cars will take at least four to five races as there is still so much to learn, to adapt, to address. Let’s wait and see. Honestly, we’re not the strongest team. We are still the outsider and not the favourites.”

Ferrari working harder’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/charles-leclerc-ferrari-working-harder-than-ever/

‘First look says Ferrari overtook Mercedes and Red Bull’
Date published: March 3 2022 - Michelle Foster

“The first balance of the test in Barcelona was that Ferrari overtook Mercedes and Red Bull,” Red Bull advisor Marko told RTL.

“They are teams that has different technical concepts and in Bahrain the fine-tuning will be decisive. In terms of engine power, it seems that Ferrari is now the best.”

He’s not the only one who feels Ferrari have surged ahead with their engine, Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff also saying that “Ferrari have the strongest power unit at the moment”. Wolff isn’t overly concerned, and neither is Marko.

‘Ferrari overtake!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut-marko-ferrari-overtook-mercedes-and-red-bull/

The positive that teams that struggled in Barcelona testing can take away
02/03/2022, ‎15‎:‎20
Author Anna Francis

The first 2022 pre-season test in Barcelona appeared to go better for some teams than others. However, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer has explained why those who struggled may not need to worry too much yet.

"If you're going to struggle at some point, the not-filmed Barcelona pre-testing test is going to be the time to do it," Palmer said on Formula1.com. "But it is just that really. The official pre-season test is in Bahrain. All these cars, we're trying to dissect, it could all look really different in Bahrain and this is all nul and void.”

"There's a lot of time before the first race. This is still fascinating, but it's ever-moving goals, especially with the new generation [of cars]."

‘Moving goals’;

https://racingnews365.com/the-positive-that-teams-that-struggled-in-barcelona-testing-can-take-away

[B]Did F1’s new 2022 cars really need two tests?
The Race
03/03/2022, 07:19
By Scott Mitchell

Formula 1’s new technical regulations have meant a return to two three-day tests in 2022. After the first, some have questioned whether it was necessary.

There were all sorts of hints in the off-season that ‘Team A’ was still failing crash tests and that ‘Team B’ would struggle to get its new car ready in time to run at Barcelona. Then on day one all but two teams completed more than 100 laps. Instant reliability for the vast majority.

The new cars were hardly bulletproof in Spain. The final day saw to that – Alpine and Aston Martin had fires, Haas and Alfa Romeo had a litany of problems. For one reason or another, four teams failed to complete any running on the final afternoon.

‘Two tests for new Technical Regulations’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/did-f1s-new-2022-cars-really-need-two-tests/

Williams’ ‘radical’ FW44 catches the eye in Barcelona
Date published: March 3 2022 - Mark Scott

The new Williams FW44 has caught the eye of its former World Champion Damon Hill following three days of unofficial testing at Barcelona.

And, on the latest edition of the F1 Nation podcast, Hill name checked Williams and Ferrari as the teams that stood out to him, pointing out some similarities along the way. “The Williams is incredibly radical,” Hill remarked.

“It’s phenomenal, the packaging on that thing. “Williams are a bit like Ferrari in [their situation].”

“Their Prancing Horse was hobbled a bit when they had their problem with their power unit, and they were clipped back, and they’ve been in reset mode, as have Williams. “

Williams FW44 Radical Reset Mode’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/williams-radical-fw44-catches-eye-barcelona/

Binotto: Mercedes will be ‘two or three months ahead’ of Ferrari
Mattia Binotto does not agree that Ferrari have the upper hand over Mercedes after the first pre-season test in Barcelona.
by Rob Kershaw
2 March 2022

Binotto dismissed rumours that the Scuderia are quicker than them ahead of the new season.

“I’m pretty sure that they will be two or three months ahead of us by the time we will be in Bahrain!” he told Sky Sports. “I think that it’s very difficult today to judge the performance and the relative competitiveness between the teams.”

“What was important for us was to collect data here and I think we can be somehow satisfied with the amount of laps we did. [Everything] will be analysed back in Maranello.”

‘Scuderia Data Collecting’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/binotto-mercedes-will-be-two-or-three-months-ahead-of-ferrari/

Fortitude

3rd March 2022, 18:15

Ferrari focused on 'optimizing' F1-75, not upgrades.
"I think that the first step for us will be to optimise what we have," explained Binotto, quoted by Motorsport.com.
Phillip van Osten03/03/2022 at 17:2703/03/2022 at 17:26

Contrary to Mercedes and Red Bull which will both roll out updated iterations of their 2022 cars in Bahrain, Ferrari's F1-75 will take to the track with few upgrades.

"We are more focused on that one [extracting more pace], not only in terms of setup engineering, but as well in terms of driving style and the drivers themselves. So let's wait, let's see what the others will bring.”

"Certainly, as Ferrari we are always concerned on upgrades of our competitors. And I'm pretty sure they will be very, very strong by then."

‘Ferrari F1-75 optimisation’;

https://f1i.com/news/433610-ferrari-focused-on-optimizing-f1-75-not-upgrades.html

Binotto: F1-75 will not be much different in Bahrain
Jad Mallak
3 March, 2022

Binotto revealed that Ferrari are sticking with the same version of the F1-75 they ran in Barcelona, in an attempt to understand it fully, and optimise it as much as possible.

“It will not be much different compared to what we’ve got,” he said. “I think that the first step for us will be to optimise what we have.”

“We are still far from the best performance, not only because we are running high fuel and not the best engine mode, but simply because there is a lot to exploit more from the car itself.”

‘Ferrari F1-75 to be exploited’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/03/binotto-f1-75-will-not-be-much-different-in-bahrain/

‘Lando may be playing mind games, but Mercedes aren’t’
Date published: March 3 2022 - Mark Scott

With Russell and Norris both trying to deflect attention away from their own respective teams and onto their rivals, it will only be in Bahrain when we start to figure out the truth.

But, in Russell’s case, he said he has no interest in playing games. It is unclear whether his nose grew as he was saying this.

“I can’t be bothered with mind games, it’s too much effort. No, there are no mind games,” Russell told reporters in Barcelona.

‘Mind games?’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-norris-george-russell-mind-games/

Norris: Mercedes never look that good in testing
Jad Mallak
3 March, 2022

Lando Norris and McLaren had an impressive Formula 1 test in Barcelona, the Briton topping the time screens on Day 1, but he warned that Mercedes will have the edge, as they never tend to look good in testing.

“Mercedes never look that good in testing, only when they get to the first race,” Norris pointed out. “If they’re good in testing, that means they’re probably going to be incredible by the first race!”

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/03/norris-mercedes-never-look-that-good-in-testing/

Verstappen set to ink a quarter billion euros Red Bull deal
Reuters
2 March, 2022

Max Verstappen the 2021 Formula 1 World Champion has agreed on a lucrative long-term contract extension with Red Bull said to be worth around €250-million over the next five years, Dutch media reported on Wednesday.

Helmut Marko said before that Verstappen should not expect too much money from Red Bull following a contract extension, but that doesn’t seem to have been the case, as the energy drinks outfit have reportedly broken the bank to retain the second F1 World Champion to emerge from their junior ranks after Sebastian Vettel.

Red Bull have most probably played it safe by locking down Verstappen in a long-term deal, and avoid the risk of him being lured by another team, a case of the reigning Champion seeing the grass greener on the other side of the fence.

‘Quarter Billion’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/02/verstappen-set-to-ink-a-quarter-billion-euro-red-bull-deal/

Verstappen: Easy decision to stay with Red Bull until end of 2028
Editor
3 March, 2022

As reported yesterday, Max Verstappen has inked a long-term deal with Red Bull which will see him with the team until the end of 2028 with a hefty $50-million per annum retainer.

Red Bull confirmed today in a statement released today: “After winning his maiden Formula 1 World Championship title in 2021, Max Verstappen has signed a long-term contract extension that will keep the 24-year-old Dutch driver with the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team, exclusively, until the end of 2028.”
Speaking about the new five-year deal, Max said: “I really enjoy being part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team, so choosing to stay to the 2028 season was an easy decision. I love this Team and last year was simply incredible, our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that, so now it’s about keeping the number one on the car long-term.”

‘Verstappen Red Bull’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/03/verstappen-easy-decision-to-stay-with-red-bull-until-end-of-2028-new-contract/

FIA approves new circuit protection for fans after catch fence tests
F1
March 3rd 2022
Dramatic videos show a new catch fence design approved by the FIA for F1 use. The FIA has approved a new catch fence designed to protect fans from debris during crashes.

Designed by Swiss company Geobrugg, the new fencing was tested and approved by the sport’s governing body for use at Grade 1 circuits, making it applicable for Formula 1 events.

A video posted by Geobrugg shows a car weighing 1000kg hurtling into the catch fencing at 150kph and the new design catching and withstanding the impact. Debris launched towards fans is minimised and no major pieces are seen flying through the fencing.

‘Catch Fence Protection’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/fia-approves-new-circuit-protection-for-fans-after-catch-fence-tests#

Fortitude

4th March 2022, 08:50

Haas aiming to avoid 'gremlins' in Bahrain Pre-Season Test after Barcelona issues.
An issue with the Haas’s Ferrari engine curtailed the team’s Friday running at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and meant that the squad – who finished 10th in last year’s constructors’ championship – managed just 160 laps over the three days. For comparison, Ferrari led the distance stakes with 439 laps between their drivers.
03 March 2022

Haas managed just nine laps on their final day of pre-season running and left Spain with the lowest lap total of all 10 teams – leading Team Principal Guenther Steiner to hope there are no “gremlins” troubling the team in Bahrain.

Steiner continued: “About the rest of the test – the first day was a little bit clumsy, I would say, but we learned enough that on the second day we were well prepared. The second day was actually pretty good, we learned a lot; if you think we had three days of testing… really we only managed one. I think we made good progress.”

“Obviously after having had only had about 40 laps [on Day 1] in total for the whole team was, I think, not ideal. To have already more than 50 [on Thursday] is definitely a big support and I think we’re learning with every lap – so I think we’re on a good way,” he said on the second day in Spain.”

‘Haas hoping for no “gremlins”!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.haas-aiming-to-avoid-gremlins-in-bahrain-pre-season-test-after-barcelona.2mo2by13CCdcLKFKnrYB45.html

AlphaTauri data correlation “better than expected” after wind tunnel change – Tost
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on
4th March 2022, 0:01| Written by Will Wood

AlphaTauri team principal, Franz Tost, said their data from the opening three day test in Barcelona correlated better with their wind tunnel projections than they expected. The AT03 is the first car the team has designed after moving in line with their rivals by switching to a 60% scale tunnel.

The team completed 308 laps over the course of the first three day test in Barcelona last week between drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly, before their final day’s running was cut short by damage sustained by Gasly hitting the tyre barriers.

“To find out how close we are really there, we did a lot of measurements the last days with our racks, as you could see, with the sensors mounted on there,” Tost explained. “Now the engineers are analysing the data and this is then the data basis for correlation with CFD and the wind tunnel. But the information I got is that we, from the beginning onwards, had quite a positive correlation. Of course, now as we have a lot of data from the racetrack, it’s much easier to build up this.”

‘AT03 Better Than Expected’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/04/racefans-round-up-04-03-5/

Gasly says AlphaTauri AT03 felt 'positive straight out of the box' in Barcelona
28 February 2022

Pierre Gasly was buoyed by his AlphaTauri AT03’s performance straight out of the Barcelona pit lane, and despite a small crash on the final day he left Spain buzzing for the Bahrain Official Pre-Season Test.

The Frenchman completed 187 laps over the three-day programme – more than Day 3 leader Lewis Hamilton – while AlphaTauri managed 308 tours of Barcelona in total. Gasly said he'd been “super excited” to try the new breed of F1 car, and it seemed AlphaTauri’s AT03 did not disappoint.

However, his final day was curtailed to just 40 laps thanks to a crash in the morning. “Unfortunately, I locked up my tyres during the morning running and damaged the car, but testing is about finding the limits and we’ve still been able to gather a lot of valuable data over the three days,” he explained.

‘AT03 Felt Positive’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.gasly-says-alphatauri-at03-felt-positive-straight-out-of-the-box-in.72lCm3AQXsDUi6JI2QSU7h.html

What to expect from Aston Martin’s new F1 team principal
F1
Lewis Larkam
4 Mar 2022

Mike Krack finally started work as Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team principal this week, having taken over following the departure of Otmar Szafnauer.

The former BMW motorsport boss officially began his new role on Tuesday and will make his first appearance in the F1 paddock for Aston Martin during next week’s second pre-season test at Bahrain.

Speaking to Crash.net and other media in his first interview in his new role, Krack said he aims to utilise all of his management strengths from his wealth of experience gained across various motorsport series including F1, Formula E, and the World Endurance Championship.

‘‘Utilising All Management Strenghts’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/997124/1/what-expect-aston-martin-s-new-f1-team-principal

Editor’s Desk: It’s time Ferrari gave Binotto a hand
Jad Mallak
4 March, 2022

Ferrari arrived at the 2022 Formula 1 preseason testing with the attractive and innovative F1-75, tipped by many to be the class of this year’s grid, but will it be enough for the Scuderia to launch a proper title campaign? Doesn’t their team boss Mattia Binotto need a helping hand?

This brings me on to “Management”, and in particular Ferrari’s team principal Mattia Binotto, the man who has climbed through the ranks of Maranello since joining in 1995 to finally reach the helm, a capable engineer once in charge of the team’s power unit department.

But under his watch as team principal, the team has not advanced, but even struggled, with slow cars, operational errors… You name it. And although the man cannot be blamed for all those problems, as the rot had already set in way before he took charge of the team, he is yet to make an impression to say the least.

‘Helping Hand’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/04/editors-desk-its-time-ferrari-gave-binotto-a-hand/

Leclerc reveals porpoising affected by DRS, admits most teams underestimated it
One of the key themes of the first pre-season test in Barcelona was the "porpoising" issue many teams appeared to experience.
by Rob Kershaw
3 March 20223 March 2022

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has compared the porpoising many teams experienced during testing in Barcelona to “turbulence” in an aircraft, while team-mate Carlos Sainz believes that many in the paddock “underestimated” the issues the new technical regulations might present.

“It feels like turbulence in an airplane going up and down the whole straight,” he said, quoted by Motorsport.com.

“I can’t say it feels good. It makes you a bit sick, but it is okay.”

‘Porpoising underestimated’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/leclerc-reveals-porpoising-affected-by-drs-admits-most-teams-underestimated-it/

Fortitude

4th March 2022, 18:51

If Ferrari has a rocketship, will Leclerc and Sainz partnership turn sour in F1 title fight?
If the Ferrari really is as good as it looked in the Barcelona running last week – when it appeared to be nip and tuck as quick as Mercedes and Red Bull – then we have a very interesting dynamic to observe between the team’s two drivers.
March 4th 2022
Author Mark Hughes

There was surprise in some quarters when Carlos Sainz was able to walk into Ferrari and in his first season out-score (albeit by a scant half-point) Charles Leclerc. But probably there shouldn’t have been. He’s been super-fast ever since arriving in F1 and even when he found a car – the Renault – in which his favoured driving style didn’t work, he still managed to pull together classy performances, frequently leading or ‘winning’ the ‘best of the rest’ class there in 2018.

Before that, he was comparably quick to Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso. Subsequently he edged a narrow advantage at McLaren over Lando Norris, a driver whose huge potential is now much more widely acknowledged than when Sainz was alongside him.

Leclerc has a devastating turn of speed and melds that incredible gift into a flat-out attacking spirit that sometimes pulls off outrageous feats of qualifying performance. In sessions where a valid comparison could be made, he outqualified Sainz 12 times to 5 last year but the average time difference between them was only around 0.1sec. From that platform, Sainz was able to compete head-to-head in the races. There was no number one and number two.

‘Scuderia Rocketship’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/if-ferrari-has-a-rocketship-will-leclerc-and-sainz-partnership-turn-sour-in-f1-title-fight-mph#

Drivers have got a 'mountain to climb' to get on top of 2022 cars, says Vettel
04 March 2022

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel has seen generations come and go in Formula 1, but after his first taste of the new Aston Martin he has pointed out that this new breed of car has an exciting but steep learning curve.

“We did a good amount of laps and there’s still a lot to learn for me,” he said. “The car wants to be driven in a different way, I am playing with driving styles and what I can do. Equally we are playing with the car, we are trying to sort some problems that we have, some of the challenges that we’ve faced, find solutions.”

“So, there is still a lot to do, everybody is flat out and there is still a very, very steep, and high, mountain to climb. I can’t say at the minute we are seeing the peak, but it's fun, I think the challenge is fun and the belief is there that one day we will reach that peak, hopefully just before the season.”

‘Mountain To Climb’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.drivers-have-got-a-mountain-to-climb-to-get-on-top-of-2022-cars-says-vettel.THULS4olSULP6d7bANa98.html

‘We have all the ingredients to be successful’ – Aston Martin’s new team boss Mike Krack on his mission to win
Staff writer
Greg Stuart
04 March 2022

Mike Krack was sitting at home feeling under the weather when the discussions began that would ultimately lead to him becoming Aston Martin’s Team Principal, as of March 1 2022.

“At Aston Martin, yes, the pressure is there, but I think you have to turn that into positive pressure. Yes, we want to succeed. We have to succeed, but also, we’ve spent so much time and so much budget, and it's not for being second or participating.

“Obviously, you cannot switch and be… winning from the first day,” he adds. “But at the end of the day, it's a huge challenge but it's also a huge opportunity that we have now. With that brand, the Aston Martin brand, we have all the ingredients that you need to be successful.”

‘Krack Ingredients’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.we-have-all-the-ingredients-to-be-successful-aston-martins-new-team-boss.3TsbvIkHXeLW90CSnycBLT.html

Albon impressed by 'great foundation’ set by Williams ahead of Bahrain test
04 March 2022

Williams kicked of their 2022 Formula 1 season with an impressive few days of running at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona. The team from Oxfordshire in the UK completed 347 laps, the fifth-most on the grid, over the three days of testing in Spain, leaving many impressed – including their driver, Alex Albon.

“Honestly, feeling very good, getting good mileage into the car,” said Albon. “It seems like everyone is doing pretty well, everyone is getting good mileage in… The car is feeling very, very good to begin with. I feel like we’ve got a good foundation to start the year on.”

“It’s not different, not very different at all,” said Albon. “All F1 teams operate in a very similar way, it’s more like going to a new workplace or a new school: new faces to learn and new names to remember.”

‘Williams Great Foundation’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.albon-impressed-by-great-foundation-set-by-williams-ahead-of-bahrain-test.KaCf3VunLpauKtnYeDnDo.html

Pirelli brimming with positivity for 2022 prospects after Barcelona running
04 March 2022

Pirelli came away from last week's Barcelona track sessions brimming with positivity over their 2022 18-inch tyres, after 10 teams completed a total of more than 3,000 laps using all five of the tyre supplier’s compounds – plus wet and intermediate tyres.

“It was quite positive; comments were in line with what we found last year. Now we have a lot of data to analyse. Teams were focused mostly on C2 and C3 [compounds] because they are focused on the car set-up and balance and to understand how the car behaves, but I believe that we have good information.”

The final day in Barcelona also saw trucks emerge to soak the track for Pirelli’s wet-weather test, giving teams the chance to run blue-banded wet tyres and green-banded intermediates for the opening hours of Friday afternoon. As Isola explained, it wasn’t a simple task – and there was much valuable information to be gained.

‘Pirelli brimming with positivity’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.pirelli-brimming-with-positivity-for-2022-prospects-after-barcelona-running.6uwOQ0hVMKssFb590d3nR7.html

PALMER: My verdict on all 10 teams’ pre-season performances so far ahead of Bahrain testing
Special contributor
Jolyon Palmer
04 March 2022

Pre-season running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya gave us our first chance to see all 10 of the new-for-2022 Formula 1 cars out on circuit together. Former Renault F1 racer Jolyon Palmer was keeping his expert eye on proceedings from trackside.

Here, he gives his verdict on the performance of all 10 teams, as they get set for the Official Pre-Season Test in Bahrain on March 10-12.

‘The Verdict’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.palmer-my-verdict-on-all-10-teams-pre-season-performances-so-far-ahead-of.3KdKKMn05eR3hlsMS8RmYC.html

Fortitude

5th March 2022, 11:30

Red Bull tipped to bring surprises to Bahrain test.
Former Renault F1 driver Jolyon Palmer reckons Red Bull are keeping plenty of tricks up their sleeve ahead of next week's test in Bahrain.
Author Tom Leach
5th March 2022, ‎07‎:‎00

The car featured aggressive new sidepods, with plenty of solutions across the floor, as the team look to claw back as much downforce as they can following major winter regulation changes.

But they are not done yet, according to Palmer, who expects more surprises in Bahrain when testing resumes on 10 March.

Speaking to Formula1.com, Palmer said: "[Red Bull] seem to be in a decent position overall, even if they acknowledge there is plenty more to do with the car. But as yet, I'd say they've maybe kept the most hidden of any teams – so they will be well worth watching in Bahrain."

‘Tricks Up The Sleeve’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-have-kept-the-most-hidden-ahead-of-bahrain-test

Porpoising problems will be gone “in two or three races” – Alfa Romeo
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on
5th March 2022, 0:01 | Written by Hazel Southwell

Jan Monchaux, Alfa Romeo’s technical director, said that despite setting the fewest laps of any team during Barcelona testing, he was confident that the situation could be turned around by the time of the Sakhir test.

“It was [not] a secret that we had some bouncing issues at the beginning,” admitted Monchaux, “and it was true, I think, for everybody. And we had some mechanical issue on the second part of the test.

“We have to to fix it, I think it’s a challenge but I’m quite confident that we’ll be able to do it for next week.”

‘Porpoising will be gone in two or three races’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/05/racefans-round-up-05-03-5/

Video: Go behind the scenes with Norris and McLaren for Barcelona testing
05/03/2022, ‎11‎:‎05
Author Thomas Maher

Norris gets behind the wheel of the McLaren MCL36, and shares his initial thoughts from driving the new generation F1 car in anger for the first time.

Encouragingly for McLaren fans, a smiling Norris jokes that he's "going to win the championship" after topping the times for the day, after being happy with the new car's handling through the fast sequences of the circuit.

‘Going to win the Championship’;

https://racingnews365.com/video-go-behind-the-scenes-with-norris-and-mclaren-for-barcelona-testing

Palmer paints a gloomy picture of Aston Martin’s test
Date published: March 4 2022 - Mark Scott

Ex-F1 driver turned pundit and analyst, Jolyon Palmer, was struggling for positives when assessing Aston Martin’s Barcelona test.

The return of the Aston Martin brand to Formula 1 in 2021 did not begin with the most exciting first chapter as the team finished P7 in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of other notable strugglers in the form of Williams, Alfa Romeo and Haas.

“In Barcelona it was tough – from the outside at least – to spot any obvious signs that they’d made much progress towards the front end of the grid,” Palmer said. “The car looked snappy and hard to drive, particularly in the low-speed final sector, and it was also the car I saw porpoise the most on one particular lap, as it was launched almost fully into the air down the start-finish straight.”

‘Aston Martin Gloom’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jolyon-palmer-aston-martin-barcelona-analysis/

Ranked: The best and worst F1 liveries of 2022
Date published: March 1 2022 - Oliver Harden

The February fashion show in Formula 1 concluded last Sunday as Alfa Romeo became the final team to formally launch their new car for the 2022 season.

With new regulations in place, this year’s breed are generally a good-looking bunch but, as with all things, some teams have done a better job than others.

Here’s how we rank all 10 liveries:

‘Formula 1 Fashion Show’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/2022-formula-1-liveries-ranked/

Video: The making of a Formula 1 car launch
Yesterday, ‎18‎:‎00
Author RacingNews365 Staff

AlphaTauri have released a behind-the-scenes video showing how they pulled off their AT03 car launch presentation.

AlphaTauri fused a virtual world with reality for the recent launch of their 2022 F1 car.

Named after Red Bull's clothing brand, AlphaTauri sent the well-dressed Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda out on stage with a host of models, before a digital version of the AT03 appeared and the drivers switched into their race suits.

‘Formula 1 Car Launch’;

https://racingnews365.com/video-the-making-of-a-formula-1-car-launch

Fortitude

5th March 2022, 16:44

Who are F1's 'happiest team' ahead of Bahrain testing?
Jolyon Palmer says he thinks Ferrari are the happiest team after the first three-day pre-season test session at Barcelona concluded last week.
05/03/2022, ‎14‎:‎15
Author Michael Butterworth

"Ferrari looked hooked up from the word go," Palmer told Formula 1’s official YouTube channel.

"In previous years, when the Ferrari got out of shape, you’d think [the driver] is about to crash, but now they get out of shape and they can still lean on it.”

"Particularly Charles Leclerc, he’s got these slight drifts on the corner exit, so it looks like he’s got confidence in the car. Carlos [Sainz] looks to be a little bit smoother, but is still getting some good pace out of the car.”

‘Happiest Team’;

https://racingnews365.com/jolyon-palmer-identifies-happiest-team-ahead-of-bahrain-test

How ‘brute force aero’ makes 2022 F1 cars easier to drive
Mar 4 2022
By Edd Straw

McLaren technical director James Key believes the “brute force aerodynamics” of the 2022 Formula 1 cars makes them easier to drive.

Key argues that the change to ground-effect cars with simplified top-body aero ultimately makes it possible to achieve a more stable platform.

“We know we’ve got a couple of areas we need to improve on, but overall it’s been maybe even an easier car to drive so far. When you look at the way we are generating downforce, we’ve got massive brute force surfaces, a huge front wing, a massive floor which is very powerful, far less complexity above all that.”

‘McLaren Brute Force Aero’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-brute-force-aero-makes-2022-f1-cars-easier-to-drive/

Mercedes expects 'lots of jumping' over which car is quickest
Andrew Lewin05/03/2022 at 13:5305/03/2022 at 12:29

Mercedes are expecting a volatile new season ahead, with the likelihood of big swings in relative performances during the course of the campaign as teams continue to work hard on developing their new cars.

"I suspect that most of the teams will find they're probably still on a strong development slope, and we'll see lots of upgrades as a result of that," commented technical director Mike Elliott in a new video released by the team.

"I think it's going to be really difficult to tell from winter testing who's quickest," he continued. "The cars are so new and so different, I suspect we'll also have the sort of reliability fixes that you need to put in place, and a big chunk of work to put into that as well.”

‘Volatile New Season Ahead’;

https://f1i.com/news/433678-mercedes-expects-lots-of-jumping-over-quickest-car.html

Alpine encouraged by low-drama bow of new power unit
Andrew Lewin 05/03/2022 at 12:35

The Alpine team is taking a big step with this year's power unit in the new A522 chassis, with Renault switching to the split turbo approach first introduced by Mercedes back in 2014.

Alpine sporting director Alan Permane was happy that the new engine package had gone largely unremarked upon, which he took as a good sign.

“Honestly, we haven't spoken about the power unit – and that's a great thing,": he told the media. "It hasn't even been a talking point really, which is great. “It's so different. It's completely different to anything that Viry have produced before," he continued.

‘New Power Unit, Completely Different!’;

https://f1i.com/news/433657-alpine-encouraged-by-low-drama-bow-of-new-power-unit.html

Fernando Alonso’s last stand – how long Alpine star has to carry out El Plan
FERNANDO ALONSO is as popular as ever among F1 fans, who will be thrilled to see the Spaniard has a plan to succeed - El Plan, to be precise.
By DANIEL MOXON
15:17, Sat, Mar 5, 2022

Just what is El Plan? Is it a social media stunt, thoughts up by the brains behind Fernando Alonso's public profile and Alpine's marketing department? Or is it a genuine scheme to give the two-time world champion the chance to add more silverware to his already impressive collection? The answer, most likely, is somewhere in the middle.

EL PLAN: The Spaniard kept bringing it up, and wore T-shirts with the phrase to make sure it didn't slip from anyone's mind. EL PLAN: And it gained most traction when, for free practice ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the letters on Alonso's rear wing were rearranged so that the phrase was there for the whole world to see.

EL PLAN: To clarify, or perhaps to make it even more confusing, he then added: "I think it’s part of ‘El Plan’ that I don’t know exactly what ‘El Plan’ is. You will have to bet. That’s ‘El Plan’…to scare without knowing."

‘EL PLAN’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1576137/Fernando-Alonso-Alpine-El-Plan-F1-news

Albon has already ‘exceeded expectations’ at Williams
Date published: March 5 2022 - Henry Valantine

Williams team principal Jost Capito said he has been “very impressed” with Alex Albon since he joined, to a degree where he has “exceeded expectations” about how well he has gelled with his new team.

“He gives very good information, is very good at evaluating the car. He is calm, has a good feeling for the car and works well with the engineers and the team,” Capito said, quoted by Motorsport-Total.

“I think he has just the right balance of being a nice guy on the one hand, but then also finding the necessary aggressiveness in the car and pushing. He is a fighter. I expected him to fit in really well with the team, but he actually exceeded my expectations there.”

‘Exceeded Expectations’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alex-albon-exceed-expectations-williams/

Fortitude

6th March 2022, 09:38

Aerodynamicist worries we only saw ‘tip of the iceberg’.
Jean-Claude Migeot, who used to be the lead aerodynamicist at Tyrell, had a gloomier outlook; “I hope to be wrong, of course, because it will be a nasty surprise.”
Date published: March 5 2022 - Mark Scott

Ex-F1 aerodynamicist Jean-Claude Migeot fears we have only seen “the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to the porpoising effect on the F1 2022 cars

Migeot went on to add that the porpoising effect will only get worse on track surfaces which are bumpy and suspects the FIA may have to intervene. “It’s going to be tragic on a bumpy track, and it’s going to be tragic in racing, because when you’re hard braking for overtaking you’re going to excite this phenomenon a lot,” he said.

“So we’re maybe going to see very bad things. I think the FIA will react before that. If nobody has time to find the best solution, the FIA will have to react. I hope to be wrong, of course, because it will be a nasty surprise.”

‘Going To Be Tragic’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/aerodynamicist-porpoising-effect-worries/

Why the 2022 F1 pecking order is expected to become clear at Bahrain test.
There have been plenty of mind games since Barcelona, with multiple drivers and teams keen to play down the competitiveness of their cars, even when topping the timesheets.
‎02‎ ‎March‎ ‎13‎:‎40
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Formula 1 is preparing to head to Bahrain for a double-header of events, starting with the official pre-season test before the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix one week later. Ferrari's Mattia Binotto believes that this is when the pecking order may become a little clearer.

Binotto - team boss at Ferrari - is expecting to see teams commit to race runs and qualifying-style laps during next week's official pre-season test in Bahrain.

That would offer fans the chance to see who really has built the quickest car of the bunch ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, which follows just over one week later.

‘Pecking Order Becomes Clearer’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-the-2022-f1-pecking-order-is-expected-to-become-clear-at-bahrain-test

Aston Martin continue supplying Formula 1 with safety, medical cars in 2022
By Ashley Cline
March 3, 2022

Aston Martin support cars will be returning for 12 Formula 1 races this year, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix. Specialised versions of Aston Martin’s Vantage and DBX will fill the role of the safety and medical cars, respectively.

Both cars will be running in the brand’s 2022 Aston Martin Racing Green, corresponding with Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One’s 2022 car, AMR22. Influenced by Vantages in GT racing, Aston Martin’s safety car is uniquely adapted for use alongside F1 cars and will continue to be driven by Bernd Mayländer.

‘Aston Martin Safety’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/aston-martin-continue-supplying-formula-1-with-safety-medical-cars-in-2022/

Mercedes describe ‘massive terror’ of engine revamp.
Mercedes engine boss Hywel Thomas said the team’s power unit has gone from having “little rearrangements” to something which has been a “massive terror” for them in developing this year’s car.

Date published: March 6 2022 - Henry Valantine

But topping it all off, every power unit manufacturer needs to get their products in as strong a place as possible because, once the season starts, an engine freeze is set to be introduced in the sport that will halt their development until the new engine formula is introduced, which is scheduled for the 2026 season.

With that in mind, in the words of Mercedes chief technical officer James Allison: “All the goodness that you can possibly pack into it has to be packed into it now, or forever hold your peace.”

Thomas, managing director of Mercedes’ High Performance Powertrains division, spoke about how the team’s previous designs had effectively been made redundant in some ways compared to what they have in front of them now.

‘Previous Designs Redundant’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-massive-terror-2022-engine/

Interview: how LEGO and McLaren built a Formula 1 car in secret
04/03/2022 Chris Wharfe

The LEGO Group worked in secret with F1 team McLaren for six months to design 42141 McLaren Formula 1 Race Car – here’s how they achieved it.

That was made possible by the fact that both the LEGO set and the real-life car were effectively developed in tandem, allowing the Technic designers to take some of the cues for the set directly from McLaren’s engineers.

McLaren’s Director of Licensing Lindsey Eckhouse: “We knew the level of technical integration and the collaborative process that we had gone through with LEGO Technic to get to the final model, but seeing it virtually and in designs versus seeing it in real life, and seeing the size of it, the amount of pieces, that’s pretty spectacular. There’s something like 1,400 pieces in this LEGO Technic set, which is pretty crazy.”

‘1,400 pieces of a McLaren F1 Car’;

https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-mclaren-built-formula-1-car-in-secret/?nowprocket=1

How These Model Makers Painstakingly Replicate Formula 1 Cars for Your Home
Love your car to pieces? This small-world manufacturer obsesses over every bit of it, just like you.
March 5, 2022
By Janice O'Leary

Sandy copeman wants to make you a Ferrari—or an Aston or a McLaren or a Mercedes—you can park neatly in your living room. His company, Amalgam Collection, got its start in the 1980s as an architectural partnership, but it has gained traction as the go-to source for scale versions of luxury road, race and classic cars.

In the late 1990s, when some of Amalgam’s employees suggested making replicas of Formula 1 cars, however, he had an epiphany. “My interest in F1 cars had been dormant,” he says, “and suddenly it was as if I’d awoken the beast.”

Fast-forward 20 years and Copeman and team have taken their small-world manufacturing to locations around the big world—Bristol, England; Hungary and China—where specialized crews make mini versions of cars, yachts and private jets. The finished products range in price from $1,000 for a 1:18 iteration to $100,000 to $200,000 for a 1:4 scale model of a bespoke project

‘Bespoke F1 Car’;

https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/gallery/genius-at-work-amalgam-collection-1234662511/

Fortitude

7th March 2022, 07:35

Leclerc: ‘We can become champions with five wins’.
Charles Leclerc has predicted that, if Ferrari can remain consistent throughout the year, he could become World Champion with five race victories this season.
Date published: March 6 2022 - Henry Valantine

“The last two years have been complicated,” Leclerc said while speaking on French TV show, Canal Sports Club.

“Ferrari is always under great pressure. But we react well as a team and we have also prepared well for the new rules.

“Achieving five wins would already be great. If we are consistent, we can become World Champions with five wins.”

‘Five wins’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/charles-leclerc-five-win-title-prediction/

F1 teams 'sailing close to the wind' of legality with Bahrain upgrades - FIA
Ben Issatt
Formula 1
06 March 2022

The FIA is warning some upgrades expected to be introduced by Formula 1 teams in Bahrain are "sailing close to the wind" in terms of legality.

The FIA knows this because teams present CAD data for all upgrades to ensure they abide by the regulations, and according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, what they've seen is causing worry.

A source from the governing body claims some teams are "sailing close to the wind and bringing solutions that do not quite correspond to the spirit of the regulations".

‘Sailing Close To The Wind’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15212-f1-teams-sailing-close-to-the-wind-of-legality-with-bahrain-upgrades-fia

Podcast: F1 2022 development race begins at test two
The Race.
07/03/2022, 06:36

With the second and final 2022 Formula 1 pre-season test kicking off in Bahrain on Thursday, The Race F1 Podcast asks how different we can expect the cars to be as the 2022 development race ramps up.

Gary Anderson and Mark Hughes join Edd Straw to talk through the expectations of the big three teams – Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari – in terms of new parts and how it might impact the competitive order.

‘F1 2022 Development Race’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Pre-Season+Testing

Sainz ‘surprised’ by wide range of rival designs
Date published: March 6 2022 - Henry Valantine

Carlos Sainz admitted his shock at the sheer breadth of different car designs on show in Barcelona, given the new restrictions in place.

“Honestly, I have been surprised by all of them,” Sainz told Marca. “How different we are from each other. They said it was going to be a restricted regulation, at least that’s what the engineers said, when it came to designing cars.”

“But all of a sudden there are 10 cars that have nothing to do with each other. That gives you food for thought and above all it gives you arguments to believe that F1 is beautiful this year. I like to see these differences.”

’10 Different Cars’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/carlos-sainz-rival-car-surprise/

‘It was just going to get worse and worse’: Brawn defends shake-up of F1’s regulations
Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn has defended the shake-up of the sport's technical regulations.
by Rob Kershaw
6 March 20226 March 2022

Brawn reckons the sheer volume of the changes will segregate some teams from a competitive standpoint, but maintains that the changes were necessary.

“Due to the nature of the regulations, inevitably when we start the season, we may see some scatter in the performance of the teams,” he said.

“I think that’s unavoidable, but I also think it was unavoidable to go that route. I think where we were, it was just going to get worse and worse.”

‘F1 Shake-Up’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/it-was-just-going-to-get-worse-and-worse-brawn-defends-shake-up-of-f1s-regulations/

New Aston F1 chief’s ideology seems tailor-made for Vettel
7th March 2022, 06:56

Compassion, respect, and transparency – three things always said to be crucial ingredients to get the most out of Sebastian Vettel, and three things that come second-nature to his new Formula 1 team boss.

Asked by The Race’s Mark Hughes about Vettel having a reputation of being quite sensitive to his work and environment, and if he feels that is a big part of his role, Krack said: “Yes, I think it is super important.

“It does not have to be always the island of comfort for everyone. But I think it’s very important for such high-class drivers that they feel the support of the team.”

‘Tailor Made For Vettel’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/new-aston-martin-f1-boss-ideology-seems-tailor-made-for-vettel/

Ferrari’s extra wind tunnel runs only worth a tenth of a second per lap – Binotto
2022 F1 season
Posted on
7th March 2022, 7:20 | Written by Keith Collantine

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says the extra development work they were able to do on their 2022 car compared to Mercedes was only worth up to a tenth of a second per lap.

“We have some more runs at the wind tunnel but if you look at the amount it’s a couple of sessions in the entire year,” he said. “It’s maybe a tenth per lap if you are very good, I think that’s the amount.”

The so-called ‘sliding scale’ aerodynamic rules are intended to encourage teams to use their development capabilities in a more efficient way, said Binotto.

‘1/10th of a Second’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/07/ferraris-extra-wind-tunnel-runs-only-worth-a-tenth-of-a-second-per-lap-binotto/

Fortitude

8th March 2022, 08:17

Haas could miss first Bahrain test day due to cargo delay.
As reported by German publication Auto Motor und Sport, Haas’ two cars and spare parts are stranded in the UK as the plane that was scheduled to transport the equipment is stuck in Istanbul with technical issues.
by Fergal Walsh
7 hours ago

AMuS says that Haas’ cargo isn’t expected to touchdown at the circuit until Tuesday evening at the earliest.

“We might be able to write off the first day of testing,” Steiner is quoted as saying by AMuS. “All other teams have a two-day lead in preparation.”

However, testing isn’t covered by a curfew which is enforced during the race season, meaning the team could work through the night to assemble its work area and cars when they arrive.

‘Transportation Stuck In Istanbul’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/03/07/haas-could-miss-first-bahrain-test-day-due-to-cargo-delay/

The ‘aggressive’ dark horse of F1 testing so far.
AlphaTauri was the sleeper hit of Formula 1 pre-season testing, only setting the sixth-fastest time of the 10 teams but receiving admiring glances from rivals for a tidy car and a relatively untroubled start to 2022 despite the challenge of the new regulations.
The Race.
08/03/2022, 07:12
By Edd Straw

That would set it up well for the target team principal Franz Tost has set for the team of finishing fifth or better in the constructors’ championship. Not that technical director Jody Egginton is allowing himself or the team to get over-confident.

“Personally, being pessimistic has served me well, especially since picking up this job three years ago,” Egginton tells The Race.

“We’re following our path, we’ve got our processes, we’re doing our thing and we get some things right, we get some things wrong. There’s a momentum in the team. We’re doing good things, we’ve got a good driver line-up, we’ve got quite a stable technical group and a stable team.”

‘Following Our Path’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/weve-been-aggressive-the-dark-horse-of-f1-testing-so-far/

Ferrari’s 'porpoising' F1 car made Charles Leclerc feel ill at Barcelona
F1
Lewis Larkam
7 Mar 2022

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc says the porpoising he experienced during Formula 1’s opening pre-season test at Barcelona made him feel “a little bit ill”.

A video shared by F1 on its social media channels demonstrated Leclerc experiencing the bizarre, high-frequency bouncing as he hit top speed at the end of Barcelona’s main straight.

‘Feeling Ill’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/997822/1/ferrari-s-porpoising-f1-car-made-leclerc-feel-ill

What each team needs from F1’s second pre-season test in Bahrain
F1
Lewis Larkam
7 Mar 2022

Formula 1 is gearing up for a second and (official) pre-season test in Bahrain this week. But what does each team need from the final three days of running before the 2022 season gets underway?

‘Gearing up for the Second Test’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/997806/1/what-each-team-needs-f1-s-second-preseason-test

Red Bull confirm driver plans for Bahrain F1 test
07/03/2022, ‎13‎:‎10
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Red Bull have confirmed when Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez will be driving over the course of the second pre-season test.

RacingNews365.com understands that the team will run Sergio Perez for the first day of action on Thursday, with the Mexican having set the fastest Red Bull time on the final day in Barcelona.

Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen will take over the RB18 on Friday, while both drivers will share responsibilities on the final day. The exact schedule for Saturday is yet to be confirmed.

‘Red Bull Testing Plans’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-confirm-driver-plans-for-bahrain-f1-test

Pirelli Announces Tyre Compound Choices for Opening Three Races of 2022
By Paul Hensby
March 7, 2022

Pirelli Motorsport has announced the compounds of tyre they will bring to the opening three races of the 2022 Formula 1 season in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia. The race in Bahrain will herald the debut of Pirelli’s eighteen-inch tyres.

With the season just two weeks away, Formula 1’s sole tyre manufacturer has revealed that the hardest tyres available to the teams – the C1, C2 and C3 – will be available at the Bahrain International Circuit on the 18-20 March. In 2021, with the thirteen-inch tyres, they were a step softer, but with Bahrain traditionally seeing extreme tyre wear, it was decided to go for the hardest options for 2022.

‘Tyre Compound Choices’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/pirelli-announces-tyre-compound-choices-for-opening-three-races-of-2022/

The 2022 Formula One race car designs, ranked from pretty-in-pink to a bright red speed machine
Will Martin
2022-03-07 T18:34:08Z

• Formula One returns on March 20 with 2022 curtain-raiser, the Bahrain Grand Prix.
•
• The season is one of the most anticipated in years, with new rules expected to shake up the pack.
•
• A new season means new car designs, and Insider has ranked all the teams' latest efforts.

‘Insider Rankings’;

https://www.insider.com/every-f1-car-livery-for-the-2022-season-2022-2

Schedule for the 2022 F1 Bahrain pre-season test
07/03/2022, ‎12‎:‎30
Author RacingNews365 Staff

With Formula 1's 2022 action getting underway for three days of testing in Barcelona, it's time for the final days of preparation for the new season. With a three-day test scheduled in Bahrain this week, here's the full schedule for the action.

Each day of the three-day test in Bahrain will follow the same schedule. The days are divided into morning and afternoon sessions, with a one-hour lunch break in between. This also gives the teams an opportunity to prepare the car if another driver is taking over for the afternoon session.

The morning session begins at 07:00 GMT and runs until 11:00 GMT. Following the break, testing resumes at 12:00 GMT and draws to a close at 16:00 GMT. Check out the full schedule for the first 2022 F1 pre-season test in Bahrain (IN THE LINK) below.

https://racingnews365.com/schedule-for-the-2022-f1-bahrain-pre-season-test

Fortitude

9th March 2022, 07:38

5 reasons Bahrain’s Official Pre-Season Test will give us a better sense of where the teams stand in 2022.
The development rate in F1 is extraordinary. Even while the cars were on track in Barcelona for pre-season running, work continued at speed back at base in the wind tunnel and in CFD (or computational fluid dynamics simulations) on upgrades – many of which will head into production and then onto the car over the course of the season in the endless search for performance.
F1 Correspondent & Presenter
Lawrence Barretto
09 March 2022

While Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto said the F1-75 will change very little from Barcelona to Bahrain, with the focus instead on accelerating their understanding of the current package and searching for performance sooner, the rest of the field are likely to bring updates of varying degrees as part of their development plan.

Mercedes and Red Bull are believed to be bringing significantly different packages, the duo preferring to give themselves a few extra days on the development of certain parts. Keep an eye on their garages – via F1 TV Pro – first thing on Thursday morning to see what they’ve produced, but be wary that they may leave some new parts off the car until the final afternoon of testing to reduce the amount of time for rivals to get a glimpse of their innovations.

‘Innovation Watch’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.5-reasons-bahrains-official-pre-season-test-will-give-us-a-better-sense-of.7LDKm3EELPEPn7XgYxloQi.html

The five big questions that F1's Bahrain test will answer.
Formula 1 will this week return to television screens for the first time since the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as pre-season testing continues in Bahrain.
Today, ‎07‎:‎00
Author Tom Leach

The wait is almost over; Formula 1 action will this week return to television screens as the new cars take to the track for the final three days of testing ahead of the 2022 season.

RacingNews365.com will be trackside in Bahrain, bringing you all the latest from inside the F1 paddock as the show gets well and truly back on the road.

Who will brings the upgrades to Sakhir?

Have F1's bright minds solved their propoising problems?

Will F1 reach a decision over minimum weight limit?

How will F1's new cars cope with Bahrain?

Will we learn the 2022 pecking order?

‘Waiting Is Almost Over’;

https://racingnews365.com/the-five-big-questions-that-f1s-bahrain-test-will-answer

Do Mercedes have a surprise in store? Is there a clear leader? Six testing talking points
2022 F1 season
Posted on
9th March 2022, 6:058th March 2022, 22:43 | Written by Keith Collantine

There have been various claims one team or another might pull out a surprise for the final three days of testing. But one report captured the imaginations of many. Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra yesterday claimed Mercedes is about to present a drastically overhauled W13 which lacks conventional sidepods. The rumours spread rapidly across social media yesterday.

If any team does have a radical idea up their sleeves, now would be a good time to produce it. After this test the contenders head straight into two races on consecutive weekends, meaning any early advantage will be locked in for the first couple of events.

But how realistic such a design would be is open to debate. Removing or drastically downsizing the sidepods while passing F1’s side impact tests would be a formidable challenge. It would also place far greater demands upon the car’s airbox to provide cooling. However other teams have already pursued aggressive solutions in this respect, notably Red Bull’s ultra-slim sidepods.

‘Early Advantage, ‘Locks In’, First Couple Of Races’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/09/do-mercedes-have-a-surprise-in-store-is-there-a-clear-leader-six-testing-talking-points/

Willams’ Head of Vehicle Design Dave Robson is looking positively towards Bahrain
By Robert Percy
March 8, 2022

The second round of this year’s pre-season testing starts in Bahrain this weekend and Williams Racing is definitely looking forward to it. After some initially promising running in Barcelona, Williams’ Head of Vehicle Design Dave Robson is looking towards Bahrain with a positive mindset.

“We got a useful preview of the FW44 in Barcelona and although the cars were only back in Grove for a few days before being transported to Bahrain, we were able to do quite a lot of work on them, which should help us to exploit the best performance this week.“

“We were reasonably happy with our work in Barcelona, but we are looking to do even better this week as we seek to push the performance of the FW44 forwards as well as ensuring that the car is fully race ready for the season ahead.”

‘Race Ready’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/willams-head-of-vehicle-design-dave-robson-is-looking-positively-towards-bahrain/

Hamilton warns ‘most cars are probably overweight’ ahead of Bahrain test
Sir Lewis Hamilton ended the final day of the first pre-season test in Barcelona fastest ahead of team-mate George Russell.
by Rob Kershaw
8 March 20228 March 2022

Many teams are reportedly pushing for an increase to the weight limit this season, as Alfa Romeo are said to be the only outfit to have managed to get their car below the 795kg limit as outlined by the FIA.

“Most likely, most cars are probably overweight, they are heavier than they have ever been,” said Hamilton of the weight situation.

“I am glad people are able to stop them so far.”

‘Most Cars Overweight!’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/hamilton-warns-most-cars-are-probably-overweight-ahead-of-bahrain-test/

The crucial task Ferrari have been working on between F1 tests
08/03/2022, ‎10‎:‎20
Author Mike Seymour
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Ferrari have been busy correlating their simulator and wind tunnel following the first pre-season test in Barcelona, where 2022's new cars ran together for the first time.

Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto has explained that one of the outfit's main tasks between the Barcelona and Bahrain pre-season tests centred around simulator and wind tunnel correlation.

"The objective of the session was to try to map the car in all the conditions, to try to understand the correlation with the wind tunnel and the simulator. The correlation will be an exercise back at Maranello, really trying to correlate all the data. The car is behaving well, overall, so we're not expecting big issues in terms of correlation. But it's not a matter of finding issues, it's a matter of optimising the final performance."

‘Correlating Wind Tunnel and Simulator’;

https://racingnews365.com/the-crucial-task-ferrari-have-been-working-on-between-f1-tests

Why F1 is so much more of an ‘efficiency race’ in 2022
The Race
8th March 2022, 12:17
By Edd Straw

Formula 1’s development battle in 2022 is “an efficiency race” given the impact of the cost cap and aerodynamic testing restrictions, according to Williams team boss Jost Capito.

“It’s all about efficiency now,” said Capito. “And we have the cost cap and you have to get the maximum out of the cost curve and that means you have to be able to do the best possible development throughout the year and for next year’s car.”

“So having this in mind, all money you don’t spend somewhere else on fixed costs, for example, you can put into development. That’s the most important thing, Formula 1 becomes an efficiency race.”

‘Efficiency Race’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/why-f1-is-so-much-more-of-an-efficiency-race-in-2022/

Steiner admits Haas ‘may have to write off’ first day of testing in Bahrain
Haas' cargo was left stuck in the United Kingdom after the plane that was due to carry it to Bahrain broke down in Turkey.
by Rob Kershaw
8 March 20228 March 2022

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has admitted that they will likely miss the opening day of testing in Bahrain this week due to an issue transferring their cargo to Sakhir.

The team’s cars and other important equipment were left stranded at Doncaster airport after the plane that was supposed to come and collect everything to take it to Bahrain broke down in Istanbul.

It is now expected that the team’s cargo will be taken to Germany, where they can then be collected and taken to the Middle East. “According to our information, it should now be flown to Leipzig and from there to Bahrain,” said a report by Auto Motor und Sport.

‘Doncaster Airport!’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/steiner-admits-haas-may-have-to-write-off-first-day-of-testing-in-bahrain/

Fortitude

10th March 2022, 06:59

Mercedes may be ‘months ahead’; Ricciardo’s next step: What to watch for in final F1 testing.
Formula 1 closes its pre-season campaign this weekend, with three days of testing beginning Thursday (tonight) at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
March 10th, 2022 8:29 am

Just 30 hours of crucial track time remains before the first round of the season, and while some teams will be aiming to build on decent foundations laid during February testing, several others are already playing catch-up thanks to reliability problems.

Watching the timing screen during pre-season testing is always ill-advised, but lap times will become increasingly relevant as we progress through the three days.

’30 Hours Remain!’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-news-2022-formula-1-testing-in-bahrain-start-time-preview-when-is-it-how-to-watch-analysis-mercedes-daniel-ricciardo-ferrari/news-story/888eda47c27208c8af4a9724bb5b131c

A ‘completely different’ 2022 F1 engine has quietly impressed.
Renault’s works team willingly compromised its 2021 season by the Viry-Chatillon engine division not developing its power unit and instead focusing its resources on a major development project for 2022.
The Race
09/03/2022, 11:58
By Scott Mitchell

The Alpine Formula 1 team’s massively revised Renault engine should be run at full power for the first time this week after an impressive testing debut in which it was “not even a talking point”.

The organisation conducted a “back to front” review of the power unit, according to Alpine’s new F1 technical director Matt Harman, and “decided to change the architecture of that power unit extensively in all areas including the internal combustion engine, the ERS, the turbo and its positioning in the car”.

‘Back To Front Review’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/a-completely-different-2022-f1-engine-has-quietly-impressed/

Mercedes’ radical new ‘sidepod-less’ W13 design appears ahead of final test
2022 F1 season
Posted on
10th March 2022, 6:25| Written by Keith Collantine

Mercedes have revealed a radical new development on their W13 ahead of the second pre-season test in Bahrain.

The team’s W13 appeared in the paddock at Bahrain International Circuit featuring revised, much slimmer sidepods.

Reports of a ‘sidepod-less’ W13 first emerged in Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra, which is believed to have been alerted to the design by one of Mercedes’ rivals.

‘Radical W13 Sidepod-less!’

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/10/mercedes-radical-new-sidepod-less-w13-design-appears-ahead-of-final-test/

McLaren evolve their F1 livery ahead of Bahrain test
2022 F1 Season
Posted on
9th March 2022, 16:28 | Written by Hazel Southwell

McLaren has revised the livery of its Formula 1 car ahead of the Bahrain pre-season test

The original launch car had a largely papaya engine cover, with flashes of turquoise and black down the sidepods. The livery being run today has a mostly black engine cover with a small orange swoop over the sidepods down the length of the rear. The drivers’ numbers are more prominent, being orange on black instead of blue on orange. The rear wing endplates have also been re-painted black.

The changes to the car are more than just cosmetic. There are also signs of a revised, more heavily contoured floor at the edge of the sidepods, compared to the car that ran at Barcelona. There are significant restrictions to the dimensions of bodywork in that area under the 2022 rules.

‘McLaren Evolution’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/09/mclaren-evolve-their-f1-livery-ahead-of-bahrain-test/

Alonso: Other teams ‘smarter’ than Alpine out the blocks
Date published: March 9 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

EL PLAN: Fernando Alonso believes that some teams came into the Barcelona shakedown better prepared than Alpine did.

So to Alonso’s mind, while he was generally happy with how the test went, he nonetheless believes that some of Alpine’s rivals outsmarted them.

“With the new regulations there are always a lot of things to test and adjust,” Marca quote him as having said in an interview with Forbes.

“I think we have made progress, the truth is that other teams seemed to be more prepared, they went out from the beginning, they got the time super easy, they did long runs.

‘Alpine’s Rivals Outsmarted Them’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernando-alonso-alpine-outsmarted/

22 Questions with Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi | Part I
Published on
09 Mar 2022

As we edge ever closer to lights out in Bahrain, we caught up with Williams Racing drivers Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi to ask them 22 Questions ahead of the 2022 Formula One season.

Alex and Nicky fielded questions on a range of topics, from their go-to coffee order and favourite cheat meal, to the inspiration behind their racing number.

’22 Answers’;

https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/351b81c7-efe8-47ad-92b2-77c2030fffce/22-question-with-alex-albon-and-nicholas-latifi-part-i

Inside Ferrari's Luxury Private Jet Used by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Between Races
9 Mar 2022, 13:48 UTC ·
by Monica Coman

In 2019, Ferrari announced a partnership with the private jet company, VistaJet, which would fly around its Scuderia Ferrari drivers. Now, the partnership continues, and Carlos Sainz Jr. Just gave us a good look at the interior of the luxury jet while he was on his way to Bahrein with teammate Charles Leclerc.

On his way to Bahrain for pre-season testing, the Ferrari Spanish driver took it to social media to give us a look at how he and Leclerc travel during the season: on a VistaJet private aircraft.

‘Scuderia Luxury Jet’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/inside-ferrari-s-luxury-private-jet-used-by-charles-leclerc-and-carlos-sainz-between-races-183524.html

Mazepin names the four drivers who support him
Date published: March 10 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Mazepin has been left feeling extremely hard done by regarding Haas’ decision, while he revealed that only four of the now 19 drivers on the Formula 1 grid reached out to him.

However, for the ones that did, they being Mercedes’ George Russell, Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas, he is grateful for the messages of support.

Speaking in a video conference, Mazepin said: “I appreciated the small number of drivers who expressed their support for me. “Sergio [Perez], Valtteri [Bottas], Charles [Leclerc] and George [Russell] all contacted me. They know how important the situation is, and they showed their support after I lost the opportunity to compete.”

‘Support From Four F1 Drivers’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/nikita-mazepin-four-drivers-support-him/

Fortitude

10th March 2022, 13:57

Brawn: We did not anticipate the Mercedes concept.
Formula 1 chief Ross Brawn was a keen pitlane observer on day one of Bahrain F1 Testing, admitting the radical solutions seen on the Mercedes W13 came as a surprise.
Editor
10 March, 2022

During the morning session at Sakhir, Brawn was also seen touring the garages and pitlane, telling Sky TV: “Some of the solutions quite honestly we never anticipated and I think we will go back in to investigate those solutions and make sure they maintain the objective of the new rules – I think they do.

“There are some very extreme interpretations of the regulations which could lead to a lot of debate. We did not anticipate the Mercedes concept.”

“Our initial impressions are that there’s nothing here that we would be overly concerned about in terms of those objectives in the regulations. The regulators of the sport know what’s going on – I think they’re ok with it so far.”

‘Radical Solutions’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/10/brawn-some-of-the-solutions-we-never-anticipated-bahrain-f1-testing/

Leclerc leads Albon as F1’s 2022 Bahrain test begins
10/03/2022, 11:10
By Josh Suttill

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was half a second clear on the opening morning of Formula 1’s second 2022 pre-season test in Bahrain.

Leclerc put his Ferrari to the top of the timesheets just before the midway mark in the session with a 1m34.531s on the C3 tyres. This put Leclerc over 1.5 seconds clear until the Williams of Alex Albon jumped into second place and eventually cut that gap to 0.539s on the C4 tyres.

The top three was completed by Aston Martin’s four-time champion Sebastian Vettel who was 1.175s slower than Leclerc’s benchmark.

‘Scuderia top timesheets’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/leclerc-leads-albon-as-f1s-2022-bahrain-test-begins/

Leclerc sets the pace, Mercedes sets the tongues wagging
NEWS STORY
10/03/2022

Charles Leclerc sets the pace on the opening morning of the Bahrain test, but it is the Mercedes sidepods - or lack of them - that grab the headlines.

At a time many are complaining that the new rules have left the cars looking more similar than ever, a brave gamble by the German team proves that there is always room for improvement.

As the W13 headed out it appeared to have no sidepods, but on closer inspection it becomes clear that the German team has slimmed them down to an amazing degree with the cooling inlets totally re-sculptured. There are two sets of cooling gills, one on top of the sidepod and the other on the side of the engine cover, leaving the car looking a real work of art and entirely different to its rivals.

‘Real Work Of Art’;

https://www.pitpass.com/71931/Leclerc-sets-the-pace-Mercedes-sets-the-tongues-wagging

Toto Wolff offers thoughts on Mercedes sidepod debate
By George Dagless
Published: 10 Mar 2022, 12:29

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has said that he is unconcerned about the debate that is rumbling around the design of his team’s new car at Bahrain testing. Speaking in Bahrain at the lunchtime press conference on Thursday, he explained:

“The process is very clear. When you go in a specific development direction, you have the FIA part of it. You’re exchanging CAD and you’re making them part of the process.”

Of course, Wolff is hardly going to sit there and say Mercedes thought they’d get away with a fast one and it’s a fair cop but, at the same time, it does seem pretty clear the FIA were liaised with throughout this process.

‘Mercedes W13 Fair Cop!’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87982486-toto-wolff-offers-thoughts-on-mercedes-sidepod-debate

MERCEDES SIDEPODS EXPLAINED
Catherine Micallef
10/03/2022, 10:49

No one knows what to call them yet. Sky Sports F1 came up with a few names.

Maybe “no pods”? Or “zero pods”? Or it can also be “podless”?

Mercedes did say that they would have aggressive upgrades to their car from the Barcelona testing, but some are questioning the changes

Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle explained the car to look “like a bar of chocolate has been left out in the sun and melted.”

‘Melted Bar Of Chocolate’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/mercedes-sidepods-explained/

The secrets behind Mercedes’ ‘disappearing’ sidepods at F1 testing
The Silver Arrows have unveiled a controversial new version of the W13 in Bahrain on Day 1
Jack Rathborn
10/03/2022, 10:32

Mercedes have created controversy already on day one of Formula 1 testing with the “extreme” innovation to making the sidepods on their 2022 car “disappear”.

And Mercedes High Performance Powertrains boss Hywel Thomas noted a “huge change” in the sidepod design in a video the team put out explaining the biggest changes on the 2022 car.

Thomas and Mercedes F1 technical director Mike Elliott had discussed the car’s initial development, with the original Mercedes sidepods shrinking noticeably at the back, only for the evolution of the W13 to see them almost “disappear”.

‘Sidepod Shrinkage!’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/mercedes-sidepods-testing-bahrain-lewis-hamilton-b2032736.html

The ‘massive tear-up’ behind Mercedes’ disappearing sidepods
10/03/2022, 07:05
By Scott Mitchell

“I guess when you look at the sidepods – I know you guys! – you’d be worried where that’s going to cool,” Elliott joked.

“A big chunk of work has gone into this car to try and get that cooling and to get that cooling in a more efficient way,” said Elliott.

“The work we’ve done together on the layout of the exhaust, and the cooling systems of the car, are going to pay big dividends in the aerodynamics.”

‘Cooling Concerns!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/the-massive-tear-up-behind-mercedes-disappearing-sidepods/

‘Daniel Ricciardo is feeling unwell’: McLaren driver replaced by Norris for first day of Bahrain test
McLaren were forced to swap out Daniel Ricciardo for Lando Norris after the Australian fell ill overnight.
by Rob Kershaw
10 March 202210 March 2022

Daniel Ricciardo was forced to miss the first day of the second pre-season test in Bahrain after falling ill overnight, with Lando Norris taking the reigns on day one of the morning test.

The Australian was set to get behind the wheel of the MCL36 on day one, but reported to his team that he was feeling under the weather, and was not well enough to go to the paddock and get drive the car on day one.

‘Get Well Daniel Ricciardo’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/daniel-ricciardo-is-feeling-unwell-mclaren-driver-replaced-by-norris-for-first-day-of-bahrain-test/

Fortitude

10th March 2022, 19:29

Who’s thriving, and who’s toiling, with F1 2022’s car demands.
How far they have got in controlling the porpoising phenomenon? Ferrari has clearly made good progress with this, Mercedes – regardless of the visual impact of its new sidepods – has not. Bahrain exposed this problem more severely than Barcelona.
10th March 2022, 18:22
By Mark Hughes

Red Bull is keeping its powder dry with no attempt made at a fast lap, just a series of consistent long runs from Sergio Perez. The other team with an apparently good handle on the porpoising – McLaren – was instead floundering around Sakhir with brake problems but in between times still managed to go reasonably quickly.

AlphaTauri set the fastest time after Pierre Gasly did a series of single-lap runs on the softest tyres late in the day. But given the expected gap between his C5 and the C3 tyre compound on which the Ferraris set their times (Charles Leclerc in the morning, Carlos Sainz in the afternoon), the red cars were probably in reality the fastest – at around 3s off the pace of the fastest cars at this stage in last year’s test.

‘He Who Controls The Porpoising Phenomenon, Maybe Wins!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/whos-thriving-and-whos-toiling-with-f1-2022s-car-demands/

Pierre Gasly finishes fastest after day one of F1 pre-season test - with both Ferrari drivers completing the top three and Lewis Hamilton down in 11th as Mercedes' drastically different 2022 car is the talk of the paddock in Bahrain.
By Kieran Jackson For Mailonline
Published: 17:10, 10 March 2022

• The first day of the official F1 pre-season test took place in Bahrain earlier today

• Eyebrows were raised after Mercedes revealed a different design to their car

• AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly was a surprise leader after day one of testing

• Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc completed the top-three

• Lewis Hamilton finished 11th in the standings - Max Verstappen did not drive

‘Pierre Gasly was a surprise name at the top of the leaderboard after day one of F1 testing’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10599431/Pierre-Gasly-finishes-fastest-day-one-F1-pre-season-test-Ferrari-drivers-3.html

McLaren's F1 test brake issues not an easy fix, warns Lando Norris
F1
Lewis Larkam
10 Mar 2022

Lando Norris fears the brake issues which hampered McLaren’s start to Formula 1’s second pre-season test in Bahrain is “not going to be an easy fix”.

Norris was seen struggling to slow down at Turn 1 and Turn 10 on multiple occasions as he regularly suffered lock-ups and ran wide. The issue impacted McLaren’s long run plans and Norris is concerned it may take time to solve.

“We just had problems with the brakes today, simple as that,” Norris explained at the end of the opening day of running in Bahrain. “The exact problems I'm not too sure, but just temperatures and stuff. It didn't allow us to do long runs. Things we are trying to fix the next few days, it's not going to be an easy fix, so we'll see what we can do.”

‘Not An Easy Fix!’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/998069/1/mclarens-f1-test-brake-issues-not-easy-fix-norris

Bottas’s Alfa Romeo F1 life finally starts ‘properly’
10/03/2022, 17:16
By Scott Mitchell

Valtteri Bottas believes the problems that plagued Alfa Romeo’s woeful Barcelona Formula 1 test are now “behind us” after the team’s “first proper day” without issue in Bahrain.

The team and Bottas enjoyed a far more drama-free day on the opening day of the Bahrain test, with Bottas logging 66 laps in the afternoon after his rookie team-mate Zhou Guanyu completed 54 in the morning, only halted briefly by an issue that caused him to stop in the pitlane.

With a combined total of 120 laps, this gave Alfa the third-highest lap tally, only behind 2021 title protagonists Red Bull (138) and Mercedes (122).

‘F1 Life Finally Starts’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/bottass-alfa-romeo-f1-life-finally-starts-properly/

Alex Albon reacts to Day 1 of testing in Bahrain
Published on
10 Mar 2022

Our No23 gives us his thoughts after hopping out of the FW44

With another day of running under his belt, Alex Albon speaks after recording 104 laps in the FW44.

‘104 Laps For The Williams FW44’;

https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/a1065b63-2787-4e08-896b-6d421ada9a5b/alex-albon-reacts-to-day-1-of-testing-in-bahrain

Max Verstappen hints Ferrari are the team to beat in Bahrain qualifying next week
By George Dagless
Published: 10 Mar 2022, 16:00

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has hinted that Ferrari could be the team to beat at the Bahrain Grand Prix next week in terms of qualifying, with him saying he hopes that his team can be close to the Scuderia in Q3.

The Prancing Horse is being tipped by many to make a return to the front of the grid and several over the course of Barcelona testing and the start of Bahrain testing have commented that they are looking strong.

Scuderia team boss Mattia Binotto has said that remain outsiders for the championship in a bid to cool expectations but even he cannot deny that the Ferrari has immediately looked solid and consistent during testing so far.

‘Scuderia Cool and Solid’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87982487-max-verstappen-hints-ferrari-are-the-team-to-beat-in-bahrain-qualifying-next-week

Rivals thwart Haas’ hopes of extra test on Sunday
Date published: March 10 2022 - Jon Wilde

The problem stemmed from a technical issue with a plane in Turkey and meant Haas were behind in their preparations, leaving them unable to get the car onto the circuit until Thursday afternoon rather than the morning.

Therefore, they made a request to extend their testing into a fourth day, Sunday, in order to have the same amount of track time as their rivals.

But the plea was vetoed as three teams are said to have objected, with Haas team principal Guenther Steiner citing one of them as being McLaren. It has been reported the other two were Alpine and Alfa Romeo.

‘Technical Issues’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-sunday-test-hopes-thwarted/

Wolff on Mercedes’ W13 legality: ‘I think we’ll be ok’
Date published: March 10 2022 - Mark Scott

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is reasonably confident that the sidepod-less W13 is here to stay amid the inevitable questions about its legality.

“It’s clear that sometimes when you come with an innovation, it creates the kind of debate that we are having here,” Wolff told reporters during a press conference in Bahrain.

“That’s why that was expected. We have the new governance with the super majority that’s needed. My opinion is that I would have preferred to stay with the old system and if a team comes up with an innovation, possibly you can’t take it off the car if it’s compliant with the regulations.”

‘No Sidepods Can Be Taken Off The Car!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mercedes-w13-legality-toto-wolff-assessment/

Fortitude

11th March 2022, 08:30

Bahrain pre-season test: Day 2 line-ups.
F1 teams head into their second day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on Friday.
Michael Delaney11/03/2022 at 06:15

While some will pick up where they left off on Thursday, others will be looking to boost their lap tally at Sakhir. That will be the case for McLaren whose mileage was limited on the opening day by brake temperature issues, with Lando Norris putting just 50 laps on the board.

Haas will also be looking to recover the ground it lost following its freight issues and forced delayed start to its testing schedule in Bahrain.

‘Pick Up and Recover The Ground’;

https://f1i.com/news/434109-bahrain-pre-season-test-day-2-line-ups-2.html

McLaren will suffer with Ricciardo illness
11/03/2022, 07:18

Naomi Schiff thinks Daniel Ricciardo's illness will be 'tough for the whole' McLaren team as Lando Norris takes on driving duties for the second day of testing in Bahrain.

‘Get Well Daniel Ricciardo’;

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/12563017/mclaren-will-suffer-with-ricciardo-illness

Binotto admits Ferrari ‘underestimated’ how big of an issue porpoising would be
The teams are still trying to work their away around the porpoising issue that many of them faced in the first test in Barcelona.
by Rob Kershaw
11 March 202211 March 2022

While the Mercedes of Sir Lewis Hamilton appeared to be doing a lot of bouncing on Thursday morning in Sakhir, Leclerc’s car looked relatively smoother. “We certainly knew, with the ground-effect situation, that it was going to be different. It is a learning process,” he (Binotto) added.

“Solving it can be quite straightforward, optimising the performance because it should not be a compromise but trying to avoid the bouncing by getting the most out of the car, that could be a less-easy exercise.”

“I’m pretty sure that at some stage, each team will get to the solution. How long will it take? I think the ones that get there sooner will have an advantage at the start of the season.”

‘Mercedes Bouncing, Ferrari Smooth’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/binotto-admits-ferrari-underestimated-how-big-of-an-issue-porpoising-would-be/

Gasly sensed rivals were ‘hiding’ in claiming P1
Date published: March 10 2022 - Jon Wilde

Pierre Gasly thought the top teams must have been “hiding” to enable him to finish P1 on the opening day of the official pre-season test.

A driver who excelled over a single lap last year, the Frenchman went top of the timesheet by more than half a second with a 1:34.010 and then knocked off another tenth, with Sainz only able to get within 0.457sec before a red flag ended the session a few minutes early.

But Gasly sensed only his team were really interested in pumping in some qualifying-style laps and that others capable of matching his pace had been piling up the sandbags.

‘Piling Up The Sandbags’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre-gasly-rivals-hiding-helped-p1/

Formula One: Mercedes' new 'extreme' car raises hackles at Bahrain test
The Strait Times.
11/03/2022, 00:51

The new-look W13 car featured dramatically narrower sidepods, with Formula One's motorsport managing director Ross Brawn saying the concept was impressive and a "very extreme interpretation of the regulation" that had not been anticipated.

"Inevitably, there's going to be a lot of debate about their interpretation. That's what happens with new regulations," the Briton told F1 TV. "However hard you try to close off all the options, and believe me, we closed off hundreds of them, the innovation in Formula One is always extreme."

‘Raising Hackles’!;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Pre-Season+Testing

Ferrari want a Mercedes ban, but not on the zero pods
Date published: March 10 2022 - Jon Wilde

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has also found something on the Mercedes he does not approve of.

In his case, it applies to the mirror assembly, with the Scuderia boss believing the aerodynamic effect goes against the spirit of the regulations which have, of course, been heavily revised for this season.

“I think the way [Mercedes] treated or designed their car, certainly there is a significant aero purpose in the mirrors itself and I think something we need to stop for the future, no doubt, because the risk is we will come in the future that all the teams start designing mirrors that look like spaceships.”

‘Spaceship Mirrors!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-mercedes-mirror-assembly/

Full driver line-up for day two of Bahrain testing
Date published: March 11 2022 - Jon Wilde

McLaren have confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo has not recovered from his illness and won’t be in the car in Bahrain on Friday.

Ricciardo had to withdraw from day one of the official test due to being unwell, also missing the traditional Formula 1 photoshoot as he recuperated in his hotel room.

With each driver limited to one and a half days in the car apiece, that means there will be the first Bahrain running on Friday for their respective team-mates Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda and Nicholas Latifi – all of whom spent Thursday fulfilling media commitments.

‘Day 2 Driver Line-Up’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/bahrain-testing-day-two-drivers/

Fortitude

11th March 2022, 12:10

Ocon tops morning Bahrain F1 test session, fire for Williams.
Esteban Ocon set the pace on the second morning of the final pre-season Formula 1 test at Bahrain, as Williams suffered its first big setback of testing with a small on-track fire.
The Race
11/03/2022, 11:24
By Jack Cozens

Ocon set his best time, a 1m34.276s, on C4 tyres in the second hour of the session, around 20 minutes before the main red-flag stoppage of the morning – shown when the rear brakes on Nicholas Latifi’s Williams caught fire.

Smoke was seen from the rear of the car as Latifi cruised round the track, but the Williams then spun off at Turn 12, with Latifi assisting the marshals in putting out the fire at the start of a recovery process that lasted around 30 minutes.

‘Ocon Top, Williams On Fire!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/ocon-tops-morning-bahrain-f1-test-session-fire-for-williams/

Ocon tops disrupted morning session on Day 2 in Bahrain.
Alpine's Esteban Ocon topped the timesheet midday in Bahrain, the Frenchman edging Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in a morning disrupted by two red flags.
Michael Delaney 11/03/2022 at 11:21

Ocon achieved his best effort – a 1m34.276s – on Pirelli's softer C4 compound, but the time was several tenths slower than the benchmark time set by AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly on Thursday.

The session's first stoppage and red flag occurred when Nicholas Latifi's was forced to park his car following a dramatic fire that had ignited at the back of the Williams.

‘EL PLAN: Alpine Top Morning Timesheet Midday’;

https://f1i.com/news/434220-ocon-tops-disrupted-morning-session-on-day-2-in-bahrain.html

WATCH: Nicholas Latifi's Williams stops in flames on the morning of Day 2
11 March 2022

Nicholas Latifi faced an early end to the second day of pre-season testing when his Williams went up in flames, causing him to spin and extricate immediately on Friday in Bahrain.

Latifi's Friday morning running had previously been interrupted when a piece of his floor broke off on the main straight, and when he emerged it was all going smoothly – until smoke started billowing from his rear brakes.

‘Williams Stops In Flames’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.watch-nicholas-latifis-williams-stops-in-flames-on-the-morning-of-day-2.79uKNTurBLd3vZKQ2kaYaL.html

Valtteri Bottas gives positive Alfa Romeo update following Barcelona struggles
By George Dagless
Published: 11 Mar 2022, 11:42

Valtteri Bottas has cut a positive figure in Bahrain over the course of the second and final Formula 1 winter test with him saying that the issues Alfa Romeo faced at the first test in Barcelona are now behind them.

Speaking after day one, Bottas said that there’s a much happier feeling in the Alfa garage now with their new C42 car:

“All the issues we had in Barcelona seems like they are now behind us.”

“So that’s positive. To be able to do that in one week, and for the team to be able to do that in one week, it was crucial actually that we got those laps.

‘Issues Behind Us!’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87982860-valtteri-bottas-gives-positive-alfa-romeo-update-following-barcelona-struggles

Bottas stops on track and ends session
11/03/2022, 11:12

Valtteri Bottas stops his Alfa Romeo on track causing a red flag and ending the morning session of the second Bahrain Test.

‘Morning Session Ends!’;

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/f1/12563199/bottas-stops-on-track-and-ends-session

Bahrain F1 Testing - Day 2 Results (Morning times)
11/03/2022, ‎11‎:‎03
Author RacingNews365 Staff

Esteban Ocon and Alpine topped the second morning of F1's pre-season test in Bahrain, while several teams hit issues.

Esteban Ocon posted the fastest time for Alpine during Friday morning's test session at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Ocon's effort of 1:34.276 on the Soft C4 tyre put him just under a tenth clear of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who used the Medium C3.

‘The full times and tyre compounds are listed (in the link) below’;

https://racingnews365.com/bahrain-f1-testing-day-2-results-morning-times

Fortitude

11th March 2022, 15:48

Carlos Sainz goes quickest in afternoon for Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz tops the timing in the afternoon session of the second Bahrain Test in his Ferrari.
Sky Sports.
11/03/2022

‘Scuderia Numero 1’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Pre-Season+Testing

Typical Mercedes, typical George' – Sainz shrugs off Russell's claim that Ferrari are strongest in pre-season testing
11 March 2022

Carlos Sainz has brushed off implications – specifically those of Mercedes’ George Russell – that Ferrari are looking like potential favourites in 2022, calling it “typical” of Mercedes to “hype up the others” before the first race of the season.

Sainz and Ferrari have indeed had a successful pre-season so far, having led the mileage charts in Barcelona before following that up with second and third place on the opening day of the Official Pre-Season Test in Bahrain. Mercedes’ new hire Russell has talked up the Scuderia’s performance, calling the team “globally the strongest” on Thursday, having also pointed them out as threats in Spain.

‘Hyping Up Others!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.typical-mercedes-typical-george-sainz-shrugs-off-russells-claim-that-ferrari.1qiipldUx8FeFn6YGQruBc.html

McLaren scrambling to rush new brake parts to Bahrain
Phillip van Osten 11/03/2022 at 14:27

McLaren says it's in "a race against time" to manufacture and transport new parts to Bahrain to solve the brake issue encountered by its MCL36 at Sakhir.

"We will make steps with modifications that we could do here in the track, which still allow us to work on the car, working on the understanding of the car as well.”

"We could run some small upgrades on the car as well, in order to extract more performance from the package."

‘Race Against Time!’;

https://f1i.com/news/434259-mclaren-scrambling-to-rush-new-brake-parts-to-bahrain.html

Williams calls it a day in Bahrain after fire damage
Michael Delaney 11/03/2022 at 14:02

Williams has announced that it will take no further part in Friday's running in Bahrain as its FW44 remains under repair following the damage sustained by the car in this morning's session.

A case of overheating brakes that ignited a fire at the rear of the FW44 forced Nicholas Latifi to park the car to allow track marshals to extinguish the flames.

Unfortunately, part of the Williams' rear suspension and many of its components were consumed by the flames which required a lengthy repair job by the British outfit's crews that spelled the end of the day's running for the team.

‘Overheating Brakes’;

https://f1i.com/news/434257-williams-calls-it-a-day-in-bahrain-after-fire-damage.html

Max Verstappen shares two-word joke over Mercedes' new car design
By George Dagless
Published: 11 Mar 2022, 13:48

Max Verstappen was asked for his opinion on the new car, too, and he replied with a short, two-word verdict in a joking matter:

“Ugly huh,” Nos quote him as saying.

‘Ugly huh!’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87982917-max-verstappen-shares-two-word-joke-over-mercedes-new-car-design

Red Bull bringing noticeable car update for final day of test – Perez
2022 F1 season
Posted on
11th March 2022, 15:02 | Written by Keith Collantine

Red Bull will bring a significant update for its RB18 on the final day of pre-season testing, Sergio Perez has revealed.

Perez told the official F1 website that Red Bull’s development schedule is “all according to plan” and the team will have new parts on the car “tomorrow.”

“I think it’s all visually easy to spot,” he added. “You will see it tomorrow.”

‘RB18 Noticeable Upgrade’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/11/red-bull-bringing-noticeable-car-update-for-final-day-of-test-perez/

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/11/red-bull-bringing-noticeable-car-update-for-final-day-of-test-perez/

Horner impressed with Ferrari, but Mercedes 'still to show their hand'
Phillip van Osten 11/03/2022 at 15:19

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says he's been impressed so far by the performance in pre-season testing of Ferrari's F1-75 but insists Mercedes has yet to "show their hand".

With each passing session since pre-season preparations kicked off in Barcelona two weeks ago, a consensus has slowly emerged in the F1 paddock that Ferrari currently holds an edge over its rivals.

‘W13 Still To Show Their Hand’;

https://f1i.com/news/434263-horner-impressed-with-ferrari-but-mercedes-still-to-show-their-hand.html

Lewis Hamilton brought back down to reality with Mercedes chief cautious on updates
MERCEDES grabbed the attention of the F1 paddock with their radical modification on the W13.
By STUART BALLARD
11:00, Fri, Mar 11, 2022

Mercedes were the talk of the town on Thursday after unveiling their sidepod-less W13 design with reports indicating that they've found the best formula for the new regulations. But Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin insists it remains too early to tell whether they've got it right or not.

The aggressive design has been heralded by many with the cooling system packaged more centrally, creating space for a tightly-packed sidepod which may well significantly help aerodynamic performance.

"We've got quite a lot of work still to do regarding validation of the update kit and will continue the data collection programme over the next few days so it's a bit early to say whether everything is working as expected," Shovlin said.

‘Too Early For The Aggressive Design To Be Right Or Not!’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1579104/Lewis-Hamilton-F1-news-Mercedes-Bahrain-test-Andrew-Shovlin-Toto-Wolff

Fortitude

11th March 2022, 18:59

Hamilton: ‘Tacky driving’ shows Mercedes’ troubles are real.
Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes Formula 1 drivers’ “oversteer moments and tacky driving” are evidence that the hybrid era’s dominant outfit isn’t hiding its performance in 2022 pre-season testing.
11/03/2022, 17:09
By Valentin Khorounzhiy

Mercedes has looked in subdued form on compound-corrected laptimes throughout both Barcelona and – so far – Bahrain testing, and what looked like a performance run attempted by the seven-time F1 champion on the second day of Sakhir testing was only good enough for fourth-fastest – despite him being on the softest C5 tyres compared to the C4s for the three cars ahead.

Asked about Sainz’s comments, Hamilton said: “We’ll be really, really, really good if we were having all these oversteer moments and tacky driving just to hide our cards! That’s not the case. We have things we’re trying to get through. Others are struggling less. Who knows, maybe when we’ll get to next week we’ll have a better understanding.”

‘Tacky Driving!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/hamilton-tacky-driving-shows-mercedes-troubles-are-real/

Analysis: Mercedes’ slimline sidepods and the “rocket” technology behind them.
The wide sidepod design by the likes of Ferrari, Haas, and Aston Martin aims to control this front tyre wake by physically ‘pushing out’ the tyre wake in a similar fashion to what barge boards used to do. With this extremely narrow sidepod, Mercedes have taken the completely opposite approach to control the front tyre wake.
F1 technology
Posted on
11th March 2022, 17:5411th March 2022, 17:54 | Written by Alto Ono

In Formula 1 aerodynamics, controlling the front tyre wake has always been a key performance differentiator. The air disturbed by the front tyres produces an extremely volatile, ‘dirty’ flow, and if left uncontrolled it would ruin the aerodynamic performance of the latter half of the vehicle.

“There’s a way you can do it with a wider sidepod and there’s a way you can do it with a narrow one and we’ve obviously taken that route,” said Mercedes technical director Mike Elliot in an interview with Sky. “Obviously it’s visually very different, but it’s just a small difference in what we’re trying to do aerodynamically.”

“We’ve done that using the narrow sidepod layout to stop the tyre wake sticking to the sidepod and being pulled in, whereas other teams will have gone through a route of pushing the sidepod out as far as they can to try and push it out that way. They’re just two ways of doing the same thing.”

‘Narrow Sidepod & ‘Turning Vane’ Analysis’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/11/analysis-mercedes-slimline-sidepods-and-the-rocket-technology-behind-them/

Lewis Hamilton: 'Bouncing a bit worse this week if anything'
11 Mar 2022

Lewis Hamilton explains he has found conditions in Sakhir during Bahrain's Official Pre-Season Test especially challenging, with wind, heat, 'porpoising' and getting to grips with Mercedes' new set-up all conspiring to make it "tough out there".

‘Toughing It Out’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.lewis-hamilton-bouncing-a-bit-worse-this-week-if-anything.1727026627239361474.html

F1 Testing: Lewis Hamilton struggling to 'tame' Mercedes and tips Ferrari as Bahrain GP favourites
Lewis Hamilton gives his verdict on the all-new Mercedes car; Ferrari have impressed during pre-season testing but Carlos Sainz is cautious over the world champions' potential, dismissing the "typical Mercedes hype"
Last Updated: 11/03/22 5:58pm

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is struggling to "tame" Mercedes' new Formula 1 car at pre-season testing and believes fast-starters Ferrari could be the team to beat come the opening Bahrain GP next weekend.

World champions Mercedes have generated headlines this week with a radical new design for their W13 car but have yet to turn that intrigue into fast times, with Hamilton only fifth on Friday despite a soft-tyre run.

‘Taming the Mercedes W13’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/24181/12563396/f1-testing-lewis-hamilton-struggling-to-tame-mercedes-and-tips-ferrari-as-bahrain-gp-favourites

Hamilton: Ferrari one-two if Bahrain GP was tomorrow
Date published: March 11 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

While unsure where Mercedes sit in the pecking order after day two of Bahrain testing, Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari are in a good place.

As for the team that he sees as the leader, if the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix was on March 12 rather than March 20, Hamilton would back Ferrari.

“I think Ferrari, for what I can see, today Ferrari would probably be getting a one-two,” he said. “Maybe Red Bull.”

‘Mercedes Pecking Order ‘Uncertainty!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-ferrari-strong-bahrain/

‘It’s tough out there’ – Hamilton reflects on challenging day of testing but backs Mercedes to bounce back
11 March 2022

Lewis Hamilton was left looking back on a difficult second day of pre-season testing in Bahrain for Mercedes – but backed the team to get the unique W13 performing up to their lofty standards.

“It’s definitely tough out there,” began Hamilton. “It’s windy, and the wind changed around quite a bit today. But yes, generally it’s been tough. Yes, it’s tough at the moment. I mean, you can see on the onboard, tankslappers left, right and centre, and then bouncing and bumping. [The car is] not quite happy at the moment, but we’re trying to tame it.”

As for suggestions that Mercedes are ‘sandbagging’ – hiding their true pace – Hamilton brushed those off and asserted his team would not deliberately put on a “tacky” driving display in pre-season testing.

‘Definitely Tough To Tame!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.its-tough-out-there-hamilton-reflects-on-challenging-day-of-testing-but.50DG9R01imr370oWTcMWSc.html

Fortitude

12th March 2022, 07:15

Full driver line-up for day three of Bahrain testing.
In normal circumstances, each of a team’s two drivers would have one and a half days apiece in the car, but obviously that is not possible this time at McLaren.
Date published: March 12 2022 - Jon Wilde

Day Three line-up
Mercedes – Lewis Hamilton (AM), George Russell (PM)
Red Bull – Sergio Perez (AM), Max Verstappen (PM)
Ferrari – Carlos Sainz (AM), Charles Leclerc (PM)
McLaren – Lando Norris
Alpine – Fernando Alonso
AlphaTauri – Pierre Gasly (AM), Yuki Tsunoda (PM)
Aston Martin –Lance Stroll (AM), Sebastian Vettel (PM)
Williams – Nicholas Latifi (AM), Alex Albon (PM)
Alfa Romeo – Guanyu Zhou (AM), Valtteri Bottas (PM)
Haas – Kevin Magnussen (AM), Mick Schumacher (PM)

‘Keeping Fingers Crossed, So The Gremlins Stay Away’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/bahrain-testing-day-three-drivers/

'A hell of a day' for Kevin Magnussen on return in Bahrain.
11 Mar 2022
Haas driver Kevin Magnussen enthuses that it's "so nice to be back in a Formula 1 car" after setting a 'fastest' lap on Friday following the formal conclusion of running on the second day of pre-season testing in Bahrain.

‘Nice To Be Back!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.a-hell-of-a-day-for-kevin-magnussen-on-return-in-bahrain.1727029875125995870.html

Magnussen Uses Bonus Hour for Haas to Set Fastest Time of Testing on Day 2
By Paul Hensby
March 11, 2022

Kevin Magnussen utilised the extra hour given to the Haas F1 Team at the end of day two of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit to post the fastest time of the day, jumping to the top ahead of Scuderia Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr.

Haas had been given an extra hour after losing all of Thursday morning’s running due to their freight running late and arriving well after it was meant to at the circuit. They will also have additional running on Saturday as well.

‘Bonus Hour’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/magnussen-uses-bonus-hour-for-haas-to-set-fastest-time-of-testing-on-day-2/

Magnussen jokes about 'broken neck' after setting fastest time of testing
12?03/2022, ‎06‎:‎50

Kevin Magnussen has said he's feeling the pain of the excessive G-forces involved in driving a Formula 1 car, having returned to an F1 cockpit for the first time in 15 months on Friday.

"It was so good to be back in an F1 car and so good to be back with the team – I think it went really well," Magnussen beamed after the day ended, having logged a total of 60 laps during his outing. A fairytale ending to the day for Magnussen. Magnussen created a stir in the hour after the session ended. Magnussen promptly set a lap some three-tenths of a second quicker than Sainz.

"I could feel my neck at the end of it though - it kind of broke - but that's expected! I'll do another day tomorrow, break it even more, and then hopefully get in a little better shape for next week!"

‘I think it went really well’;

https://racingnews365.com/magnussen-jokes-about-broken-neck-after-setting-fastest-time-of-testing

Podcast: Our verdict on the F1 testing pecking order
The Race.
11 March 2022, 23:26

Mark Hughes and Scott Mitchell join Edd Straw to delve into the relative pace of Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari – as well as the reason for Kevin Magnussen cropping up on the top of the timesheets on his F1 comeback.
We run through the big stories of the day, including where the porpoising problems stand and the impact that the problem could have on the relative performance in qualifying and the race.
The fiery problem that befell Williams, the “crispy” brakes of McLaren and Alpine’s progress are also discussed – while we also revisit the legality of the Mercedes sidepods after Christian Horner gave his official comment on the situation following Thursday’s confusion.

‘Pecking Order Podcast’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/podcast-whos-really-on-top-in-f1-testing-our-verdict/

Leclerc: The time sheets don’t mean anything
Editor
12 March, 2022

Ferrari continue to show impressive form and reliability in the 2022 Formula 1 Bahrain pre-season test, but Charles Leclerc is adamant time sheets don’t mean anything.

Speaking after Friday’s running in Bahrain, Charles Leclerc said: “Another session with a lot of tests completed this morning. We are learning a lot about our car as well as the tyres, which are still relatively new to us.

“The balance seems to be good and I feel comfortable so far, but we have to keep in mind that the time sheets don’t mean anything and there is still a lot more to come from our competitors.

‘Time Sheets’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/12/leclerc-the-time-sheets-dont-mean-anything/

Huge sidepods or no sidepods? Mercedes’ and Ferrari’s theories
15 mins ago
By Rosario Giuliana

It had been immediately clear from the launch of the 2022 cars that the greatest design differences might be around the sidepods and how the various designers have sought different paths in managing the airflow in the upper edge of the floor.

The clearest example of this diversity in concept comes from the opposing philosophies of Ferrari and Mercedes. Mercedes is now taking a ‘zero sidepods’ concept to the extreme with how it tapers the bodywork around the radiators. Ferrari, as was clear right from its launch, has relatively massive side bodywork.

Other teams have adopted solutions that are located in the gap between these two paths, or are simply not so extreme. Ferrari and Mercedes at this time represent the extremes of two different airflow management philosophies.

‘Examples Of Diversity’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/huge-sidepods-or-no-sidepods-mercedes-and-ferraris-theories/

Fortitude

12th March 2022, 14:01

Sergio Perez quickest on final morning of F1 test as Red Bull lower pace.
Sergio Perez finished comfortably clear at the top of the timesheets as Red Bull offered a glimpse of its potential on the final morning of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.
F1
Lewis Larkam
12 Mar 2022

The Mexican wasted no time getting to work as he went quickest on his first push lap out of the box and traded fastest laps with Alfa Romeo’s Guanyu Zhou during the early running.

After focusing on race simulations for pretty much all of the three-day test so far, Red Bull finally switched to some qualifying runs as Perez set a new benchmark time with a 1m33.105s on Pirelli’s C4 compound.

‘RB18 Qualifying Runs’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/998296/1/perez-quickest-final-morning-f1-test-red-bull-lower-pace

Red Bull roll out heavily updated RB18 for final day of testing
12/03/2022, ‎08‎:‎15
Author RacingNews365 Staff

After waiting patiently in the Red Bull garage - with the RB18 hidden behind screens - Sergio Perez finally appeared just under an hour into Saturday morning's session, giving fans and the media their first glimpse of the revisions.

A major update package has been applied to the Red Bull RB18 for the last day of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, raising eyebrows up and down the paddock.

Verstappen is set to take over the wheel from Perez in the afternoon session.

‘RB18 Behind Screens!’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-roll-out-heavily-updated-rb18-on-final-day-of-testing

Horner gives his take on F1's current pecking order
Today, ‎13‎:‎20
Author Michael Butterworth

"I think the one consistent thing you see is every time the Ferrari is on track, it looks competitive," Horner told F1 TV.

"The McLaren, when it's running, [also] looks competitive. Mercedes, I think, haven't shown their hand yet, and the car looks a bit of a handful to drive.

"But then there's surprises, like the Williams pace on the long run looks quite competitive, so the form book is impossible to predict."

‘Pecking Order And Form Book’;

https://racingnews365.com/horner-gives-his-take-on-f1s-current-pecking-order

McLaren must wait until Bahrain GP to get proper brake fix
12/03/2022, 13:20
By Scott Mitchell

McLaren is completing the final day of Formula 1 testing with a partial solution to its braking problems but must wait until next week’s season-opener for a final fix.

The team has had to make on-site modifications and fly in upgraded parts to complete race simulations after suffering front brake cooling problems in Bahrain.

That has limited Lando Norris to short runs and left McLaren with the lowest lap tally of any team this week.

LAP COUNT AFTER 2.5 DAYS IN BAHRAIN
AlphaTauri 314
Mercedes 314
Ferrari 298
Alfa Romeo 275
Red Bull 267
Aston Martin 258
Alpine 231
Williams 189
Haas 168
McLaren 149

‘Brake Fixing!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mclaren-must-wait-until-bahrain-gp-to-get-proper-brake-fix/

McLaren has back ups but sure Daniel Ricciardo will be fit for F1 opener
F1
Lewis Larkam
12 Mar 2022

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl says he is confident Daniel Ricciardo will be fit enough to contest next weekend’s Formula 1 season-opener in Bahrain.

Ricciardo’s illness has meant teammate Lando Norris has been forced to carry out all of McLaren’s test programme by himself.

“I’m confident he will be fit again next weekend,” said Seidl. “He’s feeling better already but as we know it simply takes a few days until you are fully back in good shape.”

‘Get Well Daniel Ricciardo’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/998314/1/mclaren-confident-ricciardo-will-be-fit-f1-seasonopener

Hamilton: People who say Mercedes are talking ourselves down are in for a surprise
2022 F1 SEASON
Posted on
12th March 2022, 13:27 | Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

Lewis Hamilton doubts Mercedes will bounce back from their troubled start to the season in testing as easily as they did last year. Speaking after his final run in the car before next weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton said it was clear Mercedes are not contenders for pole position and victory at the moment.

“No, at the moment we’re not,” he said, “I’m sure everyone can kind of figure that out. We’re not the quickest at the moment.

“I think Ferrari look to be the quickest and perhaps Red Bull and then maybe us or McLaren, I don’t know. But we’re certainly not at the top.”

“But I think people will be surprised, maybe. Or at least the people who keep talking about we’re talking ourselves down. It’s a bit different this year.”

‘In For A Surprise’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/12/hamilton-people-who-say-mercedes-are-talking-ourselves-down-are-in-for-a-surprise/

'I hope we get better tyres': drivers criticise grip of F1's new 18in Pirelli rubber
F1
March 12th 2022

Pirelli’s new 18in tyres have come in for criticism on the final day of testing in Bahrain, with Lewis Hamilton criticising their grip level.

“I hope we can maybe get some better tyres at some stage,” said the seven-time world champion after finishing his final run in the car before the first race of the season.

Sebastian Vettel also questioned the durability of the tyres, particularly in hotter climates, such as Bahrain, and warned that it could prevent the close racing that this year’s new regulations are designed to promote.

‘Grip Of The Rubber Criticised’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/i-hope-we-get-better-tyres-drivers-criticise-grip-of-f1s-new-18in-pirelli-rubber

Williams brake fire ‘too stupid to talk about’
Date published: March 12 2022 - Frank Parker

Williams CEO Jost Capito has blamed a simple procedural problem as the cause of a fire that cut short their running at pre-season testing on Friday.

“I think 95% it’s clear what it was,” Capito said as quoted by The Race. “Let’s say it was a process that it’s a bit too complicated and that led to a mistake.

“So, very small, but had quite a big defect, it’s too stupid to talk about it!” Capito explained.

‘Too Stupid To Talk About’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/williams-fire-too-stupid-capito/

Fortitude

12th March 2022, 17:33

Verstappen puts Red Bull quickest by six-tenths as testing ends in Bahrain.
World champion Max Verstappen capped off the final day of pre-season testing for the 2022 Formula 1 season by setting the overall fastest time.
2022 F1 season
Posted on
12th March 2022, 16:23 | Written by Will Wood

Verstappen used the C5 tyres – the softest available – to finish the sixth and final say of pre-season testing fastest of all. Charles Leclerc was second quickest in the Ferrari, with Fernando Alonso third fastest for Alpine.

Sergio Perez had set the early pace in the morning session as Red Bull introduced a revised RB18 for the first time on the final day. As the sun began to set, Verstappen headed out onto the circuit on a new set of yellow-walled C3 tyres and became the first driver throughout the three days to breach the 1’33s barrier, lowering a new fastest time of a 1’32.645.

‘1m,33s Barrier Breached’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/12/verstappen-puts-red-bull-quickest-by-six-tenths-as-testing-ends-in-bahrain/

F1 Testing: Red Bull bag P1 double on final day
Date published: March 12 2022 - Jon Wilde

Red Bull’s updates, promised the previous day by Sergio Perez, helped them to a P1 double on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain.

It had been a relatively quiet test for Max Verstappen before day three in Bahrain but judging by the pace he was displaying as the test drew to a close, the World Champion has to be favourite for next weekend’s curtain-raising grand prix.

Mercedes – although they may be sandbagging – still appeared to be behind Ferrari, who again looked as though they had pushed themselves into contention for at least a podium finish when the serious action gets under way.

‘P1 Double’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-testing-2022-day-three-report/

Video footage shows Mercedes’ struggles are genuine – Russell
2022 F1 season
Posted on
12th March 2022, 17:04 | Written by Will Wood

George Russell says that Mercedes are still searching for a way to “unlock” the potential of their car after pre-season testing came to an end.

Mercedes ended the third and final day of the second test in Bahrain with the fourth-fastest overall time. World champion Max Verstappen topped the times for Red Bull ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.

Speaking after the final day’s running, Russell shared team mate Lewis Hamilton’s assessment that Mercedes were lacking behind their two common rivals.

‘Struggling To ‘Unlock’ The Potential’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/12/video-footage-shows-mercedes-struggles-are-genuine-russell/

Russell admits Mercedes 'a step behind rivals' as F1 testing ends
F1
Connor McDonagh
12 Mar 2022

George Russell believes Mercedes is a ‘step behind its rivals’ after the conclusion of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Red Bull ended day three in Bahrain on top with Max Verstappen setting a blistering series of laps at the end of the session.

Up until that point, the general consensus was that Ferrari was the team to beat going into next weekend’s season-opener with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz consistently competitive in both tests.

‘A Step Behind’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/998355/1/russell-admits-mercedes-step-behind-rivals-f1-testing-ends

‘We are not the quickest’: Lewis Hamilton plays down Mercedes hopes
• Hamilton downbeat on chances of record eighth title
• ‘Ferrari look to be the fastest, and perhaps Red Bull’
Giles Richards
Sat 12 Mar 2022 16.39 GMT

Hamilton insisted his team faced a serious challenge this time. “We are being told we are talking ourselves down, but it is a bit different this year,” he said. “We have far bigger challenges and they are not one-week turnarounds. They will take a little bit longer. I am told we have a considerable amount of pace to find.”

“We are not the quickest. Ferrari look to be the fastest, and perhaps Red Bull and then maybe us, or McLaren. We are currently not at the top.”

‘Mercedes Hopes Played Down’;

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/12/we-are-not-the-quickest-lewis-hamilton-plays-down-mercedes-hopes

Technical Insight: The varied designs of F1’s 2022 sidepods
by Rosario Giuliana

At the moment it is not clear what the winning solution is, but it is nice to finally see Formula 1 full of technical topics, with each car offering interesting insights for analysis. 2022 will finally be able to entertain lovers of technology.

All these differences between the single-seaters on the grid will diminish as the solution that clearly offers more advantages is found. During this season, however, it will be difficult for someone to go and revolutionise their form or to copy an opponent, while it is more likely that they will develop directly on the project that is available.

‘Lovers Of Technology’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/03/12/technical-insight-many-differences-on-the-sidepods-design/

Fortitude

13th March 2022, 10:22

Raging bulls’ new title challenger; is Merc’s era finally over? Winners and losers from final F1 test.
Mad Max’s new title threat; fears for Ricciardo’s McLaren: Winners and losers from final F1 test.
March 13th, 2022 7:26 pm
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports

After six days of testing at two different tracks we can begin to sketch the basic outline of the field ahead of next weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and some undoubted winners and losers are starting to take shape.

WINNERS: MAX VERSTAPPEN AND RED BULL RACING

Red Bull Racing and reigning champion Max Verstappen leave Bahrain happiest of all after a mighty final day of testing with a brand-new high-functioning aerodynamic kit.

Verstappen used it to set the test’s fastest time at the very end of the session with a comfortable 0.7-second margin over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc — Mick Schumacher’s interloping time was set during private after-hours testing.

‘Taking Shape’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-2022-news-bahrain-preseason-testing-results-max-verstappen-fastest-mercedes-in-trouble-ferrari-in-the-hunt-daniel-ricciardos-covid-diagnosis/news-story/2efd2d1404acb8625d70e2d5125a7c5b

Gary Anderson rates the F1 teams’ testing performances
13/03/2022, 07:29
By Gary Anderson

Formula 1 pre-season testing for 2022 is now all over. For every teams, it’s now all about trawling through mountains of data and coming up with the best set-up solutions for next weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

In all 12 pre-season sessions in Barcelona and Bahrain, Ferrari has consistently been up at the front end. If you took the fastest time by each team every day, Ferrari was always in the top four and in the top two for four of the days.

If that is the case, then there is every chance that Ferrari might be able to join that battle at the front – mixing it with Red Bull and Mercedes. It’ll be no easy task, but Ferrari has two competitive, hungry and experienced drivers, so if the car is up to it they will be right in there.

‘Ferrari Hunger!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-rates-the-f1-teams-testing-performances/

Binotto: Ferrari only 'outsiders' – Mercedes, Red Bull favourites
Phillip van Osten13/03/2022 at 08:12

Mattia Binotto is following Mercedes' lead and playing down Ferrari's performance in pre-season testing, insisting the Brackley squad and Red Bull are the real favourites heading into the 2022 F1 season.

"We are not the favourites," he said after Saturday's final session in Bahrain where Charles Leclerc clocked in second behind pace setter Max Verstappen.

"I think the favourites are the teams that were the best last year because they are strong teams, they have proved they can be very fast, they’ve got a fantastic team. On-track I think they are showing that they are very, very fast. So I think if they are [favourites], we are outsiders.”

‘Playing Down Ferrari’s Performance’;

https://f1i.com/news/434496-binotto-ferrari-only-outsiders-mercedes-red-bull-favourites.html

Russell insists Mercedes ‘performance isn’t there’
Date published: March 13 2022 - Jon Wilde

George Russell insists the “performance isn’t there” from a Mercedes W13 that appeared to have the worst ‘porpoising’ problem in the Bahrain test.

“We do seem a step behind our rivals and we have a lot of work to do between now and next week to understand because in every condition, the Red Bull and Ferrari seem a step ahead of us.”

“I believe there is potential there, we just need to figure a way to unlock that performance.”

‘Unlocking Performance’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-mercedes-performance/

The rocket tech behind Mercedes’ cutting-edge F1 coolers
March 13th 2022
Author Lawrence Butcher

Kyle Forster has already given an aerodynamicist’s interpretation of the design, but it is worth summarising the key points. There are three key features that standout: the encapsulation of the upper side impact crash structure in a sculpted shroud, the use of a tall, narrow cooling inlet, set low down on the car, and an outer sidepod edge that flares out to the floor, rather than being undercut.

Mercedes has a long track record of looking to other industrial areas for potential innovation. While the charge cooler is only one element of what is an enormously complex and well-integrated package, it could well be that harnessing of Reaction’s cooling technology has helped enable the pursuit of a decidedly unconventional, and very compact, cooling system and sidepod design.

‘W13 Rocket Tech’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/the-rocket-tech-behind-mercedes-cutting-edge-f1-coolers#

Verstappen scoffs at Mercedes F1 scepticism: ‘It’s always like this’
Max Verstappen scoffed at Mercedes’ scepticism over its performance through Formula 1 pre-season testing and ability to fight for wins, saying it is “always like this”.
By: Luke Smith
Co-author: Ronald Vording
Mar 13, 2022, 9:27 AM

Verstappen also had his doubts that Mercedes was truly on the back foot, agreeing with Sainz that it was “always like this”.

"If someone is doing well or a team that everyone expects to do well, then it’s: 'Oh no, we're definitely not the favourite’,” Verstappen said in Bahrain on Saturday.

“And then a week later, when things do go well, all of a sudden it's: 'Oh no, but we turned it around completely within a week. Not normal, unbelievable work. Thanks to all people in the factory!’”

‘Mercedes Scepticism Scoffed At!’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/verstappen-scoffs-at-mercedes-scepticism-its-always-like-this/8953361/

How all 10 teams fared in Bahrain's Official Pre-Season Test
Special contributor
Becky Hart
13 March 2022

Three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain stood between the teams and the opening race of the season. Conditions were vastly different to the cool spring temperatures of Barcelona, and as the heat took hold, reliability issues started to crop up. Add in some pretty major car evolutions since the 2022 machines were last on track, and there was plenty to discuss ahead of the opening race of the season. Here's how all 10 teams got on in Bahrain, in lap count order.

‘Machine Evolution!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.how-all-10-teams-fared-in-bahrains-official-pre-season-test.4QxX9VX69VjDbazGux3FKh.html

Trackside verdict: The visual hints of Red Bull’s superiority
The Race
12/03/2022, 20:16
By Scott Mitchell

Max Verstappen’s eye-catching, test-topping lap time in Bahrain put Red Bull well clear at the end of Formula 1 2022’s pre-season. Watching trackside it is easy to believe it has a real advantage.

Verstappen has no issues carrying speed into the corner, there’s no sign of understeer – the front just tucks in really nicely – and noticeably he is able to get to the inside kerb seemingly at will. The RB18 takes the kerb strike neatly in its stride, too. Its balance barely looks disturbed.

We watch Verstappen on C2s, C3s, C4s and C5s and the Red Bull just has a lot of purpose about it. It’s controlled, responsive and just looks fast.

‘Visual Superiority’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/trackside-verdict-the-visual-hints-of-red-bulls-superiority/

Fortitude

13th March 2022, 18:18

‘Spaceship’ mirrors set to be challenged in F1 rules meeting.
Mattia Binotto described the Mercedes design as looking “like spaceships” and suggested that they were primarily an aero part rather than mounting the wing mirror.
13/03/2022, 15:26
By Scott Mitchell

“It’s something for the future that needs to be addressed,” said Binotto. “Already in the past, we said the mirrors should have no aero purpose.”
“They should be there just to look behind and I think the way that they [Mercedes] design the cars has a significant aero purpose in the mirrors.”

There is a meeting of the FIA’s technical advisory committee on Tuesday, which will include a discussion over the first “discrepancies” between the rules as written and the cars the teams have designed.

‘Spaceship Mirrors On The W13 Rocket Ship!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/spaceship-mirrors-set-to-be-challenged-in-f1-rules-meeting/

Ferrari Looking Strong as Pre-Season comes to a Close
By Nick Golding
March 13, 2022

Scuderia Ferrari are for many the team to beat at the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend, after the famous team concluded what has been a brilliant test for them at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Ferrari Team Principal & Managing Director, Mattia Binotto, doesn’t want the team to get too far ahead of themselves and draw any conclusions, Binotto believes it’s very difficult to predict where each team will be placed come the season opener next weekend.

‘Strong Scuderia’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/ferrari-looking-strong-as-pre-season-comes-to-a-close/

Red Bull upgrades ‘worth more than half a second’
Date published: March 13 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

The upgrades Red Bull introduced in Bahrain are worth upwards of half a second in lap time, according to Helmut Marko.

That time came on the final day after Red Bull had introduced an upgraded RB18, with those updates mainly focused on the sidepods which are now far more sculpted.

Auto Motor und Sport report the cooling system underneath those sidepods was also modified, while a new underbody was fitted to the RB18, all of which led to immediate progress as the team topped the morning session courtesy of Sergio Perez before Verstappen significantly raised the bar in the afternoon.

‘Sculpted Sidepods’;

https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/f1-testfahrten-bahrain-red-bull-favoritenrolle-saisonstart-2022/

Alonso finishes with a flourish in final test in Bahrain
Andrew Lewin 13/03/2022 at 17:06

EL PLAN: Alpine's Fernando Alonso was delighted to finish the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain with the third fastest time on the timesheets.

"It was a good day of testing for us building on Esteban’s strong work yesterday," the 40-year-old from Spain commented. "We’ve learnt a lot with the car and completed many laps, so I’m pretty happy."

Alonso completed a total of 146 laps of Bahrain International Circuit over the course of the three days, with team mate Esteban Ocon adding a further 153 for a total of 299 laps by the Alpine as a whole.

‘Car Lessons, EL PLAN Positive’;

https://f1i.com/news/434543-alonso-finishes-with-a-flourish-in-final-test-in-bahrain.html

Aston Martin Complete Pre-Season Programmes as Planned
By Nick Golding
March 13, 2022

Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team enjoyed their most successful day of the Official Pre-Season Test at the Bahrain International Circuit, on the final day of running.

Both Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll had a final chance behind the wheel of the AMR22 on the last day of pre-season, with the pair completing a joint total of 134 laps as the test drew to a close. The final day saw the team complete their most mileage over a single day, it meant that across the entire test Aston Martin completed 352 laps.

‘Aston Martin Complete Their Plans’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/aston-martin-complete-pre-season-programmes-as-planned/

McLaren’s Pre-Season “Not what we wanted but good enough” -Lando Norris
By Nick Golding
March 13, 2022

It has been a very difficult Official Pre-Season Test at the Bahrain International Circuit for the McLaren F1 Team, with an absent Daniel Ricciardo and a number of reliability issues.

It has been a very challenging test for McLaren, not helped by Ricciardo testing positive for Covid-19, or by an issue on the MCL36’s front axle. It comes as a disappointment to the team, who enjoyed a successful test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

McLaren Team Principal, Andreas Seidl, noted that the team’s running was heavily compromised across the three days, but is hopeful that the issue with the front axle can be solved before the first race.

‘Front Axle Problems’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/mclarens-pre-season-not-what-we-wanted-but-good-enough-lando-norris/

Mercedes Complete Plenty of Mileage but Supposedly Struggling for Pace
By Nick Golding
March 13, 2022

It is no question that Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team have been sandbagging during the Official Pre-Season Test at the Bahrain International Circuit, the W13 has been incredibly reliable but has supposedly struggled for outright pace.

The Silver Arrows have sat mid-leaderboard throughout testing, onboard footage of the W13 does show however both drivers avoiding eighth gear at times, resulting in a significantly lower top speed compared to their rivals.

Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director, does believe that there is still plenty of pace to be unleashed from the W13, which as mentioned has proven to be very reliable so far.

‘Sandbagging, Avoiding Eighth Gear’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/mercedes-complete-plenty-of-mileage-but-supposedly-struggling-for-pace/

WHAT IS SANDBAGGING IN F1 AS TERM EXPLAINED AFTER TESTING?
13/03/2022, 13:40
Jake Nichol

Essentially, sandbagging in F1 involves running your car far below it’s true potential in testing to force your rivals into a false of security about your car.

You then turn up to the first race, with all the sand tipped out (metaphorically speaking), stick it on pole and get a one-two finish, some way ahead of the rest.

Perhaps the most famous example of sandbagging in F1 was in 2019 pre-season testing….

‘Mercedes 2019 Sandbagging Award Winners!’;

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/03/13/what-is-sandbagging-in-f1/

Fortitude

14th March 2022, 08:23

We predict the 2022 F1 team pecking order after testing.
Some positions were ‘easy’ to fill. There was unanimity on the top four places. But separating that amorphous blob that looks to be the midfield was an unenviable task.
The Race
Mar 14 2022

“We didn’t want to put anybody fifth,” our journalists complained. Their eventual choice might surprise you.

5 HAAS Yeah, yeah, we know what you’re thinking. But this has been a weird pre-season for Haas so why’s it so hard to believe this might be true?

If you’d predicted a few weeks ago that Haas would top a day of testing with Kevin Magnussen, and end it second fastest with Mick Schumacher driving, you’d have attracted some seriously funny looks.

‘Steiner will be pleased!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/we-predict-the-2022-f1-team-pecking-order-after-testing/

Brundle: Red Bull for me came away as clear favourites
Jad Mallak
14 March, 2022

Martin Brundle is convinced after the 2022 Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain, that Red Bull are the clear favourites heading into the opening race.

Respected F1 driver turned pundit Martin Brundle was trackside in Bahrain watching and commenting on the test proceeding, and believes Red Bull are the real deal. “Red Bull for me came away as the clear favourites,” he told Sky Sports F1.

“I have absolutely no doubts in my mind that the aero package on the Red Bull took a significant step forward today. Red Bull have moved the game on today in terms of raw pace, long run pace.”

‘Red Bull Favourites’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/14/brundle-red-bull-for-me-came-away-as-clear-favourites/

Hamilton dice left Gasly questioning Mercedes
Date published: March 13 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

After battling with Lewis Hamilton during the Bahrain test, Pierre Gasly believes Mercedes are no longer as strong as they were.

So rather than AlphaTauri suddenly making gains, Gasly concludes Mercedes have in fact slipped back.

“I was kind of surprised to battle with Lewis,” he told reporters after day three of the Bahrain test.

“I think the conclusion is Mercedes probably doesn’t look as good as they were in the past.”

‘Mercedes No Longer Strong’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre-gasly-mercedes-look-weaker/

Norris: We know what the problems are, it’s not a simple fix
Jad Mallak
14 March, 2022

McLaren’s Lando Norris claims the team know their problems, the fix not being simple, after struggling at the 2022 Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain.

“Less than ideal,” was Norris’ verdict of the team’s Bahrain performance. “It’s not been the smoothest of tests for us. It’s been quite limited in Bahrain. I think Barcelona was a good one but here we’ve encountered quite a few more problems, which have limited the amount of laps we’ve done by quite a huge amount.”

“[We’ve had problems] especially on the long runs – the lower-fuel and shorter runs we’ve been able to do – but not the high-fuel runs,” the Briton explained. “We’re behind where we want to be, where we need to be, and where we can say we’re confident in any way going into the first race.”

‘McLaren Behind’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/14/norris-we-know-what-problems-are-its-not-a-simple-fix/

F1 Who's Hot, Who's Not After Final Test Sessions at Bahrain
Formula 1 season kicks off March 20 in Bahrain; here's what we learned at the preseason tests.
BY PHILLIP HORTON
Mar 13, 2022

Red Bull Grabs Attention on Final Day
Red Bull and reigning champion Max Verstappen had a relatively subdued preseason campaign as it kept its powder dry—at least until the final day.

Ferrari Looks to Be in Very Good Shape
Ferrari arrives on the cusp of the new season in good shape. It has had a smooth preseason, with a reliable car, that has appeared relatively compliant to set-up changes across various conditions.

Don’t Underestimate Slow-Starting Mercedes
“At the moment I don’t think we’ll be competing for wins,” said Lewis Hamilton, a stark comment for a driver from a team that has been a winning machine for a decade.

‘Hot Or Not!’;

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a39420574/f1-whos-hot-not-test-sessions-bahrain/

Tost explains barrier to copying Mercedes design
Date published: March 13 2022 - Jon Wilde

Franz Tost has explained why replicating Mercedes’ eye-catching new design is a non-starter, especially for his AlphaTauri team.

Tost says it would essentially require having to rework the whole car, which would not be feasible under the $140million budget cap each team has for the 2022 campaign.

“If you had to change something, you would have to change the whole aerodynamic philosophy. I don’t think we could make the effort because if you look at the cost cap, we are pretty much at the limit in our calculation at the end of the season.”

‘Copying Mercedes Not Feasible’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/franz-tost-mercedes-copying-barrier/

Fortitude

14th March 2022, 17:02

Gary Anderson’s theory on where Mercedes is going wrong.
“They’re just not – in this moment – in a position to compete with either of Red Bull or Ferrari,” said Mark Hughes on The Race F1 Podcast.
The Race
14/03/2022, 11:44

“They’ve got genuine problems. It’s a difficult one to say to what level those problems go.”

“I don’t think they’re trying to run the car in the right window right now. They seem to have gone around the porpoising problems by making the car stiffer. Making the car stiffer then leads to more brake locking and a car that doesn’t ride the kerbs or bumps very well.”

“I think Mercedes has gone the wrong direction to achieve it. It’s tried to keep the downforce levels that it gets out of the underfloor by just tightening the car up, running it stiff, running it low, keep it in one little working window.”

‘Problems Tightening The Car Up!’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-andersons-theory-on-where-mercedes-is-going-wrong/

Hamilton: A lot of work to get Mercedes to 'a better place'
Phillip van Osten 14/03/2022 at 10:42

Both Red Bull and Ferrari have expressed their skepticism regarding Mercedes' conservative stance, insisting they've heard it all before.

But this time, the German outfit's downplaying appears genuine, although Hamilton remains upbeat about his team's ability to improve its performance.

"There's a confidence that we can always work through whatever problem that we're facing," the Briton told the media after Saturday's final day of running in Bahrain.

‘Work To A Better Place’;

https://f1i.com/news/434583-hamilton-a-lot-of-work-to-get-mercedes-to-a-better-place.html

‘It wasn’t that impressive’ – Marko on Mercedes’ ‘extreme’ sidepods
Mercedes introduced a radical sidepod design ahead of the second pre-season test in Bahrain last week.
by Rob Kershaw
14 March 202214 March 2022

Dr Marko agrees that Mercedes’ design is innovative, but he is not altogether sure it will yield the performance gains they are looking for.

“We were looking more at the performance than the sidepod and it wasn’t that impressive,” he told Austrian newspaper Osterreich.

“What Mercedes has brought looks revolutionary. But what matters is the time. And I say – the main thing is that we’re the fastest again. But I also remember last year, when Mercedes was also behind in the tests.”

‘A Revolution In Sidepods’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/it-wasnt-that-impressive-marko-on-mercedes-sidepods/

Where McLaren stands after a test spent ‘firefighting’
14/03/2022, 13:37
By Scott Mitchell

The raw numbers paint a bleak picture at the end of McLaren’s Formula 1 pre-season. It was the eighth fastest-team in Bahrain with the lowest mileage after battling overheating brakes.

Trackside, McLaren had to re-prioritise its tasks. It adjusted run plans to focus on shorter runs. Across day one and day two, Norris’s longest stint of representative times was four laps. By Saturday this increased to 10.

Unsurprisingly McLaren did not get through all it had planned for this test in terms of being fully prepared for this weekend’s grand prix. That was made very clear when Norris declared on Saturday McLaren is “behind where we want and need to be to say we’re in any way confident going into the first race”.

‘Behind After Firefighting’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/where-mclaren-stands-after-an-f1-test-spent-firefighting/

Fernando Alonso feeling positive over Alpine car ahead of new F1 season
By George Dagless
Published: 14 Mar 2022, 12:49

Alpine sporting director Alan Permane has said that Fernando Alonso called their new car, the A522, ‘fast’ over the last sessions of testing in Bahrain and that Q3 is a realistic goal for them come qualifying this weekend at the Sakhir circuit.

“The first day in Sakhir because we couldn’t get into a good dynamic, but the next two have gone well,” he told AS. “Especially on Saturday, we started to make progress with a set-up that allows us to turn porpoising on and off whenever we want.”
“We know why it happens and what stops it. We know when it makes us faster or slower. If you look at other cars, Ferrari still keeps it in some circumstances. We’ve played with the suspensions, the camber, slipstreams and so on. And we’re significantly better.”

‘EL PLAN Positive’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87983777-fernando-alonso-feeling-positive-over-alpine-car-ahead-of-new-f1-season

Bottas hails ‘clear step’ from Alfa Romeo but concerned over reliability
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths
14/03/2022, 13:41

Valtteri Bottas admits completing a full race distance is his “biggest concern” ahead of this weekend’s season opener in Bahrain, after reliability troubles plagued Alfa Romeo in Formula 1 pre-season testing.

And while the Finn is upbeat at the direction Alfa’s performance is going, he conceded reliability was a major concern heading to the first race of the season.

“I’ll be more confident once we speak with the team next week and when I hear that all the issues we understand 100% and we make sure that they don’t happen again,” Bottas said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

‘Alfa Romeo Reliability?’;

https://readmotorsport.com/2022/03/14/bottas-hails-clear-step-from-alfa-romeo-but-concerned-over-reliability/

Albon – Williams ‘Ticked All Their Boxes’ in 2022 Pre-Season Testing
By Joe McCormick
March 14, 2022

Alex Albon and Nicolas Latifi are both optimistic about their chances in the upcoming F1 season, as Bahrain pre-season testing has come to an end. It was an up-and-down handful of days for the British team, after a fire caused damage to the rear of Williams F1 Team’s 2022 challenger, but 142 laps of testing on day three has helped raise morale within the team.

After being forced to make up for Friday’s lost time on Saturday, Latifi was reflective in his statement for Williams, claiming that he is happy with the amount of data they have collected – despite the issues that were overcome from day two.

‘Williams Optimism’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/albon-williams-ticked-all-their-boxes-in-2022-pre-season-testing/

Fortitude

15th March 2022, 08:23

Lewis Hamilton fears Mercedes issues will last two months at the least - 'It's crazy'.
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that Mercedes may not be in a position to challenge for race wins until May at the earliest after struggling at pre-season testing in Bahrain.
By STUART BALLARD
06:40, Tue, Mar 15, 2022

LEWIS HAMILTON is far from comfortable in the Mercedes W13 ahead of the new season.

The Silver Arrows entered pre-season testing in Bahrain amid reports that they had found the magic formula in the simulator.

A new, bold sidepod design was unveiled with everybody in the paddock wanting to take a closer look at the W13.

‘W13 Crazy For Two Months!’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1580610/Lewis-Hamilton-F1-news-Mercedes-Toto-Wolff-George-Russell-Bahrain-GP

Lewis Hamilton warned of 'genuine problems' at Mercedes as ex-F1 designer speaks out
MERCEDES still have plenty of work to get their car up to speed for the first race of the season this weekend.
By STUART BALLARD
17:00, Mon, Mar 14, 2022 | UPDATED: 17:00, Mon, Mar 14, 2022

The new F1 season is just days away now but former F1 car designer Gary Anderson has spelled out the 'genuine problems' Lewis Hamilton and George Russell face ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Pre-season testing results are always taken with a pinch of salt as some teams hold back on their full potential.

Anderson believes Mercedes' issues will only be fixed if they follow the same route of Red Bull. "They’ve got genuine problems. It’s a difficult one to say to what level those problems go," Anderson told The Race.

"I don’t think they’re trying to run the car in the right window right now. They seem to have gone around the porpoising problems by making the car stiffer. Making the car stiffer then leads to more brake locking and a car that doesn’t ride the kerbs or bumps very well.”

‘W13 Genuine Problems’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1580474/Lewis-Hamilton-Mercedes-car-W13-Formula-One-F1-news

Red Bull chief says Mercedes car is ‘not that impressive’ ahead of new F1 season
Daniel AustinMonday 14 Mar 2022 4:49 pm

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko says the team has the fastest car on the grid heading into the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain this weekend, and believes that rivals Mercedes’ new car is ‘not very impressive.’

Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and new team-mate George Russell both voiced concerns about the ability of Mercedes new W13 to compete at the front of the field.

37-year-old Hamilton went as far as to say: ‘At the moment, I don’t think we’ll be competing for wins.’

‘W13 Uncompetitive’;

https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/14/red-bull-chief-says-mercedes-car-is-not-that-impressive-ahead-of-new-f1-season-16274307/?ito=newsnow-feed

‘One week’ until 2022 hierarchy revealed – Sainz
ANDREW MAITLAND
MARCH 15, 2022

With mere days until engines fire up on the 2022 world championship in Bahrain, the Formula 1 world is scrambling to figure out the early pecking order.

“We’ve waited months, why can’t we wait one more week before drawing conclusions?” smiled Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, tipped as a potential title contender.

The early analyses appear to show the fabled Maranello team as neck-and-neck with world champion Max Verstappen’s Red Bull camp – and apparently half a second ahead of Mercedes.

‘Hierarchy Revealed In One Week’;

https://grandpx.news/one-week-until-2022-hierarchy-revealed-sainz/

F1 pre-season testing 2022: Jolyon Palmer's Takeaways
14 Mar 2022

Who's where in the pecking order? What are the drivers' biggest challenges for 2022? Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer draws his first conclusions after Bahrain's pre-season testing.

‘F1 Takeaways’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.f1-pre-season-testing-2022-jolyon-palmers-takeaways.1727284546630413586.html

Schedule for the 2022 F1 Bahrain GP
15/03/2022, ‎07‎:‎50
Author RacingNews365 Staff

Here's the full weekend time schedule for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which will take place from 18-20 March, as the 2022 F1 season officially gets underway.

Date Event Time (GMT) Time (Local)
Friday 18 March Practice 1 12:00-13:00 15:00-16:00
Friday 18 March Practice 2 15:00-16:00 18:00-19:00
Saturday 19 March Practice 3 12:00-13:00 15:00-16:00
Saturday 19 March Qualifying 15:00-16:00 18:00-19:00
Sunday 20 March Race 15:00 18:00

F1 Schedule;

https://racingnews365.com/schedule-for-the-2022-f1-bahrain-gp

Fortitude

16th March 2022, 08:00

Tech Draft: 2022 F1 Pre-Season Thoughts & Analysis.
The flame of F1 innovation burns on brightly. In a ground effect car; the faster you go, the more downforce is generated. A heavier car is more difficult to rotate mid-corner than a lighter one. FIA’s attempt at cost cap is somewhat wanting.
Mark Kay
15 March, 2022

Well, here we go, folks! After an abnormally brief inter-season break, we are but 72 hours away from the first money shots of 2022, a new era, one we are anticipating as the dawn of a more competitively diverse and entertaining stanza in this sport that we all are so passionate about.

So, here I go with my best endeavours in putting together the best and succinct appraisal of the 2022 F1 pre-season.

If you are looking for my opinion on a quantitative comparison that underpins early season predictions, you may as well turn your attention elsewhere, because this is not what this review is about.

‘Seasons Thoughts’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/15/tech-draft-2022-f1-pre-season-thoughts-analysis/

It’s a whole new era for the sport and anything can happen” – Max Verstappen
By Nick Golding
March 15, 2022

Verstappen is very excited for the season to begin, especially with it being the first Grand Prix of the new era of Formula 1.

“We learnt a lot at testing in Barcelona and Bahrain, I’m very excited to turn our attention to racing now, it’s a whole new era for the sport and anything can happen. The focus is to bring the grid together and make it easier to follow, I hope we see that in the first race. Everything is so new so there are a lot of unknowns heading into the first race of the season. “

Pérez is excited for the new season, the Mexican already feels much more settled with the team this season than he was last year, Pérez like many others though has no idea where the team’s car will position come the season opener.

“I am looking forward to the new season, automatically you feel more settled going into your second year with a team. I feel more prepared because I now know exactly how the Team operate and the Oracle Red Bull Racing philosophy, so that makes a difference. Every team is in the same position starting the season, in that we don’t know the car as much because of the shakeup in regulations but we had a really good test, both in Bahrain and Barcelona. “

‘Excitement’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/its-a-whole-new-era-for-the-sport-and-anything-can-happen-max-verstappen/

Marko: ‘Mercedes always whine, then it suddenly goes boom’
Date published: March 15 2022 - Sam Cooper

Helmut Marko does not believe Mercedes’ pre-season complaints are true and still expects their car to go “boom” come the Bahrain Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton said he does not think the team will be “competing for wins”, while his new team-mate George Russell said the Mercedes performance “isn’t there.”

Sandbagging is a technique that has been deployed by Mercedes in the past and it seems this time around, the rest of the grid is not buying it.

‘Sandbagging And ‘Whine’!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut-marko-mercedes-whine-boom/

Aston Martin car ‘nothing like’ the one in the wind tunnel
Date published: March 15 2022 - Sam Cooper

Aston Martin have said the AMR22 seen on track during testing is “nothing like” the one they are working on in the wind tunnel.

On the final day of testing in Bahrain, Aston Martin were one of the lower teams in terms of time with Sebastian Vettel in 10th position and Lance Stroll in 16th, but they have already been making improvements following the data they gathered both in Bahrain and Barcelona.

Their performance director, Tom McCullough, has said the car Vettel and Stroll drove on track is wildly different to the one they are working on back at the factory in the UK. “The car you are seeing now is nothing like the car we have in the wind tunnel,” he said, as reported by motorsport.com.

‘Nothing Like The Wind Tunnel!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-martin-wind-tunnel-different/

“I’m obviously very excited for the first race of the year” – Alex Albon
By Nick Golding
March 15, 2022

Incredibly with his drive for the season coming in the form of Williams, Albon will have started all three of his seasons in the sport, with a different team! Albon, who remains heavily connected to Red Bull, is very excited for the season to start after all the hours of work put in over the winter.

“I’m obviously very excited for the first race of the year and to be back racing. It will be the result of all the hard work over winter and everything we’ve learnt from six days of testing, so I’m looking forward to seeing that come together and pushing as much as we can. The track is tricky because, as we saw in testing, it’s very windy, sandy and hot which are tough conditions to contend with. It’s a good track for racing though, so it should be an exciting weekend for Formula One.”

‘Williams FW44’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/im-obviously-very-excited-for-the-first-race-of-the-year-alex-albon/

Gary Anderson: Every F1 team’s 2022 sidepod design ranked
16th March 2022, 06:05
By Gary Anderson

Given how prescriptive the 2022 Formula 1 regulations are, it’s a surprise to see the most visually-different crop of cars for many years.

It’s always difficult when a small group of engineers sits down to write the regulations then hands them out to the teams. At that point, hundreds, if not thousands, of engineers will scour them intensely to find the grey areas that might just give them that tenth of a second.

The sidepods have been the most visually different. Those differences, combined with the porpoising problem, might just go hand-in-hand. So I thought it would be worth taking a close look at each team’s solution.

‘Porpoising Solutions’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-every-f1-teams-2022-sidepod-design-ranked/

KYLE.ENGINEERS: How the Mercedes W13 works
Editor
16 March, 2022

Mercedes stunned the Formula 1 community during the Bahrain pre-season test with its upgraded W13 and its radical “zero-sidepod” design. How does it work? Kyle Forster explains in another Kyle.Engineers video.

The video is divided into five sections; starting with an introduction, with the second part discussing the the legality of the rearview mirrors on the W13, something that many consider not in line with the regulations.
The third part of the video touches on the side pods’ legality, followed by a fourth that explains the benefits of those slim side pods. The final part is reserved to highlight the drawbacks of the side pods.

‘W13 ‘Zero-Sidepod’ Design’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/16/kyle-engineers-how-the-mercedes-w13-works/

Haas trialled Mercedes’ ‘zero-pod’ concept last summer
Date published: March 16 2022 - Henry Valantine

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has revealed the team already took a look at using Mercedes’ radical sidepod concept in developing their own car last year.

But having started developing their 2022 car earlier than any other team, Haas have had more scope to try out different design routes on their way to building the VF-22, but felt the Mercedes design wasn’t quite for them.

“This exact concept was our first design. We had it in the wind tunnel last July, and we already noticed there that it gives advantages in slow corners,” Steiner said, quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. “But as an overall package, we saw greater potential in wide sidepods.”

‘Haas Rejected the ‘Zero-Pod’ Concept’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-trialled-mercedes-sidepod-concept/

Fortitude

16th March 2022, 19:53

Ricciardo "hungry" for F1 return after illness.
“I’m glad to be back, feeling better and ready for the Bahrain Grand Prix and season ahead," said Ricciardo.
Sam Hall
Wednesday 16 March 2022 11:54

“I’m looking forward to the battles out on track with these new cars, particularly at Bahrain with its overtaking opportunities. Let's get some great results for the team!”

Now recovered and cleared to return to the paddock, Ricciardo is eager to make up for lost time.

"I want to maximise the free practice sessions to better understand the car and fine-tune everything ready for qualifying and lights out on Sunday.”

‘Hungry To Maximise’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/77816/ricciardo-hungry-for-f1-return-after-illness/

Vettel: There’s a lot to play for, that’s F1 at its best
Editor
16 March, 2022

Sebastian Vettel claimed, ahead of the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix that Formula 1 is at it’s best when there is a lot to play for which is the case this season.

“These new Formula One cars are so incredibly different to their predecessors,” Vettel said in a team statement previewing the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix, having previously said the cars feel a bit “lazier” to drive.

“We’ve spent the past weeks learning as much about them as we can and I’m looking to racing a ground-effect car for the first time this weekend,” he revealed.

‘Ground-Effect Cars Lazier To Drive’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/16/vettel-theres-a-lot-to-play-for-thats-f1-at-its-best/

Verstappen: Important to have stable weekend in Bahrain
Jad Mallak
16 March, 2022

Verstappen ended pre-season testing in Bahrain last week fastest of all despite not “giving full beans” at the time, while his Red Bull RB18 seemingly a handy piece of kit.

“I’m looking forward to seeing where we are compared to the rest of the grid come qualifying on Saturday. The car looks good and as a Team we are in a good place.”

“The most important thing for us in Bahrain is to have a stable weekend without too many issues and we hope to score a good amount of points,” the Red Bull ace concluded.

‘Stable Weekend’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/16/verstappen-important-to-have-stable-weekend-in-bahrain/

Steiner: We need to focus on going racing
Reuters
16 March, 2022

Haas F1 boss Guenther Steiner has got used to phoning team owner Gene Haas with bad news but Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix could be the start of something better.

The team’s freight was then delayed due to a technical problem with the aircraft carrying it, forcing them to miss the first half of the opening day of the final test in Bahrain.

“It’s one (thing) after the other,” Steiner told Reuters in an interview. “It’s just like what is next? Every morning when you wake up, it’s like what is the next drama on my telephone?”

‘Racing Focus’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/16/steiner-we-need-to-focus-on-going-racing-haas-f1-team-bahrain-gp/

Inside Line: Which Mercedes W13 will pitch-up at Bahrain Grand Prix?
Paul Velasco
15 March, 2022

The most furiously debated topic on Formula 1 forums, our comments section and Facebook pages included, is the question of the Mercedes W13 state-of-readiness ahead of the 2022 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

My opinion, speculative too, is that they are not in trouble. In fact, they had the audacity to build two packages for the season, the Barcelona ‘conventional’ version and of course the radical sidepod-less which is nothing less than a W13B.

If the Bahrain package is not up to par, Mercedes can switch to the more conservative first edition of the W13, and in tandem develop the B-version as the season progresses, and release it when and if the performance tips towards the extreme version of their 2022 car.

‘To W13 ’B’, Or Not To W13 ’B’, That Is The Question?’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/15/inside-line-which-mercedes-w13-will-pitch-up-at-bahrain-grand-prix/

Mercedes relishing the challenge of unlocking W13 potential - Wolff
Phillip van Osten16/03/2022 at 16:27

"The start of a new Formula One season is always exciting, and this year more than most," commented Wolff in Mercedes Bahrain GP preview.

"With new technical and sporting regulations, there is so much to learn and discover as this new season begins.”

"Barcelona was a productive first test of the W13, then we brought a big update to Bahrain for the pre-season test which resulted from a huge effort by the whole team.”

‘Unlocking the W13 With Updates’;

https://f1i.com/news/434742-mercedes-relishing-the-challenge-of-unlocking-w13-potential-wolff.html

Hill advises Russell: Just make sure you’re fast!
Reuters
16 March, 2022

Asked what advice he would give to the youngster, Hill told reporters: “Just make sure you’re fast!

“You’re going to have to be possibly faster than you’ve ever driven before,” added the 61-year-old, an F1 expert for Sky Sports television, ahead of this weekend’s opening race in Bahrain. “It is a big step.”

“Was it harder than you thought? Is Lewis quicker than you thought? Do you think you can go any faster? Those are the things. I am sure he will be keen to avoid that,” explained Hill.

‘Fast And Faster!’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/16/hill-advises-russell-just-make-sure-youre-fast-f1-bahrain-gp-preview/

Alpine testing form suggests Alonso set for career crossroads
16/03/2022, 12:01
By Edd Straw

EL PLAN: When Fernando Alonso signed up to return to Formula 1 with what was then called Renault in mid-2020, but had been rebranded as Alpine by the time he started racing for the team last season, 2022 was always the key year.

“It is an interesting question and we don’t have an answer yet,” said Alonso. “We have to wait and see how the first races develop and see what we need from the car and from the package.”

“I’m optimistic because the team is putting a huge effort into this programme. We have the support from our president, we have the support from everyone at Renault and Alpine came last year to Formula 1 with the mind of this set of regulations and to try to be a contender in the future. If that future will be 2022 or 2025, I have no idea.”

‘EL PLAN: 2022 or 2025?’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/alpine-testing-form-suggests-alonso-set-for-career-crossroads/

F1 anticipation is building... but do we have to start in Bahrain?
F1
March 16th 2022
Author
Chris Medland

Great facilities, good racing and the teams have just tested there: it makes sense to start the grand prix season in Bahrain, but Chris Medland thinks F1 should be looking for somewhere with more pizzazz

Firstly, my apologies to the Bahrain International Circuit. It’s a really good facility, and a track that provides good racing at sunset in what is often a visually impressive spectacle. But it just doesn’t float my boat as a season-opener, especially when it has hosted a pre-season test.

The opening round needs to be a big deal, just as the final round does. After months without F1 races and with a grid full of new cars and unknowns, that first weekend should be a major event.

‘Pizzazz To Float The Boat!’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/f1-anticipation-is-building-but-do-we-have-to-start-in-bahrain#

Fortitude

17th March 2022, 08:34

The university project that Newey's F1 rivals should not forget.
OPINION: Red Bull's fortunes were transformed prior to Formula 1's last fundamental rules reset in 2009, as Adrian Newey's contribution helped it to emerge from midfield mediocrity to becoming a title-winning force.
By: Jonathan Noble
Mar 10, 2022, 11:27 AM

With ground effect aerodynamics returning in F1's latest shake-up, Newey's insight could again have a pivotal impact

Formula 1 teams were quite open about how they were caught on the hop by the porpoising problems from the first pre-season test.

While F1 historians needed no reminding of the phenomenon that blighted F1 cars during the last ground effect era in the early 1980's, many of those heading up the designs of the 2022 challengers have never really worked on this type of grand prix car before.

‘Adrian Newey’s Pivotal Impact’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/the-university-project-that-neweys-f1-rivals-should-not-forget/8867488/

Exclusive: New Red Bull sees Newey explore a very different design path
23 February, 20:40
Author RacingNews365 Staff

Red Bull managed to keep their real RB18 away from prying eyes until the opening morning of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. What secrets can be revealed as the team's actual 2022 F1 car hit the track?

The new car designed by Adrian Newey and his technical staff is totally different from the other 2022 cars.

In fact, so far we've identified two design routes – notably the one followed by Mercedes, in terms of reduction of the volume of the sidepods towards the rear ends, and the one adopted by Ferrari with medium-length sidepods but a wide cross-section throughout.

However, the RB18 differs clearly from both concepts. In particular, what stands out most is the way in which the lower section of the sidepods is cut out, defining a channel.

‘RB18 Different Design Concept’;

https://racingnews365.com/exclusive-new-red-bull-sees-newey-explore-a-very-different-design-path

Exclusive: Newey on F1's new era, heavy cars and cost cap challenge
15 March, 08:40
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Tom Leach

Newey, speaking exclusively to RacingNews365.com, had some praise for the rules reset, confident that revised aerodynamic regulations will bring more overtaking, while the sport's cost cap will prevent an arms race amongst the teams at the top.

"I think that the principle of trying to help overtaking by reducing the sensitivity of the following car to the one in front is... okay," Newey accepted.

"I think it will help overtaking a little bit. I don't think it will be a significant shift, but it will help a little bit. I think there are other ways it could have been done, let's say."

‘Exclusive Adrian Newey Interview’;

https://racingnews365.com/newey-on-f1s-new-era-heavy-cars-and-cost-cap-challenge

NEWEY: IMPROVED OVERTAKING COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN OTHER WAYS
Jad Mallak
15 March, 2022

Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s tech boss is fine with the concept Formula 1 pursued in 2022 to improve overtaking, but believes there could have been other ways to achieve the same result.

Newey remains one of the most successful designers in the history of F1 delivering Championship winning cars for Williams, McLaren, then Red Bull, the latest being the RB16B which Max Verstappen steered towards his maiden Drivers’ Crown in 2021.

“The only thing I would say is that this is, in reality, the biggest aerodynamic change we’ve had since Venturi cars were banned in 1982.”

“If you’re going to have such a big regulation change, which inevitably brings all sorts of other changes, it will probably spread the grid apart during the early seasons,” the Briton warned.

‘Spreading The Grid Apart’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/15/newey-improved-overtaking-could-have-been-done-in-other-ways/

Berger backing Red Bull as Marko is ‘always smiling’
Date published: March 16 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Ex-F1 driver Gerhard Berger expects Red Bull to be the leading team and is assured in that pick by Helmut Marko’s smiling.

And Berger is tipping Red Bull to be the leading team at the Bahrain GP. Speaking on the ServusTV programme ‘Sport und Talk aus dem Hangar-7’, Berger said: “When you can do a lot of laps, it’s always very reassuring. After the tests, as a driver you can already see whether you are well positioned.

“And I’m in good spirits when it comes to Red Bull Racing. Because I always see motorsport consultant Dr. Marko with a smile on his face.

‘Berger Backing The Smiles!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/gerhard-berger-backs-red-bull-2022/

Verstappen has full faith in Red Bull’s F1 engine project after signing new deal
F1
Connor McDonagh
16 Mar 2022

Max Verstappen says he trusts Red Bull to deliver a competitive Formula 1 power unit after committing his long term future to the team.

Speaking on the opening day of the Bahrain test, Verstappen was confident about Red Bull’s ability to develop its own PU in F1.

"A bit like my previous deal, there was also a few unknown things," he said. "But I trust the team that everything will be fine because they have shown before that they can handle these situations really well.

‘Faith At Red Bull’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/998456/1/verstappen-has-full-faith-red-bull-s-f1-engine-project-after-signing-new-deal

Fortitude

17th March 2022, 09:19

Mercedes rivals knew controversial sidepod design was a flop last year after private test.
Mercedes may have caught some by surprise last week in Bahrain testing at the unveiling of their new-look W13 with minimal sidepods, but Haas seemingly weren't that transfixed by their rivals.
By STUART BALLARD
18:40, Wed, Mar 16, 2022 | UPDATED: 18:40, Wed, Mar 16, 2022

MERCEDES are sticking with their 'zero sidepod' design on the W13 for the start of the new F1 season.

However, the Haas team principal went on to state that the team quickly realised after several simulator runs that "wide sidepods" were the best way to go. “Exactly this concept was our first draft," Steiner said.

“We had it in the wind tunnel last July and already realised that it brings advantages in slow corners. As an overall package, however, we saw greater potential in wide sidepods.”

‘Controversial Sidepod Flop’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1581767/Mercedes-F1-news-rivals-sidepod-design-Haas-Ferrari-Red-Bull-McLaren-Williams

Hill thinks 'sidepod-less' design could be cause of Mercedes problems
17/03/2022, 11:50
Author Tom Leach

Damon Hill believes that Mercedes are fighting porpoising more severely than many of their rivals due to a by-product of their 'sidepod-less' car design.

"There's so much suck coming from under the car now that I think they're having trouble keeping control of the floor," said Hill, speaking to the F1 Nation podcast.

"That's why they put those floor-stays, or why they petitioned to allow for floor-stays to go in. If you look at the Mercedes, there's a vast area [of the floor], because they've got such slim sidepods. There is not much there to hold the floor up!”

‘Not Much There ‘Sidepod-Less’!’;

https://racingnews365.com/hill-thinks-sidepod-less-design-could-be-cause-of-mercedes-problems

Wolff ‘really proud’ of striking Mercedes sidepod concept after it debuts in Bahrain
10 March 2022

Speaking in the lunchtime press conference on Thursday, Wolff couldn’t hide his satisfaction at Mercedes’ eye-catching design, which was radically different to the one they used at Barcelona pre-season running in February.

“I think we are really proud of what we have achieved in terms of concept,” said Wolff, “but now we need to make it go fast. I think it’s a development direction that we like, and it’s about tuning the car and so we are experimenting a lot, as we’ve done during the day, and approaching it with curiosity.”

“I think there [are still] issues that are… Bahrain-specific,” added Wolff. “It’s very hot, you see a lot of cars still bouncing – some on the straights, others through the corners – so it’s a tuning question. And we haven’t really looked at performance data yet.”

‘Wolff Really Proud Of Sidepod-Less Concept!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.wolff-really-proud-of-striking-mercedes-sidepod-concept-after-it-debuts-in.7BxJRonubQTwBLfSTaxnYV.html

Brawn: We didn’t anticipate Mercedes’ ‘very extreme’ sidepod design
by Ryan Wood
10th March 2022, 10:13

Brawn worked with a team of engineers and designers within Formula 1 to shape the new technical regulations, in which he says they closed off “hundreds” of loopholes, but admitted such innovations will always come about given the engineering prowess of contained within F1.

“I think it’s impossible to anticipate the creative scope of the teams, once they get the regs, you’ve got thousands of engineers working on all the regulations and how they can use them [to their benefit].”

“So some of the solutions honestly we never anticipated,” he added. “I think there’s no doubt that the Mercedes concept, we didn’t anticipate, I don’t think… it’s a very extreme interpretation of the regulation and I think there’s going to be, inevitably, a lot of debate about their interpretation and that’s what happens with new regs.”

‘NEVER Anticipated ‘Sidepod-Less’ Concept!’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/03/10/brawn-we-didnt-anticipate-mercedes-very-extreme-sidepod-design/

Marko unimpressed with Mercedes 'zero-sidepod' concept
Phillip van Osten
15/03/2022 at 14:56

"It looks revolutionary what Mercedes has brought but what matters is the time. We looked more at the performance and it wasn’t that impressive," Marko told Austrian daily OE24, referring to Mercedes' W13.

"The main thing is that we’re the fastest again," he said. "But we are primarily concerned with our car, and we are doing well there."

Although Red Bull's early confidence was upheld by its performance in Bahrain, Marko recalled that last year, Mercedes "was also behind in the test.” “Now I’m just waiting for qualifying on Saturday, when the engine will be revved up and all the cards will be on the table."

‘All The Cards On The Table, Saturday Qualifying’;

https://f1i.com/news/434672-marko-unimpressed-with-mercedes-zero-sidepod-concept.html

Toto Wolff makes worrying admission for Lewis Hamilton ahead of Bahrain GP
The Mercedes chief is cautious about his team's chances ahead of the season opener in Sakhir, with everyone on the grid apparently keen to talk down their own chances
By Daniel MoxonSports Writer
• 20:18, 16 Mar 2022

Wolff also spoke about how testing had gone for his team, and what has been learned as drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell prepare for competitive action. While the running time will have been invaluable, the 50-year-old claimed that not all had been smooth sailing for Mercedes during testing.

"Barcelona was a productive first test of the W13, then we brought a big update to Bahrain for the pre-season test which resulted from a huge effort by the whole team. We completed good mileage, had solid reliability, and learned a lot about our new car, but it was not a straightforward three days for us.”

"We tried plenty of set-up options and made good progress in understanding our limitations, and there's still plenty of room for us to improve further. There is a lot of potential to unlock in the W13, and we know how much we relish the challenge of understanding the car and extracting the maximum from it, and this will be our focus for the coming days, weeks and months."

‘Not Straightforward, Understanding Limitations, Extracting The Maximum!’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/wolff-mercedes-competitive-hamilton-bahrain-26486371

Fortitude

18th March 2022, 08:12

I'm not here to help Lewis! Mercedes new boy George Russell vows to take the fight to his team-mate and seven-time world champion Hamilton ahead of the Bahrain opener - as he admits 'I am up against the greatest of all time'.
“Nobody who finds themselves there (being Wingman) can be upset with anyone else as they are there for a reason. They have not performed.”
By Jonathan McEvoy for the Daily Mail
Published: 22:30, 17 March 2022 | Updated: 23:23, 17 March 2022

• George Russell has made it clear he will not act as Lewis Hamilton's wingman
• The 24-year-old is keen to be a team player, but wants to compete for Mercedes
• Russell has delayed his move to Monaco to prepare for the upcoming season

He was polite and respectful like a new boy at school. But one thing George Russell made as plain as the desert sand: he has not arrived at Mercedes to act as Lewis Hamilton's wingman.

'If I perform, I will not ever be in that position,' declares the Brit. 'It is not whether I am willing to be Lewis' wingman. I would be disappointed if I found myself in that position because I would not have done the job.”

‘Wingman Disappointment!’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10624715/Mercedes-new-boy-George-Russell-vows-fight-seven-time-F1-world-champion-Hamilton.html

Charles Leclerc: 'It's time for us to be back at the top'
17 Mar 2022

Charles Leclerc says Ferrari have been given a great opportunity to succeed this season, thanks to the new rules and regulations. The Monégasque driver says 'It's time for us to be back at the top' ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.

‘It’s Time!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.charles-leclerc-its-time-for-us-to-be-back-at-the-top.1727572699829427521.html

Leclerc: Red Bull favourite, but 'a lot more to come' from Mercedes
Phillip van Osten17/03/2022 at 17:14

Charles Leclerc says Red Bull will start F1's season this weekend in Bahrain with the status of favourites, but the Ferrari driver believes Mercedes has yet to show its full potential.

"I think Red Bull are [favourite], from what they’ve shown," said the Scuderia charger in Bahrain on Thursday. "But I also think that Mercedes didn’t show their full potential.”

"They’ve done a few laps here and there that were good once they were putting it together but they didn’t really put anything together to be honest.”

‘Full Potential?’;

https://f1i.com/news/434871-leclerc-red-bull-favourite-but-a-lot-more-to-come-from-mercedes.html

Hamilton edges Verstappen as bookies’ favourite; F1 gears up for Bahrain opener
17 Mar 2022
By Gambling Insider

The industry is preparing for an exciting season ahead that should see greater engagement from bettors. While formula one is still lower down on the list of operators' most popular sports, the excitement of last season, as well as increased betting industry involvement in the sport, means bookmakers can welcome another source of revenue as the football season comes to a close - and post-Cheltenham.

Sky Bet has odds of 13/8 for Hamilton to win. Meanwhile, Verstappen is second-favourite at 7/4, while 24-year-old George Russell is third-favourite at 13/2. Former world champions Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel have odds of 66/1 and 125/1, respectively.

Interestingly, despite Hamilton’s place as bookies’ favourite to claim the overall prize, Verstappen is seen as the most likely to win the opening race in Bahrain. Verstappen has odds of 4/7 on Sky Bet, while Hamilton is at 5/4. This has perhaps been influenced by the first pre-season testing session, which took place on 16 March.

‘Early Betting: Verstappen for Bahrain GP, Hamilton for World Champion’;

https://www.gamblinginsider.com/news/15632/hamilton-edges-verstappen-as-bookies-favourite-f1-gears-up-for-bahrain-opener

Time to get the sandbags off + 5 things to watch for - 2022 Bahrain GP Preview
Published Mar 18, 2022 4:00 AM

We're getting closer to the start of the 2022 Formula 1 season and soon it will be time to get the sandbags off! On Saturday, we will sort of know the pecking order for the first third of the season.

On Sunday, we will know if the cars and tyres will deliver what we're all waiting in anticipation for - classic wheel-to-wheel battles.

Inside Line F1 Podcast’;

https://omny.fm/shows/inside-line-f1-podcast/time-to-get-the-sandbags-off-5-things-to-watch-for

Ricciardo ‘hungry’ to get back in the car after Covid
Date published: March 17 2022 - Sam Cooper

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo has said he is “hungry” to get back in the car after recovering from a bout of Covid that ruled him out of Bahrain testing.

“It’s hard to know where we’ll be on the grid but it’s going to be competitive and I’m hungry to get back in the car and go racing.”

“Heading into my second year with the team, I feel more confident and comfortable than ever. I’m determined to build on last year’s performance and use everything the team and I learned from the highs and lows to make this season one of our best.”

‘After Ilness, Daniel Ricciardo Hungry’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/daniel-ricciardo-hungry-to-be-back/

Can Ferrari put a halt to Mercedes and Red Bull's recent F1 domination?
17th March 2022, ‎18‎:‎20
Author Thomas Maher

Formula 1's long-awaited new era kicks off this weekend in Bahrain, with Ferrari seemingly ready to rejoin the battle at the front alongside Red Bull and Mercedes.

Looking back over the two pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain, the Scuderia consistently impressed by placing at or near the very top of the timesheets throughout.

Both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc exploited what appeared to be good inherent speed from the F1-75, with the car adapting well to the two different circuit types. Added to that was metronomic reliability from the Ferrari power unit, with the team regularly amongst the highest mileage figures at the end of each day.

‘Metronomic Engine Reliability’;

https://racingnews365.com/can-ferrari-put-a-halt-to-red-bull-and-mercedes-recent-f1-domination

Lewis Hamilton insists Mercedes have 'got a LOT of problems' and fears they might not be able to challenge for victories for the first FOUR races, with both Red Bull and Ferrari looking quick ahead of the season opener in Bahrain this weekend
By Kieran Lynch For Mailonline
Published: 08:47, 17 March 2022

'The testing has been difficult,' Hamilton said during a visit to Expo 2020 Dubai.

'It's crazy because, years ago, we used to have a lot of test days and now we only have, literally, three days in the car altogether. So it's not a lot of laps.

'When we go into this race, this week, we're still learning about the car – we probably will be for the first four races at least. We've got a lot of problems.'

‘Difficult Testing, Lot Of Problems’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10622685/Lewis-Hamilton-insists-Mercedes-got-lot-problems-going-season-opener-Bahrain.html

RacingNews365.com's predictions for the 2022 F1 season
18th March 2022, ‎07‎:‎30
Author RacingNews365 Staff

With the 2022 F1 season almost upon us, RacingNews365.com's finest minds have dusted off their crystal balls to bring you their predictions for the coming year.

The cars have been unveiled, pre-season testing is over, and it's finally time for F1's much-vaunted new era to get underway.

RacingNews365.com journalists Dieter Rencken, Mike Seymour, Thomas Maher, Tom Leach, Anna Francis and Michael Butterworth have put their reputations on the line to bring you their predictions for what looks like a notoriously unpredictable season.

‘Predictions’;

https://racingnews365.com/racingnews365s-predictions-for-the-2022-f1-season

Fortitude

18th March 2022, 15:00

Gasly leads 1st practice at Bahrain GP, Verstappen 5th.
AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly of France.
BY JEROME PUGMIRE AP AUTO RACING WRITER
March 18, 2022 10:23 AM

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly was quickest and Formula One champion Max Verstappen only fifth fastest for Red Bull in the first practice session at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton made a sluggish start. The veteran British driver was seventh quickest as Mercedes appeared to struggle with grip. Gasly's best time of 1 minute, 34.193 seconds was .364 quicker than Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and .418 better than Leclerc's teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr.
Mercedes driver George Russell was fourth best and trailed Gasly by .436. Verstappen was .549 behind Gasly with Hamilton .75 back from Gasly's time.

‘AlphaTauri Quickest’;

https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article259534504.html#storylink=mainstage_card

McLarens 16th and 17th in practice as drivers test “interim” fix for brake problems
2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted on
18th March 2022, 13:50 | Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

“Obviously brake ducts are quite complex parts if you look at the entire Formula 1 car,” said Seidl. “So it was a race against time in order to bring an interim solution to here.”

“It’s definitely not the final, ideal solution. But we did what we could, the factory was flat-out in the last seven, eight days in order to provide us with the solutions we have on the cars now, which we have to evaluate now in free practice one and two.”

“Hopefully it allows us then to get back to normal running, to get back into our rhythm as well, which we lost a bit during the last test and then we take it from there.”

‘McLaren In Race Against Time’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/18/mclarens-16th-and-17th-in-practice-as-drivers-test-interim-fix-for-brake-problems/

Hamilton and Verstappen trail as Alpine sidepod disintegrates in opening F1 practice
Ian Parkes
Friday 18 March 2022 13:04

There was drama early on as the session was only seven minutes old when the sidepod on Esteban Ocon's Alpine disintegrated as he hurtled down the start-finish straight with Aston Martin reserve Nico Hulkenberg in close attendance behind.

As Ocon returned to the pits, and a red flag was thrown by one of the FIA's two new race directors in Niels Wittich, TV images focused on the gaping hole in the side of the A522.

The team soon confirmed it was naturally "investigating the issue", revealing it was a "new, upgraded sidepod" that was running for the first time.

‘EL PLAN:
Sidepod Disintegration!’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/77969/hamilton-and-verstappen-trail-as-alpine-sidepod-disintegrates-in-opening-f1-practice/

Bahrain GP: Encouraging FP1 for Williams Racing
By Andrew Hooper
March 18 2022

In the first Friday session of the 2022 Bahrain GP the Williams Racing Team would see their drivers finish the session in 13th and 15th. Both Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon would essentially complete just two runs one on the hard and the other the soft. It was an encouraging start to the weekend but both drivers still have a lot to learn of their 2022 FW44.

Cla Driver Laps Time Gap
1 Pierre Gasly 23 1'34.193
2 Charles Leclerc 22 1'34.557 0.364
3 Carlos Sainz Jr 23 1'34.611 0.418
4 George Russell 23 1'34.629 0.436
5 Max Verstappen 22 1'34.742 0.549
6 Lance Stroll 22 1'34.814 0.621
7 Lewis Hamilton 17 1'34.943 0.750
8 Fernando Alonso 14 1'35.000 0.807
9 Yuki Tsunoda 20 1'35.028 0.835
10 Sergio Perez 23 1'35.050 0.857
11 Guanyu Zhou 20 1'35.053 0.860
12 Esteban Ocon 15 1'35.151 0.958
13 Nicholas Latifi 15 1'35.644 1.451
14 Nico Hulkenberg 23 1'35.815 1.622
15 Alex Albon 17 1'35.923 1.730
16 Lando Norris 22 1'36.304 2.111
17 Daniel Ricciardo 20 1'36.402 2.209
18 Mick Schumacher 23 1'36.536 2.343
19 Kevin Magnussen 21 1'36.804 2.611
20 Valtteri Bottas 2

‘Williams FW-44 Encouraging Start’;

https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st203024.htm

What happened in first Bahrain Grand Prix F1 practice
18?03/2022, 13:22
By Valentin Khorounzhiy

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly topped the first practice session of the 2022 Formula 1 season as the championship’s new era began in earnest in Bahrain.
Key moments:
– Gasly leads Ferrari duo
– Red Bull pace appears hidden by run plan
– Alpine sidepod failure causes red flag
– Bottas limited to two laps

‘F1 New Era Begins’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/what-happened-in-first-bahrain-grand-prix-f1-practice/

FP1 Highlights: Bahrain Grand Prix
18 Mar 2022

Watch highlights from the first practice session ahead of the season-opening 2022 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit.

‘Highlights’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.fp1-highlights-bahrain-grand-prix.1727648163580300160.html

Fortitude

19th March 2022, 01:47

Verstappen leads Ferraris in second Bahrain GP practice session.
World champion Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the second Formula One practice session at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
18/03/2022 - 20:18

Mercedes' George Russell was fourth while Fernando Alonso was fifth for Alpine.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, hampered by a brake problem, was ninth fastest.

The seven-time world champion wound up 1.2 seconds adrift of Verstappen who ended the Briton's reign at last season’s furious finale in Abu Dhabi.

‘Max Verstappen Fastest’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220318-verstappen-leads-ferraris-in-second-bahrain-gp-practice-session

Hamilton: Still calm but we’re not bluffing like some assume
Editor
18 March, 2022

The sidepod-less Mercedes W13 proved to be a handful relative to its rivals, as Max Verstappen set the pace in the Red Bull on Friday evening at Sakhir. He ended 1.2 seconds up on Hamilton, down in ninth, with new Silver Arrows teammate George Russell’s fourth-fastest, half a second shy of the top time. Neither driver happy.

“The bouncing we’re experiencing is losing us downforce compared to the others which is making it much harder out there. We’re not bluffing like people assume we are but we’ll work as hard as we can to get through it and do what we can.”

“At the moment, we’re not going to be in the race for the win here, Red Bull are 0.8/0.9secs ahead and Ferrari are half a second ahead so we’re scrapping with whoever is behind them.”

‘Sidepod-less W13 Losing Downforce’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/18/hamilton-im-still-calm-but-were-not-bluffing-like-some-assume-f1-bahrain-gp/

Mercedes resigned to ‘damage limitation’ focus at Bahrain GP
18/03/2022, 19:38
By Josh Suttill

The Mercedes Formula 1 team is braced for a “tough couple of days” at the 2022 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix where it will focus on “damage limitation”.

“That was a useful test, and we got a clear read on which set-up and floor specification was best for the bouncing.”

“However, we’re still struggling to get the rear of the car much lower and trying to do that gave the drivers a fairly bumpy time of it in the second session.”

‘Damage Limitation’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes-resigned-to-damage-limitation-focus-at-bahrain-gp/

Ferrari ‘sure’ Mercedes still in the Bahrain GP hunt
Date published: March 18 2022 - Henry Valantine

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto feels Mercedes are “very close” to front-running pace, despite their troubles in Friday practice in Bahrain.

But even with the worries about their pace – Russell going as far as to say Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri could match Mercedes this weekend – the Ferrari boss is not writing them off.

Ferrari have made it clear their power unit was a priority for them heading into the new season, with an engine freeze taking hold this year until the end of the current engine formula in 2025 – making their current creation even more important than usual.

‘Ferrari Power Unit Priority’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-sure-mercedes-bahrain-pace/

Mercedes look less of a threat to Red Bull than Ferrari after Friday practice
2022 Bahrain Grand Prix Friday practice analysis
Posted on
18th March 2022, 22:28 | Written by Will Wood

When Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell offered a pessimistic prediction of their performance ahead of the first day of practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Max Verstappen refused to buy what his rivals were selling.

Fresh from the cockpit of the W13 after his first day’s work as an official Mercedes race driver, Hamilton judged the deficit his new team lacked compared to their rivals as almost a second slower than Red Bull and over half a second behind the seemingly resurgent Scuderia. And the times from Friday’s evening running appears to back up Russell’s assessment.

Mercedes trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, was frank in his analysis of the team’s potential pace and how likely they might be able to claw back the gap by Sunday. “In terms of pace, we have a significant gap to Ferrari and Red Bull, especially Max on the long run,” said Shovlin.

‘Significant Gap In Pace’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/18/mercedes-look-less-of-a-threat-to-red-bull-than-ferrari-after-friday-practice/

Fernando Alonso: Alpine 'surprised' by competitiveness at Bahrain GP practice
18 Mar 2022

Fernando Alonso says that Alpine had some "positive surprises with how competitive we felt" during Friday's practice sessions at the 2022 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit.

‘Alpine Competitiveness’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.fernando-alonso-alpine-surprised-by-competitiveness-at-bahrain-gp-practice.1727661554987265964.html

Fortitude

20th March 2022, 07:11

Charles Leclerc insists 'there is MUCH more to come' from Ferrari after taking stunning Bahrain Grand Prix pole position ahead of Max Verstappen... but the world champion hints his Red Bull could have the edge on race day.
By Dan Ripley for MailOnline
Published: 18:36, 19 March 2022

• Charles Leclerc took a surprise pole position for Ferrari at the Bahrain Grand Prix
• Carlos Sainz took an excellent third for the team too behind Max Verstappen
• However, the world champion hinted his Red Bull may be quicker during the race
• The Monegasque though believes Ferrari's front running pace is here to stay

Charles Leclerc believes his surprise pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix for Ferrari is the real deal, and that his team could become a major force this season.

Leclerc pipped the Dutchman to pole position around the Sakhir circuit, with his team-mate Carlos Sainz in third and only a tenth down to indicate Ferrari are well on the pace at the season opening race.

‘Scuderia Major Force’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10631091/F1-Charles-Leclerc-insists-come-Ferrari-taking-Bahrain-GP-pole.html

Leclerc promises 'much more to come' from Ferrari after Bahrain GP pole
Ben Issatt
19 March 2022

Charles Leclerc hopes pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix will just be the start with "much more to come" from Ferrari in 2022.

Following the trials and tribulations the Scuderia has faced in recent years, Leclerc is certainly pleased that the focus on 2022 appears to have paid off.

“It feels good,” he said in Parc Ferme. "The last few years have been incredibly difficult for the team, we were quite hopeful that this [the new car regulations] was an opportunity to be back in the front.”

‘Ferrari Feels Good’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15259-leclerc-promises-much-more-to-come-from-ferrari-after-bahrain-gp-pole

Max Verstappen: Second Place Start “A positive start to the season”
By Nick Golding
March 19, 2022

World Champion Max Verstappen had to settle for a second place start for the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix, after narrowly missing out on pole to Charles Leclerc at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The World Champion has looked flawless all weekend and is still the vast majorities favourite to take the win on Sunday, Verstappen is aware though that the Ferrari’s are very close.

“Overall, it’s not a bad position to be in, of course you always want more but this is a positive start to the season. I think we have a good race car which is important and with it being the start of the season, there are still a lot of things to learn. Q2 was good but Q3 was a bit more hit and miss with not really getting the right balance.”

‘A Positive Start’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/max-verstappen-second-place-start-a-positive-start-to-the-season/

Magnussen “speechless” after qualifying P7 for Haas
Sakhir, Bahrain
by Emer Hedderman
20th March 2022

Two weeks ago Magnussen’s year was set up to see him running in the top categories of both the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the World Endurance Championship, but a call from Haas’ Team Principal, Guenther Steiner, changed all of that.

“It’s crazy,” Magnussen said. “I mean, this is all we could have ever hoped for. I don’t know. I’m speechless. It’s crazy.

“The last couple of weeks have just been insane and getting here, learning about the car, seeing that it, maybe, it’s a pretty good one, but still not really knowing, being so anxious about this qualifying to really see how good it is, and then just finding out that it’s really good – crazy.”

‘Haas P7 Speechless’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/magnussen-speechless-after-qualifying-p7-for-haas-78232

“It would be nice to have a battle with Mercedes” – Valtteri Bottas
By Nick Golding
March 19, 2022

It was a welcomed return to Qualifying 3 for Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN, with Valtteri Bottas qualifying an incredible sixth and rookie team-mate Guanyu Zhou in fourteenth at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Very few would’ve predicted that Bottas would be qualifying on the third row for the Bahrain Grand Prix, let alone alongside his former Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team team-mate Lewis Hamilton, or three places ahead of George Russell, the man who replaced Bottas at Mercedes!

Bottas is very pleased to be starting sixth and is hopeful of a strong points haul on Sunday, he also wouldn’t mind a battle against his former team!

‘Bottas To Battle Mercedes’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/it-would-be-nice-to-have-a-battle-with-mercedes-valtteri-bottas/

Reaching Q3 is a “relief” for Alpine says Alonso as he urges development push
2022 Bahrain Grand Prix
Posted on
19th March 2022, 17:41 | Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

Fernando Alonso says qualifying in the top 10 for the first race of the new season was a “relief” for Alpine. However he urged his team to press on with their development programme after lapping 1.6 seconds slower than pole-winner Charles Leclerc in Bahrain.

“To be fighting for the top 10 with both cars I think has been a relief a little bit for Alpine that the job done during the winter has been positive,” said Alonso.

“Now it’s up to us to develop the car as quick as possible. It’s going to be a huge development for everybody and we need to be fast off-track as well on that.”

‘EL PLAN: Alpine Relief’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/19/reaching-q3-is-a-relief-for-alpine-says-alonso-as-he-urges-development-push/

Wolff: We have to be realistic, we are third fastest
Jad Mallak
20 March, 2022

Toto Wolff is trying to be realistic about Mercedes’ form in the 2022 Formula 1 season, after qualifying fifth and ninth for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, saying they are the third fastest team right now.

Toto Wolff spoke to Sky Sports F1 after qualifying and said: “I think we have to be realistic about our performance level at the moment.

“That is third quickest team on the grid, and Lewis has put the car there,” he added, hinting that Lewis Hamilton’s fifth grid position flattered the car a bit: “We are seven-tenths behind with one car, that’s where we are.”

‘Third Fastest Realism’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/20/wolff-we-have-to-be-realistic-we-are-third-fastest/

[B]Lewis Hamilton in 'despair' with Mercedes star to face two new problems this season
LEWIS HAMILTON has been warned over two new problems he will face this season.
By LEWIS WINTER
13:05, Sat, Mar 19, 2022

Lewis Hamilton had a look of "despair" after the problems Mercedes faced on the first day of the opening practice session of the season, according to 1996 champion Damon Hill. Hamilton was only ninth-fastest in practice ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

"Basically they've got a problem," Hill said. "There was a little of a look of despair with Lewis but he knows he's got a good team behind him and they've got a lot of work to do.”

"He is trying to make it clear that he's not sandbagging, they're not just pretending they haven't got the pace, they genuinely don't have the pace. They have issues, you can see that clearly on the car, on the track. Lewis tends to show his feelings and concern.”

‘Look Of Despair’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1583163/Lewis-Hamilton-Mercedes-problems-Bahrain-Grand-Prix-F1-news

Fortitude

20th March 2022, 17:33

Leclerc wins season opening Bahrain GP on Formula 1 circuit.
Formula One champion Max Verstappen’s title defense turned into a nightmare when the Red Bull star retired near the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday allowing Ferrari to clinch a 1-2 finish with Charles Leclerc winning ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz Jr.
The Canadian Press

Leclerc was leading comfortably from Verstappen when the back of Pierre Gasly’s AlphaTauri car caught fire forcing him to park it on the side of the track. It was quickly put out and the Frenchman walked away unharmed.

From the restart, Leclerc got away and Verstappen started complaining about steering problems.

A few minutes later both Red Bulls were out of the race and George Russell's Mercedes moved up into fourth to give Mercedes an unexpected bonus.

‘Charles LecLerc No.1, Carlos Sainz, No.2’;

https://www.tsn.ca/leclerc-wins-season-opening-bahrain-gp-on-formula-1-circuit-1.1773695

F1 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix - Full Race Results from Round 1
F1
Connor McDonagh
20 Mar 2022

https://www.crash.net/f1/results/999197/1/f1-2022-bahrain-grand-prix-full-race-results-round-1

Bahrain GP: Charles Leclerc wins F1 season opener ahead of Carlos Sainz as Max Verstappen suffers late retirement
By George Dagless
Published: 20 Mar 2022, 17:04

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc rode through an epic duel with Max Verstappen and a late Safety Car period to take victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon, underlining his early-season title credentials in the process, whilst Red Bull suffered a double retirement. On three consecutive laps, Verstappen overtook Leclerc to take the lead of the Grand Prix and on each occasion the Ferrari man fought back to reclaim P1 moments later.

A Safety Car period caused by Pierre Gasly’s fire left Leclerc needing to once again build his lead but he had no issues doing just that, with Verstappen instead beginning to suffer with power issues.

Indeed, with a handful of laps to go the Dutchman began crawling to the pitlane, with Carlos Sainz taking P2 to seal a Ferrari one-two. And, with just two laps to go, Red Bull’s night was topped off with Perez’s engine cutting out and forcing him out of the race, sealing a podium spot for Lewis Hamilton.

‘Ferrari One Two’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87986371-bahrain-gp-charles-leclerc-wins-f1-season-opener-ahead-of-carlos-sainz-as-max-verstappen-suffers-late-retirement

Hamilton warns Mercedes has "a long way to go" after "difficult" Bahrain podium
Ewan Gale
Sunday 20 March 2022 17:12

Lewis Hamilton has insisted his Mercedes team will "keep our heads down" after capitalising on Red Bull's misfortune to steal a podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Silver Arrows struggled for pace throughout the opening race of the season and at one point, Hamilton was 47 seconds adrift of eventual winner Charles Leclerc before the safety car was deployed late on to retrieve Pierre Gasly's burning AlphaTauri.

"I know the guys are working really hard back at the factory and it is not going to be a quick turnaround," said Hamilton. "But I know, we all know as a team that we have been the best-unified team for so long, I know that we all will keep our heads down, keep working, there is a long, long way to go."

‘Unified Team’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78206/hamilton-warns-mercedes-has-a-long-way-to-go-after-difficult-bahrain-podium/

Leclerc heads Ferrari 1-2 in Bahrain amid Red Bull meltdown
Andrew Lewin20/03/2022 at 16:59

At the end of lap 54, the final act in Verstappen's Sunday drama came to a head: "What's going on with the battery?!" he said over the team radio, to which he received a funereal response from the Red Bull pit wall: "It's not the battery, there's nothing we can do." Seconds later the car lost drive and limped to pit lane with Verstappen's hopes dashed; Perez was also on air declaring that he too was losing power; as Hamilton lined him up for a last lap pass and an unlikely podium, the Red Bull's engine seized and sent Perez spinning out at turn 1.

Jaws were still dropping at this spectacle as Leclerc crossed the line to claim victory with Sainz now in second to make it a Ferrari 1-2, and Hamilton having salvaged a truly unexpected podium and Russell right behind him in fourth. magnussen confirmed a new era for Haas in fifth followed by Bottas, Ocon, Tsunoda, Alonso and Zhou and Schumacher just missing out.

And if that's the standard of racing for 2022, then it's going to be one heck of a season!

‘Jaws Dropping’;

https://f1i.com/news/435493-leclerc-heads-ferrari-1-2-in-bahrain-amid-red-bull-meltdown.html

Fortitude

21st March 2022, 05:42

Leclerc joked to Ferrari he had engine issue on final lap.
Charles Leclerc says that he joked over his team radio on the final lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix that he was suffering from an engine issue.
20/03/2022, 18:43
by Fergal Walsh

As he closed out the second sector on his final lap during the 2022 edition of the race, Leclerc jumped on the radio to declare that once again, he had a problem with his car. “Something strange with the engine, something strange with the engine,” he said, before stating moments later “I’m joking”.

Speaking to Sky F1 after the race, Leclerc said: “I did a bit of a joke on the radio on the last lap saying there was something strange with the engine.”

“The engineers, I’m pretty sure, didn’t like that. But it was fun, I had that in mind for the last 10 or 15 laps of the race, hoping there were no reliability issues.”

‘Something Strange With The Engine… …No Reliability Problems!’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/03/20/leclerc-joked-to-ferrari-he-had-engine-issue-on-final-lap/

Charles Leclerc admits it was 'incredible' to drive a car that 'was capable of winning' after Max Verstappen 'challenged' him in 'tough' season opener at the Bahrain Grand Prix
By Charlotte Daly For Mailonline
Published: 01:12, 21 March 2022

• Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari their first win the season at the Bahrain GP
• Red Bull suffered two late retirements from Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez
• Leclerc said Verstappen 'challenged' him during the race on Sunday afternoon
• He also said it was 'incredible' to be 'back in a car that is capable of winning

Charles Leclerc said it was 'incredible' to be 'back in a car that was capable of winning after he secured Ferrari their first win the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

Leclerc said he was proud of his performance during the 'tough race' and credited his team for their contribution. While his team-mate, Carlos Sainz Jr, said Ferrari's 'tireless work over the last years' had finally 'paid off'.

‘Incredible To Be Back’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10634199/Charles-Leclerc-admits-incredible-drive-car-capable-winning.html

Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari engineers 'heart attacks' with last-lap prank in Bahrain
CHARLES LECLERC may well have been in the bad books with his Ferrari engineers had he not delivered a superbly-controlled victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
By DANIEL MOXON
22:07, Sun, Mar 20, 2022

Many drivers in Leclerc's position would probably focus entirely on getting safely across the finish line before allowing their thoughts to head anywhere else. However, the mischievous Monegasque had something brutal in mind for his engineers.

After those fatal mechanical issues for the cars driven by Verstappen and Perez, he pulled a prank over team radio by claiming he was suffering from a similar problem. "I joked on the radio [on the last lap] that there was something strange with the engine, which I am sure gave a heart attack to the mechanics," Leclerc admitted after the race.

‘Last-Lap Prank’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1583631/Charles-Leclerc-prank-Ferrari-Max-Verstappen-retires-Bahrain-F1-news

Binotto surprised by Ferrari race-pace advantage over Red Bull
20/03/2022, ‎18‎:‎50
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Mike Seymour

Ferrari have started the new F1 season in dream fashion, scoring a 1-2 in Bahrain while their closest rivals, Red Bull, suffered a double DNF.

Reflecting on the race result in an interview with Sky Sports F1, Binotto said: "It's fantastic; the 1-2 was unexpected. "I think it has been a great race. I think that Charles defended the position, [and it was] so nice to see him battling and fighting for the position, and for the win.

"We stayed out on our Medium tyres because, making the simulation and calculations, [Verstappen] should have needed two seconds per lap to catch up at the end of the race, and two seconds is a big amount. Somehow, Charles was easy on the tyres and was managing the tyres. He felt comfortable, so for us it was easiest to stay out and try to consolidate the position.”

‘Ferrari Surprise’;

https://racingnews365.com/binotto-surprised-by-ferrari-race-pace-advantage-over-red-bull

Binotto feared 'heart attack' with late Bahrain safety car
Phillip van Osten20/03/2022 at 20:48

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto admitted being seized with anguish on his team's pitwall when a late safety car reset the gap between Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen in the closing stages of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

Binotto praised Leclerc's tyre management during the race, with minimal degradation impacting his car. But the Scuderia boss also acknowledged that his team had benefitted from a bit of luck. "Somehow, Charles was easy on the tyres and was managing the tyres," he added.

"He felt comfortable, so for us it was easiest to stay out and try to consolidate the position. In the end, we were a bit lucky. [There was] certainly a heart attack for me on the pit wall when you're consolidating the positions and you've got the Safety Car 10 laps to the end.”

‘Seized With Anguish’;

https://f1i.com/news/435686-binotto-feared-heart-attack-with-late-bahrain-safety-car.html

“A car that is capable of winning feels incredible” – Charles Leclerc
By Nick Golding
March 20, 2022

Charles Leclerc took Scuderia Ferrari back to where they belong, on the top step of the podium, after winning the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix with team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr making it a Ferrari 1-2 at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Leclerc would’ve been concerned about having Verstappen right on his gearbox all over again, however he had no reason to fear, the World Champion was forced into retirement just as Leclerc was about to restart the race. The Dutchman suffered multiple reliability issues at the exact same time, ending his hopes of victory.

Carlos Sainz Jr ran in third place for the vast majority of the race, the Spaniard found the race difficult and even believed it to be one of the hardest of his career since joining the team. Despite all of this, Sainz Jr made it a 1-2 for the Prancing Horses for the first-time since the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix.

‘Winning Car Feels Incredible’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/a-car-that-is-capable-of-winning-feels-incredible-charles-leclerc/

Ferrari needs ‘four or five races’ to be sure of title hopes
The Race
20 March 2022, 20:28
By Scott Mitchell

Ferrari believes it needs “four or five races” to assess whether it is a 2022 title contender after claiming a one-two finish in Formula 1’s dramatic season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. However, it believes Red Bull is still the favourite, and wants to wait a few grands prix before deciding whether it has a package capable of fighting for both titles.

“I think that the others are very, very strong,” said Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto when asked by The Race if he felt Ferrari’s team and drivers are ready to mount a championship challenge. They have proved to be very strong yesterday in qualifying. It was really a matter of details.”

“I think today it could have been so good, but maybe they had some reliability issues or something that is not perfect on their car for what we may understand from the radio communications. And they would have been very fast otherwise.”

‘Four Or Five Races’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/ferrari-needs-four-or-five-races-to-be-sure-of-f1-title-hopes/

'A day to celebrate for entire team!' declares Sainz
Andrew Lewin20/03/2022 at 19:45

Carlos Sainz was proud to proclaim that Ferrari were finally back at the top of Formula 1, having gone through some tough times in recent seasons.

"This is definitely a day to celebrate for the entire team," the Spanish driver said in parc ferme after the end of the race. “Ferrari are back, and properly back.

"A 1-2, and where the team should have been over the last few years. The hard work is paying off and we are there.”

‘Entire Team Celebration’;

https://f1i.com/news/435717-a-day-to-celebrate-for-entire-team-declares-sainz.html

Fortitude

21st March 2022, 13:10

Mercedes to 'take a chainsaw' to W13 for Saudi Arabia.
Toto Wolff has suggested Mercedes will "take a chainsaw" to its W13 for Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in a bid to rectify the car's issues.
Sam Hall
Monday 21 March 2022 04:00

"It's easier to shed drag off the car because you simply take a chainsaw and cut the rear wing to bits and so that is what we will be doing for Jeddah," said Wolff. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Wolff explained what Mercedes believed to be the cause of its pace problem while conceding the manufacturer may need to look again at its latest power unit.

"I think we were probably over-winged," he added. "We had too much drag and that is just because we are lacking parts at the moment and hopefully we can remedy that.”

"It is half or a little bit more maybe of the top speed advantage but we need to really leave no stone unturned on the power unit side."

‘Chainsaw The W13’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78242/mercedes-to-take-a-chainsaw-to-w13-for-saudi-arabia/

Toto Wolff says Mercedes are out of F1 title contention after one race.
Lewis Hamilton believes team have no quick fix for the problem afflicting their car.
21/03/2022, 11:37
Giles Richards in Bahrain

The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has conceded his team and their seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, are not in contention for the Formula One world titles after the season’s opening race in Bahrain. Hamilton has acknowledged the team have no quick fix for the fundamental problem afflicting their car as they struggle to get the best out of it in the season’s initial meetings.

Wolff said it was up to the team to “regain land, centimetre by centimetre”, in what will clearly be a drawn-out fightback and that they could not simply throw parts at the car until they had solved the main issue with the porpoising. Optimism remains that when they do so they will be able to be very competitive, as Wolff was expectant they could “unleash the performance that we hope to be in the car”.

‘W13 Out Of F1 Contention’;

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/toto-wolff-says-mercedes-are-out-of-f1-title-contention-after-one-race-1.4832207

Kravitz on when Mercedes ‘will get act together’
Date published: March 21 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Sky F1 reporter Ted Kravitz believes Mercedes are stuck with their ‘porpoising’-related performance issues until the European phase of the season.

Throughout testing, the eight-time Constructors’ champions had struggled to find a fix for their W13 bouncing down the straights, or ‘porpoising’ as it is termed, which meant Lewis Hamilton could manage only P5 on the grid in Bahrain, while team-mate George Russell started P9.

Ultimately, Mercedes did get a driver on the podium, Hamilton crossing the line P3 thanks to a double retirement for Red Bull, but for both pure one-lap and race pace, Mercedes were not in the same league as Red Bull or Ferrari.

‘Getting Their Act Together’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ted-kravitz-mercedes-improvement-chances/

Mercedes F1 title bid ‘a very long shot’ to even think about.
The Race
20 March 2022, 20:18

It’s a “very long shot” for Mercedes “to even think about being in contention for any of the championships” in the 2022 Formula 1 season on the evidence of the Bahrain Grand Prix, believes Toto Wolff.

The winner of the last eight consecutive F1 constructors’ championships still ended up third and fourth at Sakhir with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell but owed that result to the last-gasp retirements of the Red Bulls.

Wolff felt that in an uneventful race “fifth and sixth would have been a reflection of where we are”. Mercedes was not on the pace of either Ferrari – which finished 1-2 – or its 2021 arch-rival Red Bull in Bahrain, and effectively used the race weekend as a test.

‘F1 Title A Long Shot’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mercedes-f1-title-bid-a-very-long-shot-to-even-think-about/

Mercedes highlight the key issue they need to get on top of
21/03/2022, ‎07‎:‎45
Author Thomas Maher

Mercedes' Andrew Shovlin says he expects the team to unlock plenty of performance from their W13 quite quickly. "Our priority has to be to get on top of our current performance issues," Andrew Shovlin, Head of Trackside Engineering at Mercedes, explained after the race.

"We don't have a car to fight for pole or race wins, and that isn't something that we can tolerate for long if we hold ambitions to win the championships.”

"The balance was quite tricky, but the main issue is just a lack of grip, caused by the fact that we have to run the car so high to avoid the bottoming."

‘W13 Car Can’t Fight For Pole Or Race Wins’;

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-highlight-key-issue-they-need-to-get-on-top-of

Mercedes customer teams express concerns over engine
21/03/2022, 13:00
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Some of Mercedes' engine customers have suggested that the new power unit from the German manufacturer isn't quite as powerful as they'd like. At one point, the two McLarens, Williams and Aston Martins were the last six cars on track, while the Mercedes factory team were more than 30 seconds behind the leading Ferrari and Red Bull until a late Safety Car brought them back into contention.

With F1 entering an engine freeze for 2022 after quite a lot of work from manufacturers to adjust to the new E10 fuel, the relative lack of performance from the Mercedes power unit was noted by customers.

"This is an observation that we had already quite early," Aston Martin boss Mike Krack told media, including RacingNews365.com, when asked whether Ferrari's power unit appears to be a step ahead of the Mercedes.

‘Mercedes PU Concerns’;

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-customer-teams-express-concerns-over-engine

Fortitude

22nd March 2022, 05:59

Haas deliver the 'unwritable story' as "spectacular" Magnussen continues fairytale.
Team principal Steiner was full of admiration for the fairytale turnaround the team has undergone and praised all involved in delivering its first points since the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix.
Topher Smith
Sunday 20 March 2022 21:15

Haas sacrificed its development in 2021 in order to focus on the regulation changes for this year and has been quickly rewarded as Magnussen qualified seventh before bringing home 10 points for finishing fifth in the race.

"What the whole team did, if you think about the last two years and then coming back like this, you cannot write a story like this in my opinion," Steiner told Sky Sports F1.

"The guys on the race track the last two years, they had tough times but kept their heads low, learned and the pit stops today were good.”

‘Team Principal Steiner Un-writable Story’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78229/haas-deliver-the-unwritable-story-as-spectacular-magnussen-continues-fairytale/

Magnussen thrilled with P5: I could see a Mercedes for the whole race!
‎20‎ ‎March‎ ‎18‎:‎20
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Haas' Kevin Magnussen matched his best-ever finish for the American-led team by claiming fifth in his first race after returning to Formula 1.

"I enjoyed it a lot. It's so good to be back in this position," Magnussen beamed as he spoke with media, including RacingNews365.com, after the race. "A massive well done to the team for getting this car into this position. We were the strongest car in the midfield; I could actually see the Mercedes for almost the whole race.”

"I know we got the Safety Car at the end, so that helped a little with that, but it was just a different story to in the past."

‘Seeing The Mercedes The Whole Race’;

https://racingnews365.com/magnussen-thrilled-with-p5-i-could-see-the-mercedes-for-the-whole-race

Steiner: ‘You cannot write a story like this’
Date published: March 21 2022 - Sam Cooper

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said “you cannot write a story like this” after Kevin Magnussen capped his return to the sport with a remarkable P5 finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Steiner was told by Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz they had missed his smile and the Italian-American replied: “I’ve missed it as well.

“Kevin did a fantastic job,” said Steiner. “For him, a comeback like this he wouldn’t have dreamt of I think. But things happen in life. A month ago it was a completely different scenario, now all of a sudden we are fifth.”

“He knows how to drive a car. There is a reason why we got him back – we want a little bit of credit for that as well. When we knew we needed another driver I think it was the right choice to make. He came back, he’s full of energy and you must think he didn’t drive an F1 car for 14 months, so it’s even more spectacular.”

‘Kevin Knows How To Drive A Car’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/guenther-steiner-bahrain-grand-prix/

F1 Redemption: Haas Crushed the Midfield in Bahrain and Now Look Stronger Than Ever
21 Mar 2022, 10:33 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose

The Ferrari-powered Haas looked like the strongest team out there, behind only Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes. Alpine, AlphaTauri and Alfa Romeo did well too, but none could match Kevin Magnussen’s pace in the Haas.

Magnussen finished the race P5, while his teammate, Mick Schumacher, finished a respectable P11. Now, if this was still 2021, the midfield would have looked a little something like this: McLaren, Alpine, AlphaTauri and Aston Martin. This year though, the Mercedes-powered McLaren and Aston Martin cars were nothing more than backmarkers, at least through one race.

‘Ferrari-powered Haas’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/f1-redemption-haas-crushed-the-midfield-in-bahrain-and-now-look-stronger-than-ever-184438.html

How Haas went from last to F1’s midfield benchmark
21/03/2022,
By Edd Straw

After an unconvincing first test in Barcelona, during which a series of problems restricted it to 160 laps over three days – the least of any team – Haas showed genuine promise during the Bahrain test. That wasn’t just with its headline lap times, set when it had the track to itself during its extra running to compensate for a freight delay, but also on its long-run pace.

The Haas led the midfield group, running as best of the rest behind the cars behind the top three teams – Ferrari, Red Bull and the chasing Mercedes.

“I don’t want to understand it – I want to live the dream,” joked team principal Guenther Steiner a few hours after this amazing result. We knew that we have a good car, we saw that yesterday, but you still need to deliver it and. The longest stint we did up until now was 18 laps in a row, so now to do 57 was quite an achievement.”

‘Haas Live The Dream’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-haas-went-from-last-to-f1s-midfield-benchmark/

Russell concerned Haas ‘had quite a pace advantage’
Date published: March 21 2022 - Michelle Foster

Bouncing his way through the Bahrain Grand Prix, George Russell went from P9 to P4 but only overtook one car – Kevin Magnussen’s Haas. And that was not an easy task, the Mercedes driver saying the Haas had “quite a pace advantage”.

“The only person I overtook was Kevin in the Haas and I think they had quite a pace advantage,” he told F1 TV. “I mean, it felt relatively good and easier to follow, but obviously the cars are much heavier and Bahrain is always a tricky race with the surface temperature.”

Mercedes’ pace in the W13 is being sorely hampered by extreme ‘porpoising’, the car’s zero-pod design said to be compounding the situation.

‘Haas Pace Advantage’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-haas-pace-advantage/

George Russell says driving Mercedes car is 'like riding a ROLLERCOASTER' and admits that Haas 'had quite a pace advantage' after they ended their 28-race wait for a point in the Bahrain GP
By Olly Allen For Mailonline
Published: 17:37, 21 March 2022

• George Russell has compared driving Mercedes' W13 to riding a rollercoaster
•
• Mercedes struggled with excessive porpoising issues in Bahrain at the weekend
•
• Damon Hill says that the car's zero-pod design has compounded the problem
•
• Russell also admitted perennial strugglers Haas 'had quite a pace advantage'
•
• The US team ended their long wait for a point as Kevin Magnussen finished fifth

‘W13 Rollercoaster, Haas Pace Advantage’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10636533/George-Russell-says-driving-Mercedes-car-like-riding-rollercoaster-Bahrain-Grand-Prix.html

Why Haas F1 Team Is Biggest Surprise After the First Race of the F1 Season
Kevin Magnussen's incredible month of March continues with unlikely finish in Formula 1 Bahrain GP.
BY MIKE PRYSON
Mar 21, 2022

The Haas F1 Team, which was scoreless in 2021, is third place in the standings after one race with 10 points after Kevin Magnussen's clean run to fifth place in Bahrain that was good for 10 points. Teammate Mick Schumacher finished 11th to just miss scoring his first F1 championship point.

Haas had not registered a point for as much as a top-10 finish since Romain Grosjean's ninth-place finish at the Eifel Grand Prix at Nurburgring, Germany, on Oct. 11, 2020. Magnussen's finish was his best career finish in Formula 1 since a fifth-place finish for Haas in Austria in 2018.

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner also seemed to enjoy the fact that he wasn't asked the same old "what went wrong today" questions after the Grand Prix. After last year's forgettable season and lack of power in his team's cars, it appears that the team might be on the right side of the equation this year. Three of the top four teams in the standings after one race—Ferrari, Haas and Alfa Romeo—are powered by Ferrari engines.

‘Haas F1 Biggest Surprise’;

https://www.autoweek.com/racing/formula-1/a39494216/haas-f1-team-biggest-surprise-f1-season/

Fortitude

22nd March 2022, 15:13

Bottas encouraged by run to P6 in Bahrain after 'disaster' start.
Looking at the numbers, one would describe Bottas' race as nothing lost, nothing gained as the Finn crossed the finish line P6, the position in which he had qualified.
Phillip van Osten 21/03/2022 at 07:43

A flawless and consistent drive based on a three-stop strategy propelled the Finn back into the points mid-race, after which he benefitted in the final laps from the double retirement suffered by Red Bull.

A dismal launch off the line saw the Alfa driver conclude his opening lap a lowly 14th, which left him with a heavy workload on his hands for the remainder of the evening.

‘P6 Nothing Lost’;

https://f1i.com/news/435730-bottas-encouraged-by-run-to-p6-in-bahrain-after-disaster-start.html

Must-fix Alfa issue nearly ruined Bottas’s dream debut
22/03/2022, 07:13
By Edd Straw

Valtteri Bottas’s sixth place in the Bahrain Grand Prix was a dream result on his Alfa Romeo Formula 1 debut, but a recurring problem with starts almost derailed his race. This was caused by what Bottas described as a “vibration in the clutch” that afflicts the Alfa Romeo C42 on its starts.

Alfa Romeo head of trackside engineering Xevi Pujolar is hoping the team can fix the clutch vibration problem for this weekend’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. “We are still facing some issues with the starts with this new car,” said Pujolar. “And it’s something that we made some progress on, but still we are working on this area.”

“Both cars experienced very poor starts and then not only that, but also trying to get the grip and avoiding incidents during lap one [as a result].

‘Alfa Clutch Vibration’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/must-fix-alfa-issue-nearly-ruined-bottass-dream-debut/

Wolff reveals Bottas messaged him after qualifying alongside Hamilton for Bahrain GP
Valtteri Bottas was one of the standouts in qualifying on Saturday ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
by Rob Kershaw
21 March 202221 March 2022

Team principal of the eight-time constructors’ champions Mercedes Toto Wolff revealed that Bottas messaged him after qualifying.

“He sent me a WhatsApp that said ‘look forward to racing you guys tomorrow’,” he said.

“I’m happy for him, for Valtteri, that he has made the move to Alfa, and he’s the lead driver. As far as I understand, he’s bringing his great personality to the team, and he’s energising the team.”

‘Bottas Racing The Mercedes’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-reveals-bottas-messaged-him-after-qualifying-alongside-hamilton-for-bahrain-gp/

Bottas details Bahrain GP start issue that left him "a sitting duck"
Ian Parkes
Monday 21 March 2022 13:25

"I was not so confident going to the grid because 50 per cent of the starts we had in testing and practice were bad so it's something we need to work on," said Bottas.
"I just had big wheelspin, I cooked the rear tyres, still wheelspinning in third gear and then on the first lap I was sliding around and was a sitting duck."
Asked whether it was car related, the Finn replied: "It's a mechanical thing that sometimes we have this vibration on the clutch. It happens 50 per cent of the time, and when it happens it's quite easy to break the traction, so it's on the list and we're working on it."

‘Sitting Duck Clutch’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78269/bottas-details-bahrain-gp-start-issue-that-left-him-a-sitting-duck/

Bottas elated with double-points finish for Alfa Romeo after 'disaster' start in Bahrain
21 March 2022

Valtteri Bottas led a double-points finish for Alfa Romeo in the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix – and he was even more pleased with his performance given a “disaster” of a start that saw him fall from P6 to 14th on the opening lap.

“The start was definitely the weak point of the race and a bit of a disaster, just massive wheelspin off the line,” said Bottas. “I pretty much cooked the rear tyres and then I was like a sitting duck after the first lap.”

“Something to learn, something to look into, but when things stabilised it was a good recovery, good strategy, and a smooth race. I think we had decent pace, which is encouraging.”

‘Double-Points Finish For Alfa Romeo’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.bottas-elated-with-double-points-finish-for-alfa-romeo-after-disaster-start.7FvHNufo6obqU7UGri5BPg.html

Fortitude

22nd March 2022, 20:24

Alpine upgrade is first hint of teams following Ferrari’s lead.
New sidepods Alpine brought for the first race in Bahrain include a modification right at the rear, with a raised edge that looks like it could be inspired by – and is certainly taking the same direction as – the aerodynamic philosophy of the Ferrari F1-75.
22/03/2022, 07:03
By Rosario Giuliana

It is clear that it is not an identical copy of the Ferrari F1-75 design, but it is a first approach that suggests Alpine is trying to take inspiration from the unconventional shape chosen by Ferrari on the 2022 car.

Is this a first indication that Ferrari’s solution can be copied by the adversaries? Or given the lead times in producing upgrades, that other teams were already coming round to the same conclusions as the team that started 2022 with a 1-2 finish?

‘Ferrari F1-75 Aerodynamic Philosophy’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/alpine-upgrade-is-first-hint-of-teams-following-ferraris-lead/

Alonso makes Alpine demands after Bahrain GP qualifying
‎20‎ ‎March‎ ‎11‎:‎30
Author Michael Butterworth
Co-author Dieter Rencken

"Now it's up to us to develop the car as quick as possible. It's going to be a huge development for everybody and we need to be fast off-track, as well as on it.”

"We need to push the button now in the factories and try to make the new parts [come] to the circuit as soon as possible."

"There are good ideas already in the factory, but I think it's the same for everybody with the new cars; we will see in the first couple of months big changes on the cars," said Alonso. "We need to make them work and hopefully close that gap to pole position that is still too much – over one second."

‘Push Those Buttons NOW In The Factories!’;

https://racingnews365.com/alonso-makes-alpine-demands-after-bahrain-qualifying

Esteban Ocon: “We can take positives from today’s performance”
By Paul Hensby
March 22, 2022

Esteban Ocon left the Bahrain International Circuit with confidence after moving up from eleventh on the grid to claim a seventh-place finish under the floodlights on Sunday evening.

The BWT Alpine F1 Team driver bemoaned contact with Haas F1 Team’s Mick Schumacher on the opening lap that left the Frenchman with a five-second time penalty to serve in his first pit stop, but he was able to put that behind him and drive strongly to score six points.

Team-mate Fernando Alonso admitted it was a tough evening under the floodlights for him, although he was happy to leave Bahrain with two points to his name thanks to a ninth-place finish. Alonso was one of those who struggled more with tyre degradation in Bahrain, with the two-time World Champion one of the earliest to make their first pit stop on Sunday as the performance of his soft tyres fell off the cliff.

‘EL PLAN: Taking Positives’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/esteban-ocon-we-can-take-positives-from-todays-performance/

Alpine’s Fernando Alonso Says Overtaking in F1 Is Still Difficult, Despite New Regulations
22 Mar 2022, 14:19 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose

After this past weekend’s exciting season opener in Bahrain, we now have a pretty good idea of where teams stand with these new F1 regulations in place. Ferrari and Red Bull look strong, Mercedes not so much, while McLaren and Aston Martin seem to genuinely be in trouble, pace-wise.

“Following was definitely easier. We spotted already in the test that it was easier to follow cars, but overtaking is still not as easy as it seems on TV,” said Alonso, as quoted by Motorsport.

“I met cars that I was two seconds faster [than] and I overtook in a few corners. And I also met cars that were two seconds faster than me and they overtook me in two or three corners. I think the tire is the biggest differentiating factor still, not the following. So, we need to see, we need to drive more races.”

‘Still Difficult Overtaking in F1’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/alpines-fernando-alonso-says-overtaking-in-f1-is-still-difficult-despite-new-regulations-184574.html

Similar 2022 F1 car designs leave Alpine boss suspicious
Mar 19 2022
By Scott Mitchell

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?”

He has not named any teams but is sceptical that the unspecified ideas have legitimately been reached through completely independent design processes.

“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.

‘Similar Solutions Worrying Otmar Szafnauer’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/similar-2022-f1-car-designs-leave-alpine-boss-suspicious/

Alonso confident of "long game" Alpine success
Sam Hall
Thursday 17 March 2022 16:15

Fernando Alonso has explained Alpine is willing to play the "long game this year" with the "huge" developments expected across the season.

Using 2021 as evidence of his willingness to wait for success, Alonso added: “I remember here last year I retired the car and Esteban was P12 or P13 so zero points after Bahrain, and we won a race in Hungary and were enjoying the season.

"This year is going to be a long game to play and I’m confident we are going to have a good season.”

‘EL PLAN: Long Game’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/77851/alonso-confident-of-long-game-alpine-success/

Alpines’ Laurent Rossi – “What a fantastic way to start the season”
By Darius Needham
March 22, 2022

BWT Alpine F1 Team kicked off their season brightly as both Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso scored points in the season opening Grand Prix in Bahrain.

Alpine scored eight points at Bahrain and head into Saudi Arabia next weekend, sitting fifth in the Constructors Championship.

Alpine’s CEO Laurent Rossi talked about how happy he was with the result, praising the team for their hard work in preparation for the 2022 F1 season and on race day, as well as the drivers performances after a long and very tough race.

‘EL PLAN: Fantastic Start, Preparation and Driver Performances’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/alpines-laurent-rossi-what-a-fantastic-way-to-start-the-season/

Fortitude

23rd March 2022, 08:19

AlphaTauri have ‘Clearer Picture’ on what to Focus on after Bahrain Challenges – Egginton.
Yuki Tsunoda climbed from sixteenth on the grid to finish eighth to score points for the Faenza-based team, but Pierre Gasly was forced to retire when on course for the top ten due to a sudden catastrophic failure at the back of his AT-03.
By Paul Hensby
March 22, 2022

Jody Egginton says Scuderia AlphaTauri are ‘looking forward to the challenge’ of getting to the front of the midfield in 2022 after he oversaw a mixed bag of results in the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.

Gasly’s retirement also compromised Tsunoda, who had just pitted, with several drivers able to jump ahead of him thanks to getting effectively a free pit stop. However, the Japanese racer was able to push until the end and claimed four points for the team.

Jody Egginton: “The competition in the midfield is looking very tight, and with the first weekend under our belt we now have a clearer picture on where we need to focus our attention to improve the AT03 in the coming events. We are looking forward to the challenge.”

‘AlphaTauri Clearer Picture’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/alphatauri-have-clearer-picture-on-what-to-focus-on-after-bahrain-challenges-egginton/

Yuki Tsunoda: “I’m quite happy with today, especially with the start”
By Paul Hensby
March 22, 2022

The Scuderia AlphaTauri driver admitted he was lucky to gain a couple of positions in the final few laps as both Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez retired whilst running inside the top four, but overall, he believed his had a strong day at the Bahrain International Circuit.

“I’m quite happy with today, especially with the start as I was able to make up a few places,” said Tsunoda. “I had a little bit of luck near the end, as some cars had failures, but overall I’m pleased with how today went.”

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do to be able to fight consistently at the top of the midfield, but we’re confident that we can develop the car to continue to improve our performance. We’ll go away and analyse the data from this whole weekend to try and find what our main limitations are ahead of the race next week.”

‘Continue To Improve Our Performance’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/yuki-tsunoda-im-quite-happy-with-today-especially-with-the-start/

Yuki Tsunoda 'quite happy' to score points in first race of 2022 season
20 Mar 2022

Yuki Tsunoda is "quite happy" to score points in the first race of the new Formula 1 season, with the AlphaTauri driver securing a P8 finish in the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit.

‘Happy With The Points’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.yuki-tsunoda-quite-happy-to-score-points-in-first-race-of-2022-season.1727840070094667705.html

F1 row: Franz Tost fumed at Yuki Tsunoda amid AlphaTauri struggles: 'This idiot!'
F1 STAR Yuki Tsunoda was criticised by his AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost in Drive to Survive, unearthed accounts show.
By CHARLIE BRADLEY
13:51, Fri, Mar 18, 2022

Tsunoda was inspired by 66-year-old Tost's fitness regime, to abandon his takeaway diet and video game lifestyle for a healthier routine. The Japanese driver jokingly told website The Race that Tost was in much better shape than him.

He said: "Because you guys don't know how fit Franz is. He's running like 10km from 5.30am which I've never done in my life.”

Tsunoda relocated to Italy from England to be closer to the team's Faenza base, and said he had trained harder over the off season and could feel the difference. He added: "If a 60-year-old man can do it, I think I should do, especially as I'm an athlete."

‘Tost's Fitness Regime Inspires Yuki Tsunoda’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1582723/f1-news-franz-tost-yuki-tsunoda-alphatauri-pierre-gasly-bahrain-2022-spt

Yuki Tsunoda Finishes 8th in Bahrain GP
Bahrain International Circuit
Sunday, 20th March 2022

Round 1 of the Bahrain Grand Prix took place at Bahrain International Circuit. HRC, providing technical support to Scuderia AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda finishing 8th place.

‘HRC (Honda) Providing Yuki With Technical Support’;

https://honda.racing/rbr-sat/post/2022-rd01

Gasly’s car was a ‘barbecue’ after Bahrain fire
Date published: March 20 2022 - Henry Valantine

Pierre Gasly likened the back of his AlphaTauri to being like a “barbecue” after a fire stopped him from finishing the Bahrain Grand Prix.

He swiftly clambered out of his stricken car as it caught alight and quickly turned into a blaze towards the back of the AlphaTauri, with marshals on hand nearby with fire extinguishers coming quickly to put it out.

“There was pretty much a barbecue at the back of the car, so not the start we hoped for. It’s a shame because until then the race was amazing.”

‘Barbecue in Bahrain’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre-gasly-bahrain-alphatauri-barbecue/

Gasly baffled by "strange" fiery end to Bahrain GP
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Monday 21 March 2022 09:30

AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has conceded it "strange" the issues that afflicted Red Bull Powertrains during a catastrophic conclusion to the Bahrain Grand Prix were not foreseen.

Explaining his own problem initially issue, Gasly said: "Just out of turn one, the whole car switched off. I parked it and then after it just caught fire. Clearly, there is something going on but what is strange is we didn't see it coming," he added.

"We need a bit more time to analyse but for us, between Red Bull and AlphaTauri, we lost big points. We were super confident after testing, we didn't have one single issue but it shows that this sport keeps you grounded all the time. You can never be overconfident about anything.”

Keep Grounded, Never Be Overconfident’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78244/gasly-baffled-by-strange-fiery-end-to-bahrain-gp/

Fortitude

23rd March 2022, 13:20

Red Bull faced "worst nightmare" in "brutal" end to Bahrain GP – Horner.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has bemoaned the team's "worst nightmare" coming true in a "brutal" finish to the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Sunday 20 March 2022 18:30

Red Bull entered the opening weekend of the season clear favourites for the win but having battled with Charles Leclerc for the lead midway through the race, Max Verstappen looked set to finish for second.

But in the laps leading up to a late safety car period, the reigning world champion's RB18 developed an issue that rapidly deteriorated, resulting in Verstappen pulling into the pits and retiring.

Sergio Perez was promoted into third but having fended-off Lewis Hamilton for the final podium position suffered an issue of his own on the final lap to complete a double retirement for Red Bull.

"[It was] a brutal finish to the race for us," said Horner;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78223/red-bull-faced-worst-nightmare-in-brutal-end-to-bahrain-gp-horner/

Mark Hughes explains the roots of Red Bull’s defeat
Mar 21 2022
By Mark Hughes

The suspected reason for the sudden loss of power in the Red Bulls late in the race is fuel cavitation – and, if true, that’s almost certainly a function of the team’s ambitiously compressed programme.

Fuel cavitation tends to occur as the last dregs of fuel are being pumped around near-empty tanks. As can be imaged, the fuel is heavily sloshed around because of the loads being fed into the car and no matter how well-designed the tank’s baffling system, the temperature of the fuel increases when this occurs.

At a certain point of temperature the fuel begins vaporise and there will be a vapour lock in the pump, the fuel pressure dives and the pump is briefly pumping fresh air. The sudden load changes as the system pressurises and depressurises (together with the excess heat inside the pump from the vaporising fuel) will tend to damage the pumps and eventually they can no longer feed fuel to the engine.

‘Fuel Cavitation Prime Suspect For Red Bull Defeat’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/mark-hughes-explains-the-roots-of-red-bulls-defeat/

Fuel for conspiracy theorists: Ex-Red Bull engineer predicts ‘fireworks’ if fuel pumps caused double DNF
Red Bull suffered a heart-breaking late double retirement at the season-opening 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix.
by Rob Kershaw
21 March 202221 March 2022

A former Red Bull engineer has predicted that there could well be an adverse reaction if it transpires that the fuel pumps are what caused the team’s double retirement at the 2022 Bahrain Grand Prix.

If the fuel pump was the fundamental cause of the problems, then a former Red Bull engineer, who worked in F1 for six years, has predicted this will cause quite the storm, as these are issued as standard.

“Ready for this one?” he tweeted. “If both Red Bull failures are the fuel pump, then get ready for fireworks. The fuel pump is a standard part supplied to all teams by the FIA and Magneti Marelli.”

‘Fuel Pump Fireworks’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/fuel-for-conspiracy-theorists-ex-red-bull-engineer-predicts-fireworks-if-fuel-pumps-caused-double-dnf/

Red Bull deny rumours about Verstappen and Perez's DNFs
‎21‎ ‎March‎ ‎08‎:‎30
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Mike Seymour

Red Bull have moved to deny rumours circulating about the reasons behind their double retirement from the Bahrain Grand Prix. Rumours have abounded ever since the end of the race – did both Red Bulls have enough fuel on board their cars?

The official statement from the Red Bull camp is that the issues were linked to the fuel pumps within their power units. These are standardised parts across the entire grid, and are manufactured by Italian company Marelli.

After a race in which Verstappen's car appeared to fall apart, as he encountered a shopping list of issues with his brakes, steering system and the eventually terminal fuel system problem, Red Bull are carrying out extensive investigations before the second race of the season.

‘Shopping List Of Investigations And Remedies’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-deny-rumours-about-verstappen-and-perezs-dnfs

Red Bull hoping for rapid Saudi recovery from Bahrain "hangover"
Ian Parkes
Monday 21 March 2022 19:30

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has welcomed the fact the next F1 grand prix race is this weekend as he seeks an immediate cure for an horrific "hangover" sustained in Bahrain. The team was on course for a solid two-four finish with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez until late drama with the fuel systems in both cars forced them into retirement.

Suggested to Horner this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was too soon for the team to fully diagnose the problem in Bahrain, he replied: "I actually prefer it this weekend so I don't have to wait two weeks with the hangover of this result.

"The encouraging thing is we were within a tenth [of a second] of pole, we were fighting with Charles [Leclerc] for a win, it was great racing. The regulations look like they've created that better racing, and disappointed not to get the podium."

‘Recovering From A Hangover’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78301/red-bull-hoping-for-rapid-saudi-recovery-from-bahrain-hangover/

Verstappen warns of the cost of lost points in "very tight" battle
Sam Hall
Wednesday 23 March 2022 07:00

Max Verstappen has warned the points dropped by Red Bull in Bahrain could be "very important" with the F1 title fight "sometimes very tight at the end".

Reflecting on the 18 points lost by way of retirement, Verstappen conceded: “It’s disappointing. "You always say to yourself and to the team as well that we have to score points. It doesn’t matter if it is first or second in the first race weekend.

Verstappen's race had already been made more difficult following his second pit stop when his Red Bull mechanics dropped the RB18 to the ground too quickly and bent a track rod. “The steering issue was not easy to drive [around] because of not having a feeling of what the car was doing because it was not natural," explained Verstappen.

‘Cost Of Lost Points’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78398/verstappen-warns-of-the-cost-of-lost-points-in-very-tight-battle/

Ferrari Team Boss Says Red Bull Are Still Favorites for the 2022 F1 World Championship
23 Mar 2022, 10:13 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose

Despite a winning start in Bahrain, Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto still believes that Red Bull are the favorites to win the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship.

It could be that Binotto is just being cautious, seen as how Red Bull have looked just as strong as Ferrari during preseason testing and they employ the reigning F1 world champion in Max Verstappen. “I think that the others are very, very strong,” said Binotto. “They [Red Bull] have proved to be strong in qualifying. It was really a matter of details.”

“I think [on Sunday] it could have been so good, but maybe they had some reliability issues or something that is not perfect on their car for what we may understand from the radio communications. And they would have been very fast otherwise.”

‘Mattia Binotto: Red Bull Still Favourites’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/ferrari-team-boss-says-red-bull-are-still-favorites-for-the-2022-f1-world-championship-184653.html

Fortitude

24th March 2022, 06:52

Norris concedes McLaren ‘a long, long way off’ in 2022.
Norris and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo spent the race circulating among the backmarker group that included Aston Martin and Williams.
by Phillip Horton
20/03/2022

Lando Norris has admitted that McLaren is a “long, long way” off the pace in Formula 1 this season after a dire showing at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“This is where we are, quite simply, we just have to get a little bit used to it now,” said Norris. “Of course, over the last few seasons, there’s been a lot of expectation from us within the team but also everyone else watching and we just haven’t got it right at the minute.

“We’re a long, long way off, not a little bit, a long way. We’ve got to start fresh, figure things out, find solutions. Solutions don’t mean next week we’re going to be amazing but in months to come we need to understand what’s going on here and how to get better.”

‘McLaren Circulating Among The Backmarker Group’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/03/20/norris-concedes-mclaren-a-long-long-way-off-in-2022/

Ricciardo turned Bahrain GP into "test session"
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Sunday 20 March 2022 22:00

Daniel Ricciardo has revealed his focus during the Bahrain Grand Prix was to switch from a race programme to a test schedule given McLaren's woeful struggles. Reviewing his race, Ricciardo said: "[It was] definitely tricky. I think as well, there is a lot to try and understand. I knew there would be.”

"It is the first race distance I have done this year and trying all compounds in the race, I think it was trying to treat it like a test session as well, trying to learn as much as I could each lap.”

"Obviously, we are lacking some pace. I think it is general, I don't think it is necessarily just one area. We lack a little bit of downforce and that is really the key."

‘McLaren Test Session’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78235/ricciardo-turned-bahrain-gp-into-test-session/

‘I’m expecting pain’: Norris warns things could get even worse for McLaren
McLaren endured a dreadful opening weekend of the 2022 season in Bahrain as they failed to score any points.
by Rob Kershaw
21 March 202221 March 2022

It was an excruciating evening for McLaren, and Norris warns that his team are going to need to brace themselves for more difficult races. “I’m expecting pain, and I think everyone needs to know there’s probably going to be a bit of pain,” he said.

“As McLaren, and myself, we expect a lot more, but it’s not what we have at the minute, we have to get used to it, we’ve been in this position a few years ago but we have to remain optimistic the team and everyone back at MTC [McLaren Technology Centre] can figure things out and we can get back on track.”

‘McLaren Pain’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/im-expecting-pain-norris-warns-things-could-get-even-worse-for-mclaren/

Ricciardo concedes 'surprise' over McLaren struggles
Sam Hall
Monday 21 March 2022 18:00

McLaren endured a torrid F1 season-opening weekend with Ricciardo exiting qualifying in the first phase and neither he nor team-mate Lando Norris posing any threat to the top 10 in Sunday's race.

After leaving the first running of pre-season in Spain in February, McLaren had been tipped to take the fight to Ferrari. Asked if he was surprised by the result, Ricciardo conceded: “It is.”

"I’m always pretty reserved in testing and I know the reality of maybe getting to race one and things could look different, but I definitely did think that after Barcelona we would be in better shape. Maybe also this could just be a bogey track for us and maybe in a week’s time we will be looking better, but probably a bit more work to do.”

‘McLaren Have Work To Do’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78291/ricciardo-concedes-surprise-over-mclaren-struggles/

‘We don’t have a good enough car’ – McLaren drivers downbeat after point-less Bahrain GP showing
22 March 2022

McLaren drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris have been left to rue a poor performance at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix, with Ricciardo admitting the MCL36 currently has “a few more weaknesses than strengths”.

Ricciardo – now in his second season with McLaren – said that the British outfit are a “long way” away from the podium and explained the challenges that were stopping the team from getting there.

Ricciardo’s team mate Lando Norris added that McLaren have a “lot of work” to do as he looked ahead to this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second round of the 2022 season. “We just don’t really have a good enough car at the minute to do better,” said Norris. “We have a lot of work, quite simply, between us here at the track but also everyone back at MTC, who will be working hard as possible for next week, to try and bring some improvements, and figure out the car a little bit more, see if there is anything we are missing or we’ve gone away from or whatever.”

‘McLaren Car, Not Good Enough’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.we-dont-have-a-good-enough-car-mclaren-drivers-downbeat-after-point-less.8dC2f5adzc7p6MLF3rUgK.html

McLaren must "get used to" lowly positon - Norris
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Tuesday 22 March 2022 08:15

Lando Norris has insisted McLaren has to "get used to" its lowly position in F1's pecking order after a troublesome Bahrain Grand Prix.

"We are a long, long way, not just a little bit but a long way so we have got to kind of start fresh and try and figure some things out and at least try and find solutions. Solutions don't mean next week we are going to be amazing but in months to come, we need to understand what is going on here and get better."

"I am hoping this is as bad as it gets. It might not be but it could be. There is a lot of time. We have still got a whole season of development and figuring things out but it is not easy to do so. I think once we figure out what is wrong, it is all about implementing it and bringing upgrades and those parts to the car."

‘A Season Of Development And Upgrades’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78293/mclaren-must-get-used-to-lowly-positon-norris/

Norris has no idea if McLaren can improve
MARCH 23, 2022

Lando Norris says he has "no idea" if McLaren will still be among the slowest cars this weekend in Saudi Arabia.

"The car is difficult to understand and it's so easy to make mistakes, lock up wheels or lose control," top McLaren driver Norris is quoted by Auto Hebdo.

"What was positive? I don't know - the end of the race?"

https://www.grandprix.com/news/norris-has-no-idea-if-mclaren-can-improve.html

McLaren’s Andreas Seidl: “The team are analysing our performance from Bahrain”
By Paul Hensby
March 23, 2022

Andreas Seidl openly admits that his McLaren F1 Team did not start the 2022 Formula 1 season in the way they would have wanted, with neither Daniel Ricciardo nor Lando Norris finding themselves in the battle for the points in last Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

“The Bahrain Grand Prix was not how we wanted to start the season,” said Seidl. “It’s clear that we have work to do, so we’ll be working hard to bring more performance to the car as quickly as possible.

“The team are analysing our performance from Bahrain so that we can learn and improve, already starting in Jeddah.”

‘McLaren Analysis’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/mclarens-andreas-seidl-the-team-are-analysing-our-performance-from-bahrain%ef%bf%bc/

Fortitude

24th March 2022, 14:43

‘Bulldozer approach’ has led to Aston Martin ‘disaster’.
Ralf Schumacher has dubbed the Aston Martin AMR22 “a disaster” and feels the team’s Toyota-like “bulldozer approach” to reaching the front may not work.
Date published: March 22 2022 - Henry Valantine

“The car is, so we hear, a disaster,” said Schumacher on AvD Motor & Sport Magazin on German TV, quoted by F1-Insider. “It has to be able to do everything you don’t need. And on top of that, apparently the team owner is now also sitting in the meetings and voicing how things should be done. If that’s the case, it gets really, really complicated.

“The team have lost the thread. They wanted to achieve too much too quickly and that simply doesn’t work in Formula 1. You can’t just take a lot of people and a lot of money, put them in a pot, stir it briefly and then something good comes out.

“The team wanted to take a bulldozer approach and that didn’t work at Toyota.”

‘Aston ‘Bulldozer’ Martin’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ralf-schumacher-aston-martin-disaster/

Aston Martin removed paint in AMR22 weight struggles
Date published: March 24 2022 - Michelle Foster

Such is Formula 1’s weight issue this season that Aston Martin scrapped paint off the AMR22 to save “about 350 grams”. That’s according to the team’s chief technical officer Andy Green.

“Weight is a big, big issue,” Green explained as per Motorsport.com. “These cars are heavy by regulation, and to get down to the regulation weight, it’s a challenge.

“We went through the whole car from front to back, and we took paint off wherever we could. I think in total we saved about 350 grams.”

‘Paint scraping’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/aston-martin-removed-paint-weight-struggles/

Ralf Schumacher: Stroll should perhaps 'find a different hobby'
Phillip van Osten
23/03/2022 at 16:06

Ralf Schumacher believes Lance Stroll embarrassed himself in Bahrain when he was outqualified by Nico Hulkenberg and says the Aston Martin driver should perhaps consider a different hobby in life than F1.

Schumacher, who has taken over from Jacques Villeneuve as F1's harshest critic of Stroll, didn't hold back when judging the Canadian's performance in the opening race of the 2022 season.

"Stroll should ask himself whether he should find a different hobby," said the former Grand Prix driver. "It was really embarrassing. Nico did a good job."

‘Aston Martin Hobby’;

https://f1i.com/news/435922-ralf-schumacher-stroll-should-perhaps-find-a-different-hobby.html

Berger doubts Krack the man for Aston Martin
NEWS STORY
22/03/2022

Based on his experience of him with BMW in DTM, former-F1 star, Gerhard Berger is doubtful that Mike Krack is the man to turn Aston Martin around. "Let's see what can be done," he tells YouTube channel Formel1.de, "but when I watched what was done in DTM, I just don't see the way forward for Aston Martin with him.

"In all the years I've been there now, BMW has never been really consistently competitive," the Austrian continues. "You could see always, they'd be on the starting grid in a good position one day and they didn't know why they are were there today. Next day they would be in the end of the grid and they didn't know why they were at the end of the grid.”

"When you watch it and you see this over a longer period, you question the people behind it, and he was leading it, the project," adds Berger, who contested 210 Grands Prix with ATS, Benetton, Ferrari and McLaren.

‘Krack Aston Martin’;

https://www.pitpass.com/72058/Berger-doubts-Krack-the-man-for-Aston-Martin

Vettel may not return to Aston Martin ‘disaster’
ANDREW MAITLAND
MARCH 22, 2022

One unflattering take on the situation may be that Vettel is not overly incentivised to return to full health this weekend to race the uncompetitive 2022 Aston Martin. “The team has lost the thread,” former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher told Sport1.

“You can’t just take a lot of people and a lot of money, put them in a pot, stir them briefly and then hope something good comes out of it in Formula 1. Ralf says he has heard Aston Martin team members refer to the new green car as a “disaster” – and thinks the problem may be the billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll.

“I hear that the team owner is sitting in on all the meetings and saying how things should be. If that’s the case, then it will get really, really difficult,” he said.

‘Lots of Money + Lots of People (Then Stir Pot) = DISASTER’;

https://grandpx.news/vettel-may-not-return-to-aston-martin-disaster/

The F1 challenge Aston Martin faces to recover from its poor start to 2022
Aston Martin Formula 1 team owner Lawrence Stroll didn’t have a lot to smile about after a frustrating weekend for the Silverstone outfit in Bahrain.
By: Adam Cooper
Mar 23, 2022, 9:41 PM

This season was supposed to see a resurgence from the team as it benefited from the expansion of the last couple of years, and the new regulations opened up an opportunity for those in the midfield to make a step.

Chief technical officer Andrew Green noted after qualifying the ride height and associated compromises alone are costing three-quarters of a second, even before any other performance deficits are tackled.

Green made it clear at the car’s launch that the AMR22 has been designed with some flexibility in mind, in case the team discovered that rivals had found more effective concepts, and had to copy them. Nevertheless making a significant change of direction won’t be easy.

‘Flexibility Designed For Recovery’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/the-challenges-aston-martin-face-to-recover-from-its-poor-start-to-f1-2022/9253872/

ASTON MARTIN’S F1 CAR COULD CHANGE MORE THAN ANY OTHER IN 2022
Mar 23 2022
By Scott Mitchell

Aston Martin has “all the options open” in developing its 2022 Formula 1 car, increasing the likelihood the AMR22 will undergo one of the biggest transformations this season. Upgrades will be a key theme in F1 this season with all-new cars putting teams on a steep learning curve.

Performance director Tom McCullough recently told media including The Race: “The car you’re seeing now is nothing like the car we have in the windtunnel.”

There is one rumour that Aston Martin could have a completely different sidepod and floor design for the second half of the year to maximise performance in this new ground-effect era.

‘Aston Martin: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!’

https://the-race.com/formula-1/aston-martins-f1-car-could-change-more-than-any-other-in-2022/

Fortitude

24th March 2022, 16:27

Report: Alex P13 and Nicky P16 at season opener.
Both cars reached the chequered flag, with Alex Albon coming home in P13 whilst Nicholas Latifi was P16.
Published on
20 Mar 2022

“My first Formula One race with Williams went pretty well,” Alex said after jumping out of his car, adding: “It felt like we did a good job and really maximised what we had. I had a good start and managed to make up a few positions, so I was pushing hard.”

On the Pit Wall, our Head of Vehicle Performance, Dave Robson, was left to reflect on a mixed afternoon at the office. “It has been a tough evening in Bahrain,” Dave said, adding: “But we got both cars to the end, and at times showed some reasonable pace.”

“Alex made a good start and made some places early in the race. Unfortunately, today we didn’t have the pace to hold on.”

‘Williams F1 P13 and P16’;

https://www.williamsf1.com/posts/ac42e1fa-9dbd-4b2f-b17e-210fe81e34d7/bahrain-grand-prix-2022-race-report

“Thirteenth with no reliability issues is something we should be pleased with” – Alex Albon
By Nick Golding
March 22, 2022

On his return to Formula 1, Alex Albon left the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix having finished in thirteenth place, Williams Racing team-mate Nicholas Latifi finished sixteenth at the Bahrain International Circuit.

It was an overall solid weekend for Albon, who after making it to Qualifying 2 qualified in fourteenth place. The Thai driver enjoyed some battling during the race but was unfortunately unable to do anything about the faster cars behind. In the end the best Albon could salvage was thirteenth place, which in the weakest car on the grid is a good result to start the year with.

Albon was happy with how the weekend went, he’s especially happy to have made it to the end of the race without any reliability problems.

‘Williams FW44 Reliability’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/thirteenth-with-no-reliability-issues-is-something-we-should-be-pleased-with-alex-albon/

P13 Alexander Albon happy 'to keep the McLarens behind' at Bahrain GP
20 Mar 2022

Williams' Alexander Albon was happy to "keep the McLarens behind" on his pay to a P13 finish in the 2022 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit.

McLarens In The Rear View Mirror’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.p13-alexander-albon-happy-to-keep-the-mclarens-behind-at-bahrain-gp.1727840390821536737.html

Alexander Albon: “The more running we do, the more we’ll understand this car”
By Paul Hensby
March 23, 2022

Alexander Albon will race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the first time this weekend, with the Thai driver one of only two drivers on the grid not to have raced their previously.

Albon believes the FW44 will suit the Saudi Arabian track better than it did at the Bahrain International Circuit, and he hopes for a much more competitive outing this weekend than last. He also says the more running the team do with the car, the more they will learn and, more important, the better they will be able to make it.

“I think it’ll be a track that is a bit better suited to the characteristics of the FW44; it’s smoother with more medium and high-speed corners, so I’m hoping we go well there.”

Williams FW44 Hoping For A Much Competitive Outing’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/alexander-albon-the-more-running-we-do-the-more-well-understand-this-car/

“We didn’t have the pace to hold on” – Williams’ Dave Robson
By Nick Golding
March 22, 2022

Williams Racing’s Head of Vehicle Performance, Dave Robson, highlighted after the race the positives which could be taken away from the opening round, as well as areas which need working on.

“It has been a tough evening in Bahrain, but we got both cars to the end, and at times showed some reasonable pace. Alex made a good start and made some places early in the race. Unfortunately, today we didn’t have the pace to hold on. However, we were able to race competitively with both the McLarens and the Aston Martins, which was an improvement from what we saw at the test last week.”

“There is more to come from the drivers and the car over the coming weeks, but this was a solid start for the whole team, and we are now looking forward to the very different challenges posed by Jeddah Corniche Circuit.”

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/we-didnt-have-the-pace-to-hold-on-williams-dave-robson/

Fortitude

25th March 2022, 04:53

Red Bull to strike back as chaos to dictate result - What to expect from Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
There is no doubt all involved with Red Bull would have been deeply hurt by the double retirement at the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ewan Gale
Thursday 24 March 2022 12:30

Verstappen ran Leclerc close during a stunning battle mid-race but the Ferrari driver had enough legs to slowly pull away before the Dutchman's troubles started, initially with the RB18's steering before an apparent problem with the fuel system forced him into retirement.

With Perez experiencing a similar issue, the team will be hoping a deep dive over the past days has rectified the concerns. We saw last year an angry Red Bull tends to be an astonishingly quick Red Bull.

‘Red Bull Strike Back!’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78485/red-bull-to-strike-back-as-chaos-to-dictate-result-what-to-expect-from-saudi-arabian-grand-prix/

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto puts pressure on Max Verstappen and Red Bull ahead of Saudi GP
RED BULL had a nightmare start to the 2022 F1 season, with both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez suffering car problems late in the race.
By FRASER WATSON
15:18, Thu, Mar 24, 2022

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has put the onus on Red Bull to perform in Saudi Arabia by insisting they are still "favourites" for the title despite the Scuderia's dream start in Bahrain.

“At first I think the others [Red Bull] are very very strong and proved to be strong in the qualification, it was really a matter of pace,” Binotto was quoted as saying by crash.net. “I think today they could have been stronger, but maybe there are some reliability issues that are not perfect on their car from what we understand from the radio communications.”

“But they would have been very fast otherwise. If you look at the stint of Max on used tyres, he was keeping up with the pace of Charles. We should not forget that they are the world champions and the favourites and what we must try to do is do our best."

‘Scuderia Ferrari Pressure’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1585686/Ferrari-Mattia-Binotto-Max-Verstappen-Red-Bull-Saudi-GP-F1-news

Scuderia Ferrari Aiming to Make it Back-to-Back Wins This Weekend
By Nick Golding
March 24, 2022

Scuderia Ferrari go into this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on the back of not only winning the Bahrain Grand Prix, but having claimed their first one-two since 2019. Can they do it again this weekend at the incredibly fast and unforgiving Jeddah Corniche Circuit?

Leclerc’s Race Engineer, Xavi Marcos, is expecting the teams which have paid the most attention to detail with designing this year’s cars, to have an advantage this weekend.

“I think that, putting to one side the different car designs, whoever has done the best job in preparing for the season down to the smallest detail, will have a competitive advantage at the start. There are so many new elements involved and whoever has understood the new format better, especially the limitations involved, could have the edge for at least the first third of the season.

‘Ferrari To The Smallest Detail’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/scuderia-ferrari-aiming-to-make-it-back-to-back-wins-this-weekend/

Lewis Hamilton could walk away if Mercedes remain third fastest, Martin Brundle claims
Hamilton couldn’t compete with the pace of the Ferraris in the season-opening race in Bahrain
Dan Austin

Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton could walk away from the sport at the end of the year if Mercedes are unable to catch frontrunners Ferrari and Red Bull.

Despite Hamilton taking a podium in Bahrain last Sunday, Mercedes’ W13 challenger for 2022 is not yet as fast as the machinery developed by their biggest rivals. The Silver Arrows have won eight constructors’

‘Walk Away?’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-f1-retirement-b2043235.html

GARY ANDERSON: MERCEDES’ F1 ENGINE DEFENCE DOESN’T ADD UP
24/03/2022, 17:01
By Gary Anderson

Mercedes keeps saying it and all three of its customer Formula 1 teams ran higher-downforce rear wings in the Bahrain Grand Prix than the other engine manufacturers’ teams did. But from these pictures, I am not 100% sure that is correct.

It’s too big a coincidence for all of Mercedes’ power unit users to struggle with straightline speed just because they ran too high a rear wing level, especially with such visually different car concepts. Personally, I still suspect Mercedes has not got the best from its new power unit just yet.

‘Mercedes PU Doesn’t Add Up1’

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-mercedes-engine-defence-doesnt-add-up/

‘Definitely lacking’: Norris criticises Mercedes power unit but emphasises one key strength
Mercedes and their customer teams got off to a stuttering start to the 2022 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.
by Rob Kershaw

24 March 202224 March 2022

McLaren drivers Lando Norris laments the fact that the Mercedes power unit is struggling in comparison to Honda and Ferrari, but sees the silver lining in the fact that it also appears to be one of the more reliable packages.

He found during the race that the Mercedes engine did not deliver the same performance on the straights as he became accustomed to during his two race appearances with Racing Point in 2020.

‘Mercedes PU Struggling’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/definitely-lacking-norris-criticises-mercedes-power-unit-but-emphasises-one-key-strength/

Mercedes mystery that needs solving as teams face 254km/h X-factor: F1 Burning Questions
March 25th, 2022 11:25 am
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports

DOES MERCEDES HAVE A POWER PROBLEM?
Approximately 74 per cent of lap time here last year was spent on the throttle, making this a relatively power-sensitive circuit, though aerodynamic performance counted for more than expected based on simulation in 2021. Either way that could be bad news for Mercedes based on what we saw in Bahrain.

The team lacked the straight-line speed advantage it’s enjoyed in years past, and not only that, but so too did all its customer teams, with all the Aston Martin, Williams and McLaren cars the last six to take the chequered flag on Sunday.

Mercedes High Performance Powertrains spent a lot of the second half of last season addressing reliability issues with the power unit — you might remember the litany of engine penalties accrued by Valtteri Bottas and, eventually Lewis Hamilton. With engine development now largely frozen before a full lock-off in September, did the German marque fall behind as a result of its troubles?

‘The mysterious lack of Mercedes power and the greatest qualifying lap that never was’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/the-mysterious-lack-of-mercedes-power-and-the-greatest-qualifying-lap-that-never-was-questions-for-the-saudi-arabian-grand-prix/news-story/6d6f1e4afbb9da75e14e8e42f3af8ad0

Fortitude

25th March 2022, 13:20

Red Bull expect no repeat of fuel pressure problem behind Bahrain double retirement.
“Both cars suffered from a lack of fuel pressure last weekend,” the RED BULL statement read. “The correct amount of fuel was in both cars, but a vacuum prevented the pumps from drawing fuel and delivering it to the engine."
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted on
25th March 2022, 9:43 | Written by Will Wood

After the race, team principal Christian Horner confirmed that the problem suffered by both cars was one they had not experienced during pre-season testing.

“It’s something that we haven’t seen previously,” Horner said after Sunday’s race. “It looks suspiciously like the failures are related to each other. Looks like potentially an issue within the fuel system.”

The failures led to speculation that Red Bull could see a similar problem this weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, in a statement released by the team this morning, Red Bull said that they do not expect the problem to affect them again at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and also dismissed rumours the team had not put enough fuel in the cars.

‘Red Bull Do Not Expect The Problem To Affect Them Again’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/25/red-bull-expect-no-repeat-of-fuel-pressure-problem-behind-bahrain-double-retirement/

Verstappen: I’ve lost wins, not the end of the world
Associated Press
24 March, 2022

Max Verstappen downplayed, ahead of the 2022 Saudi Arabian, Grand Prix the chances of his rivalry with Charles Leclerc turning sour, claiming that he has lost wins before, which is not the end of the world.

The 24-year-old said he and Leclerc had a tense relationship when they were teens but it is much improved now at the top level of motorsports.

“I never speak about these things with other drivers,” Verstappen laughed in a video interview. “I mean, it happens. I’ve lost wins, as well, and it’s not the end of the world, you move on. I think Charles is one of the most talented drivers in Formula 1 and he will win many more races.”

‘Not The End Of The World’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/24/verstappen-ive-lost-wins-not-the-end-of-the-world/

Vettel to miss Saudi GP, Hulkenberg subs for Aston Martin
Reuters
25 March, 2022

Aston Martin confirmed that Hulkenberg will once again step in for Vettel, who is expected to be fit for the Australian Grand Prix that is scheduled for April 8-10.

“Hulk Hulkenberg will practice, qualify and race alongside Lance Stroll,” Aston Martin said on Twitter. “Nico coped well in Bahrain and we are sure he will do likewise in Jeddah.”

‘The Hulk Returns’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/25/vettel-to-miss-saudi-gp-hulkenberg-subs-for-aston-martin/

The five big questions heading into the F1 Saudi Arabian GP
25/03/2022, ‎16‎:‎10
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Mike Seymour

Charles Leclerc leads the F1 World Championship for the first time in his career as the sport heads to Saudi Arabia for the second time in just over three months. The new F1 season continues this weekend with the teams and drivers having made the trip across the Middle East from the island of Bahrain to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the coast of the Red Sea.

The Bahrain Grand Prix provided plenty of answers to the big pre-season questions, but it has also offered up plenty of fresh ones with Ferrari flying, Mercedes struggling and Red Bull leaving empty-handed.

Have Red Bull cured their Bahrain issues?

Are Mercedes heading for two steps back?

Do Ferrari and their customer teams hold the winning formula?

Can Sainz close in on teammate Leclerc?

How will the new track changes alter the Grand Prix?

‘Five BIG Answers’;

https://racingnews365.com/the-five-big-questions-heading-into-the-f1-saudi-arabian-grand-prix

Hamilton urges Mercedes to match rivals’ “amazing performance” as soon as possible
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted on
25th March 2022, 12:25 | Written by Keith Collantine

Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes must make progress with their car quickly after seeing the performance of their rivals in Bahrain.

Hamilton said he is “realistic” about the challenge the team faces having started the season six-tenths of as second off the pace. “We have issues, we’re fighting to fix them. I think there’s a lot of potential within our car and we’re just trying to work as hard as we can to rectify them as quick as possible.”

“We’ve seen the amazing performance of some of the other teams, how close it is between all of us so I’m hopeful that we will improve. I have no doubt that I’ve got the best group of people behind me in order to come up with solutions and fix it and extract performance.”

‘A. S. A. P.’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/25/hamilton-urges-mercedes-to-match-rivals-amazing-performance-as-soon-as-possible/

WEEKEND WARM-UP: Can McLaren and AlphaTauri bounce back in Saudi Arabia?
25 Mar 2022

Will Buxton, Rosanna Tennant and Jolyon Palmer talk through McLaren and AlphaTauri’s ability to bounce back at this weekend’s 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and discuss Kevin Magnussen’s brilliant start to the Formula 1 season with Haas.

‘Bounce Back’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.weekend-warm-up-can-mclaren-and-alphatauri-bounce-back-at-saudi-arabian-gp.1728234180565716923.html

Gary Anderson: Why Ferrari’s puzzling sidepods really do work
25/03/2022, 09:50
By Gary Anderson

When the Ferrari was launched, I said I didn’t understand its sidepod design as it didn’t appear to ‘join up’ in the middle. In my defence, to some degree neither did eight other teams because, save for Haas, everyone has gone for a more ‘connected’ and flowing design.

The Ferrari sidepod and underfloor leading edge is further rearward than on the Aston Martin, giving a little more space between it and the rear of the front tyre. This will reduce the effect of the turbulent wake behind the front tyre. Also, Ferrari’s outer splitter – or bargeboard replacement vane as it can be called – is much shorter. This means that the inlet to the underfloor is not so defined.

The Ferrari still has a sidepod design that doesn’t quite meet up in the middle, but it was intentional. By doing what it has done, it means Ferrari has a stronger outwash at the front of the sidepods and in effect a stronger in-wash at the rear of the sidepods. It may not have made sense at first, but all you can say about this sidepod concept is ‘forza Ferrari’.

‘Forza Ferrari, Scuderia Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/gary-anderson-why-ferraris-puzzling-sidepods-really-do-work/

Sainz says he has tricks up his sleeve in push to catch Leclerc
25/03/2022, 11:50
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Carlos Sainz could soon find himself fighting it out with teammate Charles Leclerc for the F1 World Drivers' Championship crown, should Ferrari claim another 1-2 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

After spending Tuesday and Wednesday analysing his own performance, the Spaniard is confident that he has a few tricks up his sleeve to help close the gap. "I was right there in the fight for pole in qualifying, and this was good news for me, because of the lack of feeling that I have with this car, and the lack of understanding that I feel I have," he said, speaking to select member of the media, including RacingNews365.com.

"But the fact is, I still need to work on the set-up, I need to work on my car understanding. I've done my analysis in these [last] two days with my guys and we have a couple of very interesting theories and a couple of very interesting things to try here. I don't think it's going to be a matter of [catching up in] one race but, a bit like it was last year, little by little, I'll chip away at it and get there.”

‘Little By Little, Chipping Away’;

https://racingnews365.com/sainz-says-he-has-tricks-up-his-sleeve-in-fight-to-catch-leclerc

Fortitude

25th March 2022, 18:58

Saudi Arabia FP1: Leclerc off to a good start.
Charles Leclerc went fastest at the opening Free Practice session for the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix clocking a lap time of 1:30.772 set on the Soft tyres.
Jad Mallak
25 March, 2022

Formula 1 resumed in Jeddah with FP1 for the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Charles Leclerc leading the way, less than a week since the Ferrari 0ne-two season-opening race in Bahrain. Max Verstappen was second fastest for Red Bull, 0.116s off the Monegasque’s best time.

Valtteri Bottas continued the strong showing of Alfa Romeo, and took third place with a lap time of 1:31.084, and was followed by Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari, 0.055s further behind.

Pierre Gasly survived a brush with the wall midway through the session to take fifth fastest for AlphaTauri, 0.545s off the ultimate pace. The Frenchman’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda was sixth fastest in the sister car a further 0.188s adrift, and was followed by Sergio Perez, seventh in the RB18 who’s best time was 1:31.563 almost eight tenths off the pace.

‘Charles Leclerc Leads The Way’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/25/saudi-arabia-fp1-leclerc-off-to-a-good-start/

Leclerc quickest on Friday but ends practice early after brushing the wall
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix second practice
Posted on
25th March 2022, 18:4525th March 2022, 18:48 | Written by Will Wood

Charles Leclerc was quickest in the second practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but ended his running early after brushing the barriers.

Leclerc brushed the barrier at turn four, before driving slowly back to the pits after reporting an engine problem. He was able to successfully recover to the pitlane, but did not take any further part in the session. His team mate Sainz also had to bring his Ferrari back to the pitlane having hit the wall on the exit of the long hairpin of turn 13, sidelining him from the rest of the session also.

‘Leclerc Brushed Barrier And Ended Session Early’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/25/leclerc-quickest-on-friday-but-ends-practice-early-after-brushing-the-wall/

Why Ferrari drivers are unhappy with Saudi Arabia track changes
25/03/2022, ‎16‎:‎15
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc agree that the many changes made to Jeddah's Corniche Circuit are not impactful enough to improve safety and racing at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Speaking to members of the media in Saudi Arabia, including RacingNews365.com, Leclerc welcomed the changes, but believes that some areas of the circuit that needed improvements have been ignored.

Sainz: Our visibility doesn't improve. Leclerc's teammate, meanwhile, believes that the changes offer very little improvements to the safety of the circuit, suggesting that the feedback provided by drivers following last season's event has not been followed.

‘Track Change Impact Not Enough’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-ferrari-drivers-are-unhappy-with-saudi-arabia-track-changes

Bottas & Alfa Romeo eager to capitalise on Bahrain momentum in Jeddah
Ben Issatt
25 March 2022

Valtteri Bottas and Alfa Romeo hope to build on the momentum from Bahrain at this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

While many thought Bottas' decision to join Alfa from Mercedes would be a substantial backwards step, it has so far proven not to be the case with the Finn actually starting alongside former teammate Lewis Hamilton on the Bahrain grid.

And Valtteri is keen for the team to keep their current advantage for as long as possible. “It’s nice to be back in the car soon after a good result," he said of this weekend's race in Jeddah. "It gives us the chance to build on the strong performance we showed last weekend and fix the things that can be improved.”

‘Mercedes to Alfa Great Move’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15268-bottas-alfa-romeo-eager-to-capitalise-on-bahrain-momentum-in-jeddah

‘I want to get in the fight as soon as possible’ says Hamilton, as Mercedes prepare to try fixes in Saudi
25 March 2022

Lewis Hamilton has vowed ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to try and get in the championship battle “as soon as possible” after a bittersweet opening race of the season in Bahrain.

“A huge amount of work has gone on in the past three days,” he added. “We're aware of the problems we have, but in terms of what's causing it, we're just working through it, trying to figure that out and how we can rectify it without losing performance – and ultimately gain performance.”

“But three days is such a short time between races, so it's not a huge difference here this weekend. But hopefully we'll have some things to try. And from a driver's perspective, that's exciting when you… get into the car, just trying something new and hoping it unlocks a bit of performance. But the others are still very strong.”

‘A. S. A. P. For The Championships Battle’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.i-want-to-get-in-the-fight-as-soon-as-possible-says-hamilton-as-mercedes.3SYrjJfFV15ZKVPGWJ9Y8l.html

Lewis Hamilton: Mika Hakkinen feels George Russell could 'irritate' team-mate
By George Dagless
Published: 24 Mar 2022, 10:31

Former Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen has said that Lewis Hamilton may become irritated if the teamwork at Mercedes is not as good with George Russell as it was with Valtteri Bottas.

Despite that, though, Finnish F1 icon and double-world champion Hakkinen has said that if the teamwork does not continue or does not reach the levels it did when Valtteri Bottas was in the Silver Arrows’ garage, Lewis Hamilton might get irritated.

“I believe and I know from my experience that Lewis is relatively sensitive,” said Hakkinen during a video for Unibet’s YouTube channel. “He is a sensitive person. When Valtteri was Lewis’ team-mate, the teamwork was perfect. Now, the support he’s going to get from Russell… the teamwork could be lost. That’s where Lewis can become irritated.”

‘Irritation Possibilities’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87988008-lewis-hamilton-mika-hakkinen-feels-george-russell-could-irritate-team-mate

Fortitude

26th March 2022, 08:29

Ferrari’s double crash gives Mad Max boost as struggling Mercedes take step forward: F1 practice talking points.
What we don’t know is how this package goes over a race distance because both Ferrari drivers crashed before they could complete any meaningful race simulation.
March 26th, 2022 12:13 pm
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports

Leclerc took a small but impactful bit out of the apex at turn four, breaking his steering arm, while Sainz grazed the wall at turn 13, likewise damaging his machine. Neither accident was repairable in time to resume the session.

It means it’s unclear how Ferrari will manage its tyres over a race stint, when lower downforce tends to mean worse wear. Ferrari had better tyre wear than Red Bull Racing in Bahrain, but it was running a notable step up in downforce.

Max Verstappen completed his long running untroubled and unsurprisingly was quickest of anyone over an 11-lap run on the mediums, which is expected to be the preferred starting compound. Though the soft offers better grip, degradation on the red-walled rubber will push drivers towards three-stop territory, and with overtaking difficult around street circuit, making the fewest stops is generally preferable to a theoretically faster strategy.

‘Ferrari Double Crash, Red Bull Untroubled Running’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/two-crashed-ferraris-a-deceptively-improved-mercedes-and-a-driver-standoff-saudi-arabian-grand-prix-practice-talking-points/news-story/ddde9d12ef27cd1907c7df6114f79f1e

Ferrari ahead again but driver errors on Friday could cost them in the race
2022 Saudi Arabian GP Friday practice analysis
Posted on
26th March 2022, 1:4126th March 2022, 1:45 | Written by Will Wood

For a while on Friday night it seemed the practice times at Jeddah Corniche Circuit would be relegated to an obscure statistical footnote to a race which never happened. However at the time of writing, despite the shock of a missile exploding a mere 10 kilometres from the track shortly after cars began lapping, all signs are the race weekend will continue as planned.

Two deceptively minor-looking brushes with the barriers for both Leclerc and team mate Carlos Sainz Jnr ultimately ended the Ferrari drivers’ second practice sessions early. While the two F1-75s will be easily repaired in time for Saturday’s final practice, both Ferrari drivers will rue missing out on their only opportunity for meaningful high-fuel race simulation runs.

Among those who did log some longer runs on the medium tyre, there was little surprise as to who appeared to look the strongest. Max Verstappen put in the best seven-lap representative stint of the field, with an average lap time of a 1’35.502, just over a tenth of a second quicker than team mate Sergio Perez’s comparative run in the second Red Bull.

‘Ferrari Long Simulation Runs Cancelled’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/26/ferrari-ahead-again-but-driver-errors-on-friday-could-cost-them-in-the-race/

Villeneuve baffled by McLaren MCL36 'screw-up'
Michael Delaney
25/03/2022 at 17:11

Jacques Villeneuve says he's baffled by McLaren's troubles, wondering how on earth the Woking-based outfit has managed to "screw-up" its new MCL36 so badly.

"How could McLaren screw this up?" Villeneuve questioned in a column for Dutch website Formule1.nl. "McLaren was the biggest disappointment of the weekend. Such an experienced organisation, so much knowledge and skill in car design, it’s unbelievable that they screwed up like that. It was really painful to see Ricciardo racing at the back."

Villeneuve was equally critical of Aston Martin's opening performance in Bahrain, although not surprised. "It’s as if they don’t know how to design a car anymore!" said the Canadian. "Their car doesn’t look good. To compete at the top it takes more than ambition and money, Formula 1 is a special sport. It’s not just about marketing and branding."

‘McLaren ‘Screw-Up’, Aston Martin Does Not Look Good’;

https://f1i.com/news/436201-villeneuve-baffled-by-mclaren-mcl36-screw-up.html

Ricciardo must ‘put own career to one side’ for McLaren
Date published: March 26 2022 - Michelle Foster

Daniel Ricciardo needs to “put his own career to one side” to focus solely on what is best for McLaren in their current struggles. That’s according to former F1 driver turned commentator Martin Brundle.

Brundle says the Woking team now needs help sorting out their issues and has backed Ricciardo to do just that. “It’s a difficult time for him,” Brundle told foxsports.com.au. “He’s been kicked in the guts, hasn’t he, which is a great shame.”

“Daniel’s got the talent and determination, I have no doubt about that. He’s got the touch behind the wheel. you can’t out-drive a car if it’s not fully competitive. It’ll be telling now if he can dig deep and help. He’s got to help drive that team forward. That’s what he’s there to do. That’s why they wanted his speed and experience.”

‘Ricciardo To The Rescue’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin-brundle-daniel-ricciardo-career-one-side/

[B]Mercedes spent Friday trying and failing to rid W13 of problems
26/03/2022, ‎07‎:‎40

Mercedes have confirmed that, despite running a number of experiments during Friday practice in Saudi Arabia, they are yet to cure the problems facing their new W13 car.

Their biggest obstacle thus far has been finding a solution to porpoising, a downforce phenomenon that has been addressed successfully by most teams in the paddock. Mercedes are still struggling, however, and look set to continue to do so heading into qualifying and the race in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking late on Friday evening, Mercedes' Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, explained: "We tried a few more experiments to understand the bouncing issue here, some which made it worse, some which helped, but we don't yet have a solution to make the problem go away. Overall though, a reasonable day, but, clearly, we still have a bit of work to do before we'll be troubling Red Bull or Ferrari."

‘W13 Solutions, Work In Progress’;

https://racingnews365.com/mercedes-spent-friday-trying-and-failing-to-rid-w13-of-problems

‘Easy gains’: Mercedes set to close gap to Ferrari and Red Bull in next two races
Mercedes are expecting imminent improvements to their car after a disappointing start to the 2022 season.
by Rob Kershaw
25 March 202225 March 2022

Mercedes trackside engineer Andrew Shovlin has revealed that the team have found some solutions to the problems that have thus far hampered them in 2022.

“We’re working race by race at the moment. The factory is primed to bring absolutely anything they can in the next few days.”

“We’re learning with every day. Every time the car is out on track, there is a lot of work going on in the factory, trying to understand the science of what is going on but we are learning every day and if we have got something useful to bring to Jeddah, we’ll make sure we can get it there on the car.”

‘Solutions Race-By-Race’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/easy-gains-mercedes-set-to-close-gap-to-ferrari-and-red-bull-in-next-two-races/

Haas won't be P3 'for long' but target regular 2022 points finishes
Ben Issatt
25 March 2022

Haas is confident of remaining in the battle for points throughout the 2022 Formula 1 season, if not at the same level as in Bahrain.

The American outfit, who languished at the back of the grid last year, was the fourth-best team in the season-opener on a similar pace to Mercedes.

Magnussen's 10 points from Bahrain actually put Haas third in the Constructors' Championship behind Ferrari and Mercedes.

‘Haas F1: Third in the 2022 Constructors Championship’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15270-haas-won-t-be-p3-for-long-but-target-regular-2022-points-finishes

Guenther Steiner – “Not the perfect day today but I think we can recoup”
By Darius Needham
March 26, 2022

After coming off of a great race result for the Haas F1 Team at the Bahrain Grand Prix, picking up 10 points through Kevin Magnussen, their weekend in Saudi Arabia for the Jeddah Grand Prix could not have got off to a worse start.

In free practice one, Magnussen completed just two installation laps before realising that he had an issue with his car which he brought back to the pits. It was later revealed that the VF-22 had suffered a hydraulic leak which resulted in the vehicle remaining in the garage for the rest of the session.

Haas’ Team Principal, Guenther Steiner spoke afterwards about the difficult day for the team whilst reflecting on Mick Schumacher’s solid performance. “Not the perfect day today but I think we can recoup tomorrow if we have a good day, it’s just that it could’ve gone better. Kevin had too many technical issues with the car but we’re working on it and will sort them out. Mick did a good, solid job.” said Steiner.

‘Haas F1 To Regroup’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/guenther-steiner-not-the-perfect-day-today-but-i-think-we-can-recoup/

Fortitude

26th March 2022, 17:00

Saudi GP: Leclerc pips Verstappen, Mercedes P11 & P14 in Practice 3.
On his final flying lap, the Ferrari driver, who also led both sessions on Friday, would post a 1m29.735s to complete a practice sweep, leading the two Red Bulls by less than a tenth of a second.
Ben Issatt
26 March 2022

Porpoising issues appeared to be hampering Carlos Sainz as the Spaniard finished two-tenths back in third, ahead of Valtteri Bottas in fifth for Alfa Romeo. Both Alpines and both AlphaTauris also made the top 10 with Kevin Magnussen overcoming Haas' hydraulics problems on Friday to sit P8.

Outside that margin though was the two Mercedes' as their lack of straight-line speed left Lewis Hamilton 11th and George Russell 14th.

‘Bottas 5th, Hamilton 11th, Confirms Move To Alfa Romeo Correct!’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15281-saudi-gp-leclerc-pips-verstappen-mercedes-p11-p14-in-practice-3

Saudi Arabia Qualifying: Can Leclerc be stopped?
Editor
26 March, 2022

If Charles Leclerc’s form from the beginning of the 2022 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend is anything to go by, then it would be a tough job for the one – Max Verstappen – to stop him from getting pole.

Leclerc is in supreme form, gaining confidence from his F1-75, that even not his accident in FP2 on Friday could affect, and the proof was his FP3 best time.

Verstappen is up their too, but the reigning Champion has some demons he need to exorcise in Jeddah before he can take pole. Remember his lap last year? How it ended in tears?

‘Leclerc Unstoppable, Ferrari Dominant’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/26/saudi-arabia-grand-prix-qualifying-report-results/

Charles Leclerc sets the pace in final practice as Lewis Hamilton struggles
26/03/2022 | 15:21 PM
By Philip Duncan, PA F1 Correspondent, Jeddah

Lewis Hamilton finished only 11th in final practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace.

‘Leclerc Pace Setter, Hamilton Struggling’;

https://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/charles-leclerc-sets-the-pace-in-final-practice-as-lewis-hamilton-struggles-1280276.html

Leclerc shows why he has potential to challenge for F1 title
He and Max Verstappen relived their karting days, in 'a car capable of winning'
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mar 26th 2022 at 12:30PM

It took three laps in Bahrain for Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to show why he is a potential Formula One title contender, heading into this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Sure, the slick driver from Monaco won the season-opener last Sunday in style: from pole position and with the fastest lap.

But what really stood out was the way he went toe-to-toe with world champion Max Verstappen — his former teen rival from their karting days — and came out on top.

‘Leclerc On Top’;

https://www.autoblog.com/2022/03/26/charles-leclerc-f1-saudi-grand-prix/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIJEG3sTV1jDkY-DTWKKBvidEDvcPyLtxlbr8UQNaIHDh83hrzhkdtV2bXTpZ2Au5 XxoXFwo4niBJOAJpAlnHXy312Dd0aqJ2lAXovjfNnsrJHkabjC cFhpj2jGSIeCUqGK2RAciqo4fWfSlREUOQxbFBIgslxYbRXy7K 2bxn6UA

Hamilton flounders, Leclerc clean sweep as F1 show goes on despite terrorist attack
Ian Parkes
Saturday 26 March 2022 15:05

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes emerged from final practice for the controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as also-rans as Charles Leclerc made it a clean sweep ahead of qualifying.

Mercedes finished the hour-long session with the seventh quickest car given those ahead of the reigning constructors' champions, with Hamilton a lowly 11th fastest and almost a second adrift of Ferrari's Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

‘Leclerc Clean Sweep in Practice 3’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78708/hamilton-flounders-leclerc-clean-sweep-as-f1-show-goes-on-despite-terrorist-attack/

Fortitude

26th March 2022, 19:20

Sergio Perez on POLE at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Who could have predicted that?

Alesi: ‘Perez often disappears…it’s a fact’.
Sergio Perez did nothing to impress Jean Alesi in the Bahrain Grand Prix, the ex-Ferrari driver saying the Mexican “often disappears”.
Date published: March 25 2022 - Jon Wilde

‘Perez DISAPPEARS On Pole!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jean-alesi-sergio-perez-often-disappears/

Martin Brundle brutally dismisses Max Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez
By WILL LANCASTER
13:46, Wed, Mar 16, 2022

Martin Brundle has dismissed any chance of Red Bull star Sergio Perez coming close to winning the 2022 Formula One Drivers' Championship with the season just days away from commencing.

Brundle believes that the Mexican has no chance of winning a title, citing Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton's prowess as the reason why. “For a whole season, no, I honestly don’t think so," Brundle said.

‘Perez Brutal Pole!’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1581552/Max-Verstappen-Lewis-Hamilton-Red-Bull-Sergio-Perez-2022-season

Fortitude

27th March 2022, 07:28

‘It feels amazing’ says Perez, after becoming first Mexican pole-sitter in F1 history.
A scintillating final lap in Q3 from the Mexican saw him set a benchmark time of 1m 28.200s to take his maiden pole – in his 215th race – by just 0.025s from Charles Leclerc, with Perez unable to hide his delight after qualifying.
26 March 2022

A sensational Saturday in Saudi Arabia saw Sergio Perez claim the record for the most races before taking a pole position – while the Mexican also claimed his country’s first-ever pole position in F1 with a stunning effort beneath the floodlights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

“It feels amazing!” said Perez, who along with Verstappen failed to score at the season opener in Bahrain one week ago. “We come from a difficult weekend [in] Bahrain and the team has been pushing so hard back home in Milton Keynes, everyone is really positive and pushing hard so extremely happy for that.”

‘Sergio Perez Amazing Pole’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.it-feels-amazing-says-perez-after-becoming-first-mexican-pole-sitter-in-f1.4qXMch4xgXE5Z92JTOxygS.html

Perez ‘could do 1,000 more laps and not beat pole time’
by Phillip Horton
26 March 2022, 21:54
Sergio Perez says he would not beat his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix pole time if he tried another 1,000 times, after grabbing top spot for the first time in his career. Perez overhauled Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz during the closing stages of Q3 at Jeddah to snatch pole position.

“Today was very special to me, I achieved the best lap of my life,” said Perez. “I feel like I could do another thousand laps and there is no chance I can get the same lap, with the amount of perfection and risk.”

‘Sergio: Best Lap Of My Life’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/03/26/perez-could-do-1000-more-laps-and-not-beat-pole-time/

Perez hails 'lap of my life' to secure Saudi Arabian pole position
Issued on: 26/03/2022 - 22:28

Eleven years and 214 races after making his Formula One debut, Sergio Perez will on Sunday be the first Mexican to start from pole position when he lines up for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix thanks to the "lap of my life".

Exactly 11 years to the day since his first outing in Melbourne, Perez will bid for his third victory after out-pacing his Red Bull team-mate world champion Max Verstappen and both Ferraris in a dramatic qualifying on Saturday.

"Unbelievable! Yes! Definitely a great achievement for me," he enthused. "I am so pleased. This was something very really nice and really special too. The lap of my life at the place where it is most difficult to do qualifying."

’11 Years, 214 Races’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220326-perez-hails-lap-of-my-life-to-secure-saudi-arabian-pole-position

Sergio Pérez confident he can capitalise on 'perfect lap' and maiden pole
26 Mar 2022

Red Bull's Sergio Pérez is optimistic he can take full advantage of his first-ever pole position during Sunday's 2022 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

‘Sergio Pérez confident’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.sergio-perez-confident-he-can-capitalise-on-perfect-lap-and-maiden-pole.1728395373499599195.html

Horner hails "mighty" Perez pole in Saudi Arabia
Paul Macdonald
Saturday 26 March 2022 20:30

Christian Horner described Sergio Perez's performance as "mighty" as the Mexican's thrilling final lap secured his debut pole for Red Bull in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

He said: "I'm just so pleased for Checo. He's worked harder than ever and that was mighty. The Ferraris put down such a competitive marker and for Checo to go and do that - I think it's only the second time he's out-qualified Max [Verstappen] - and to put in a lap like that here, it's an unbelievable performance from him.”

"The car this year is more suited to his style, it's not as quirky as last year's car. He's done a great job there. Saturdays, by his own admission, have never been the strongest part of his armoury. He's always come alive on race day. To deliver that kind of performance, at this circuit, will do him the world of good and we just need to convert that into a result tomorrow."

‘MIGHTY Perez Pole’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78746/horner-hails-mighty-perez-pole-in-saudi-arabia/

Horner praises Perez’s pole lap at ‘hardest’ F1 circuit
by Fergal Walsh
26 Mar 2022, 20:02

“I’m just so, so pleased for Checo,” Horner told Sky F1 after the session. “[After] 215 races, it’s incredible.”

“He’s working harder than ever and that lap was mighty. We could see it coming, it was coming, it was coming, the Ferraris put down such a competitive marker.

“It’s the second time I think he’s out-qualified Max. To put in a lap like that here, the most hardest, most dangerous circuit that we go to, [it’s] an unbelievable performance from him.”

‘We could see it coming, it was coming, it was coming…..’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/03/26/horner-praises-perezs-pole-lap-at-hardest-f1-circuit/

Perez takes Webber's record with pole spot
Alan BaldwinReuters
Sun, 27 March 2022 7:39AM

Mexico's Sergio Perez has claimed a Formula One record which Australia's Mark Webber may happily shed after taking pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Eleven years to the day after the first F1 grand prix qualifying session of his career in Melbourne, Perez celebrated his first pole position on Saturday. The 32-year-old produced the lap of his life to take the top slot for Red Bull for what will be his 215th grand prix start in Jeddah on Sunday.

Nobody else has ever waited so long for a pole, 'Checo' taking the record from nine-race winner Webber whose first, also with Red Bull, came at the 131st time of asking at the Nuerburgring in 2009.

‘Sergio Perez, Smashes Mark Webbers’ Record!’

https://thewest.com.au/sport/motorsport/perez-takes-webbers-record-with-pole-spot-c-6218721

Leclerc and Sainz admit Ferrari were helpless to prevent Perez pole
26/03/2022, 19:55
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Mike Seymour

The two Ferrari drivers have moved to congratulate Sergio Perez after he became the first Mexican to claim a pole position in Formula 1.

The two Ferrari drivers crossed the line to claim a provisional 1-2 during the final moments of qualifying at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, impressed with their own laps. But then Red Bull rival Perez arrived seconds later to spoil the party, putting in a blistering-hot lap time of 1:28.200.

That lap was close to three-tenths of a second faster than his World Champion teammate, Max Verstappen, but was only three-hundredths of a second faster than Leclerc, who has admitted that he did all he could.

‘Both Ferrari Drivers Congratulate Sergio Perez’;

https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-and-sainz-admit-ferrari-were-helpless-to-prevent-perez-pole

Fortitude

27th March 2022, 10:48

Mick Schumacher tells fans he is 'ok' after horror 170mph smash: F1 driver - son of Michael Schumacher - posts smiling selfie from his hotel as he's released from hospital after Saudi Arabia Grand Prix crash.
But he posted smiling selfie on social media today with a defiant message that 'we'll come back stronger'.
By Olly Allen and Jamie Phillips For Mailonline
Published: 09:04, 27 March 2022

Mick Schumacher has told fans he is 'ok' in a smiling selfie from his hotel room as he is released from hospital following a horror 170mph crash during qualifying at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. The Haas driver, son of Michael, crashed into the wall on the exit of Turn 12 on the Jeddah circuit, with his car being torn to pieces.

The red flag was immediately raised to allow an ambulance on to the track, with Schumacher conscious and talking to doctors before being lifted from his smashed up car and taken to the medical centre before going on to a nearby hospital.

The shocking nature of the crash was shown as the Haas car broke in two as it was lifted off the track.

‘Mick Posts Smiling Selfie Picture’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10656617/Mick-Schumacher-tells-fans-ok-170mph-smash-Driver-posts-smiling-selfie-hotel.html

Lewis Hamilton visits Haas HQ after Mick Schumacher flown to hospital in Saudi Arabia
LEWIS HAMILTON and Mick Schumacher were both central to the drama during a jam-packed day of qualifying in Saudi Arabia.
By CHARLIE GORDON
05:30, Sun, Mar 27, 2022

Shortly after the incident, Hamilton was snapped heading into Haas HQ to check up on the progress of the team's promising youngster. F1 journalist Claire Cottingham added: "Confirmation after I tweeted this [photo that] Hamilton popped down to check on how Schumacher was. A touching moment."

‘Lewis Visits Haas F1 HQ’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1586865/lewis-hamilton-haas-mick-schumacher-saudi-arabian-grand-prix-f1-news

Mick Schumacher speaks with mum after lucky escape from terrifying F1 crash
Mick Schumacher survived a horror crash in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian GP so before being taken to hospital for checks he spoke to his mum and F1 legend Michael's wife Corinna
BY Dan Burnham
• 20:05, 26 MAR 2022

Speaking to Sky Sports, team principle Guenther Steiner revealed Schumacher had spoken to mum Corinna before he was taken to hospital for precautionary checks. He said: "I didn’t speak with him directly. He's spoken to his mum. I spoke with his mum a few times and kept her updated.

‘Corinna Schumacher Kept Updated’;

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/f1/mick-schumacher-saudi-gp-crash-26564314

“Aggressive” kerb Schumacher hit should be changed before race, says Norris
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted on
26th March 2022, 23:51 | Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

Lando Norris has called for immediate changes to the kerb Mick Schumacher hit when he crashed heavily in qualifying, which had already caused another major accident the day before.

Norris says the changes to Formula 1 cars for this year has made the kerb more hazardous. “I think with this era of cars, with how you have to run them and how they’re designed, some kerbs throughout the year might need to change, and I think this kerb is one of them,” he said in response to a questions from RaceFans.

F2 driver Cem Bolukbasi hit the same kerb during practice on Friday and crashed, suffering a concussion, which means he will also take no further part in the event. Norris said this was another example of the problem with the kerb.

‘Change The Kerb For Safety’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/26/aggressive-kerb-schumacher-hit-should-be-changed-before-race-says-norris/

Max Verstappen hits out at 'very, very dangerous' Saudi track after Mick Schumacher crash
MAX VERSTAPPEN has slammed the Jeddah circuit following Mick Schumacher's horror crash.
By JOSHUA LEES
08:21, Sun, Mar 27, 2022

One of Schumacher’s fellow drivers in Verstappen was left angered by the incident and took aim at the ‘dangerous’ design of the Jeddah track, after it was modified for this year’s race. “Last year for me, personally, I was happy with how we went through the weekend in terms of crashes," said the Dutchman.

“In some places, if you lose the car like today with Mick and you go flat out into the wall it is extremely painful and very, very dangerous. Not only that, the straights are not entirely straight because they're all a bit blind. I don't understand why you need to design the track [like this] "If it's going to be flat out just design it straight. It's just safer for everyone."

Max Verstappen: Dangerous Design of the Jeddah Track’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1586887/Max-Verstappen-Saudi-Arabian-Grand-Prix-Mick-Schumacher-F1-news

Schumacher discharged from hospital after frightening qualifying shunt
Sam Hall
Saturday 26 March 2022 22:05

Mick Schumacher has left hospital following the completion of precautionary checks after his heavy crash during qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Schumacher will take no further part in the weekend with the team formally withdrawing his car.

Mick Schumacher Discharged From Hospital’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78766/schumacher-discharged-from-hospital-after-frightening-qualifying-shunt/

Schumacher speaks out after being released from hospital
27/03/2022, 22:05

Mick Schumacher is now out of hospital, Haas have confirmed, following a horror crash during qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Posting on social media, Schumacher has assured fans that he is "ok" following the crash and has thanked them for their kind messages. He added that his Haas car "felt great" during the qualifying session and has vowed to "come back stronger".

Schumacher will play no part in tomorrow's Saudi Arabian GP, with Haas having already withdrawn both the driver and his car from the event. Schumacher will now have two weeks to prepare for the Australian GP, which is set to take place from 8-10 April.

‘Mick Schumacher Will Be At The Australian GP’;

https://racingnews365.com/schumacher-released-from-hospital-and-speaks-out-after-horror-crash

Steiner Confirms Schumacher will not race on Sunday after High-Speed Qualifying Crash
By Paul Hensby
March 26, 2022

Guenther Steiner has confirmed that Mick Schumacher will not compete in Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after his high-speed crash during Qualifying on Saturday evening.

With the session red-flagged, the Haas F1 Team driver was attended to immediately by the medical team before being taken to hospital for checks, with Schumacher potentially set to stay there overnight as a precaution.

As a result of this, and with his car needing a lot of repair work to be ready to race, Steiner, the Team Principal at Haas, has confirmed that Schumacher will not take to the track on Sunday despite having qualified fourteenth.

‘Guenther Steiner: Schumacher Not To Race As A Precaution’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/steiner-confirms-schumacher-will-not-race-on-sunday-after-high-speed-qualifying-crash/

Fortitude

27th March 2022, 17:05

Why Ferrari aren't concerned after losing pole to Red Bull.
Sergio Perez will start the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in pole position after his mighty Q3 lap snatched the glory away from Ferrari and Charles Leclerc.
27/03/2022, ‎07‎:‎40
Author Tom Leach
Co-author Mike Seymour

Mattia Binotto is bracing himself for red flags and Safety Cars that have the potential to shake up the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and believes Ferrari can be happy knowing their cars will start the race in second and third.

Red Bull's pole position no surprise to Ferrari. For Ferrari, it is no shock to see a Red Bull car starting ahead of them on race day, and Perez has all that it takes to turn that pole into a win, reckons Binotto. "Sergio is always a good racer. He's very fast and has got a very good race pace, so certainly, starting in pole, he can do it," Binotto told Sky Sports F1.

‘Ferrari Unconcerned’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-ferrari-arent-concerned-after-losing-pole-to-red-bull

Leclerc plans ‘full attack’ on Perez and Red Bull
by James Phillips
27th March 2022

Ferrari ace Leclerc plans to attack Perez and Red Bull in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Charles Leclerc looked set to have two consecutive pole positions this weekend, after turning up the wick at the end of Q2.

Speaking after qualifying, Leclerc confessed he was “disappointed” to lose pole by the smallest of margins, acknowledging the risks Perez took to secure pole: “I’m a bit disappointed. Only two hundredths, it’s so close. I am pretty sure Checo’s lap is exceptional, I mean the last sector, pretty sure he took a lot of risk and was rewarded by it, and this is how it works on those city tracks.

Reflecting on challenging Red Bull in the race, Leclerc said he will planning a ‘full attack’ to take the top spot away from Perez. “I think on our side there is plenty to learn from this qualifying. Yes, it is full attack, as always. The race is tomorrow… so hopefully we can have a better day tomorrow.”

‘Full Attack’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/leclerc-plans-full-attack-on-perez-and-red-bull-78475

Leclerc “Confident for Tomorrow” After Another Strong Qualifying for Ferrari
By Joe McCormick
March 27, 2022

Leclerc is confident in his abilities, and will be hoping to overtake pole-sitter, Sergio Perez, in the race to take victory in Saudi Arabia. “We were quick in our race simulation this morning and I feel confident for tomorrow. A race in warm conditions, taking place at night, on a very fast and narrow street circuit – it should be an exciting one.”

Sainz seemed rather deflated when climbing out of the car in third, after putting his car on provisional pole at the start of Qualifying 3; but quickly explained that he didn’t feel as strong on new tyres. “Of course, the target will be to bring the pace of today’s quali into the race. We have saved several sets to give us different strategic options in case the race gets tricky as it did last year, so we’ll try to make everything work. Let’s race.”

Ferrari will be hoping to extend their constructors championship lead with another one-two finish tomorrow, and are certainly in a strong enough position for this to be a possibility.

‘Ferrari Confidence’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/leclerc-confident-for-tomorrow-after-another-strong-qualifying-for-ferrari/

Sainz reveals bizarre reason for qualifying struggles in Jeddah
Carlos Sainz's pace-setting lap at the beginning of Q3 was beaten by both Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc at the end of qualifying.
by Rob Kershaw
27 March 202227 March 2022

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz have revealed that he was unable to tap into the performance of new tyres in qualifying as his wait for a maiden pole position continues.

“The lap for P3 was pretty good, it was on a used tyre, because on a used tyre for some reason this weekend is giving me a better feeling,” he said after qualifying.

“The new tyre for me if very difficult [and] very tricky to handle and when I went on new [tyres] for the last run in Q3 I just didn’t have any rear grip and I struggled. For a used tyre it wasn’t that bad but again Checo and Charles beat me by a little so it’s still okay.”

‘Used Tyre Better Feeling’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/sainz-reveals-bizarre-reason-for-qualifying-struggles-in-jeddah/

Saudi Arabian GP: Emerson Fittipaldi makes Ferrari prediction for round 2 of F1 season
By George Dagless
Published: 27 Mar 2022, 11:11

Former Formula 1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi is predicting Ferrari to be the team to beat this evening at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“I’m sure Ferrari [will win,]” he said to Vegas Insider. “They got their act together better than anybody else before the season and it showed in the results in Bahrain.”

“This new aerodynamic package with the porpoising that was happening, in all the teams, it happened when you had ground effect cars many years ago and you could see Ferrari was the most, what I call, stable. Didn’t look porpoised, the back or the front.”

‘Emerson Fittipaldi: Ferrari Most Stable’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87988976-saudi-arabian-gp-emerson-fittipaldi-makes-ferrari-prediction-for-round-2-of-f1-season

Fortitude

27th March 2022, 17:22

Szafnauer Thrilled with Alpine Qualifying – But “Only Half of the Job is Complete”
Team principal for BWT Alpine F1 Team, Otmar Szafnauer, is “delighted” with a fifth and seventh place start on the grid for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, though remains realistic, claiming that the job is not completely finished.
By Joe McCormick
March 27, 2022

“We’re delighted with today’s Qualifying result with brilliant laps from Esteban and Fernando to put us well inside the top ten for tomorrow’s Grand Prix. We knew from the beginning of the weekend we had the pace to be very competitive, so to see the hard work from everyone at the team pay off is excellent,” says the new Alpine team principal for the 2022 season.”

Szafnauer claims that Alpine are going to work on the strategy for Sunday’s race overnight – “Only half of the job is complete, though, and points are only given out on Sundays. We’ve put ourselves in a great position to have a strong race and we’re looking forward to developing our strategy overnight to ensure both cars are very well placed and prepared to score points.“

“We also wish Mick well after a quite frightening crash during the session. We hope Mick recovers quickly and is in a position to race again soon.”

‘Get Well Mick Schumacher’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/szafnauer-thrilled-with-alpine-qualifying-but-only-half-of-the-job-is-complete/

“There is Still More Potential” – Alonso After Excellent Saudi Arabian Qualifying for Alpine
By Joe McCormick
March 27, 2022

Fernando Alonso remains competitive in seventh place. “First of all, the most important thing is that Mick is OK. That was a big shunt, and I am glad to see that everything seems to be fine with him,” the Frenchman claimed.

“It’s only the second race with this new car and to qualify in fifth and seventh is great and we should be very happy about today. We’ve built up well all weekend and I am happy how the car has improved during all the practice sessions. We’re in the mix to fight for a solid result tomorrow.”

“With these 2022 cars we keep learning every single time we leave the garage and I think there is still more potential for us to develop. The tyre degradation is still a little bit unknown for tomorrow and now we don’t have to use the tyres we qualified on in Q2, so it gives us more flexibility on strategy,” the Spaniard continued.

‘EL PLAN: More Potential’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/there-is-still-more-potential-alonso-after-excellent-saudi-arabian-qualifying-for-alpine/

Whitmarsh’s arrival prompted Szafnauer rethink
Date published: March 27 2022 - Frank Parker

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has revealed his former employers Aston Martin wanted him to remain there, but Martin Whitmarsh’s arrival convinced him to move on. With fresh investment, the British squad opted to appoint former McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh as Group Chief Executive Officer – a role that oversees the Formula 1 team of the Aston Martin group.

It was a move Szafnauer felt would have reduced his influence on the team and the Romanian-American engineer, being a racer, wanted to have more of an impact. Thus Szafnauer ultimately moved to rival team Alpine following their own management restructure.

“Although they asked me to stay, I didn’t think it was appropriate for someone to come in and do 95% of your job and (I) do 5%,” said the Alpine boss. “I probably could have stayed where I was, taken the pay cheque to the bank every month. That’s not me. I’m a racer.”

‘Otmar Szafnauer: A Racer’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/otmar-szafnauer-aston-martin-rethink/

'Extremely strong' qualifying for P5 Ocon and Alpine
26 Mar 2022

Esteban Ocon is satisfied with "a great qualifying" for Alpine after finishing P5 on Saturday, two places ahead of team mate Fernando Alonso ahead of Sunday's 2022 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

‘P5 Strong Qualification For Alpine’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.extremely-strong-qualifying-for-p5-ocon-and-alpine.1728393462661622195.html

Ocon eyeing podium after qualifying P5 with ‘extremely strong’ pace at Jeddah
26 March 2022

Esteban Ocon missed out on a podium in last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but this season he’s eyeing up a re-do after qualifying fifth on the grid for Alpine.

Asked if he had the “secret sauce” at Jeddah, given his prowess on this challenging circuit, Ocon replied: “I don’t know if I have the secret keys or sauce that you mean, but no, it was definitely a great qualifying for sure. I always say that here you need to let the horsepower go at the right time, and putting it together when it counts, and that’s what we did today.

‘Podium Aspiration For Ocon’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ocon-eyeing-podium-after-qualifying-p5-with-extremely-strong-pace-at-jeddah.3rg8RP2aCsAL0YgVQtiH69.html

Fernando Alonso encouraged by Alpine qualifying performance
26 Mar 2022

Fernando Alonso has "full confidence" Alpine can be competitive on Sunday, after finishing P7 in qualifying ahead of Sunday's 2022 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

‘Alpine Encouragement’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.fernando-alonso-encouraged-by-alpine-qualifying-performance.1728393121243163174.html

Fortitude

27th March 2022, 17:41

Bottas explains how it feels to see Hamilton and Mercedes struggle.
"Weird" to see Hamilton struggling. "It is surprising to see them struggling, but it's also nice to be able to battle with them," the Finnish driver said.
Author Anna Francis
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Lewis Hamilton caused one of the biggest shocks in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with his exit in Q1. Meanwhile, former teammate Valtteri Bottas secured P8 in the Alfa Romeo, and the Finn is feeling positive about his new team.

Bottas admits that it was strange to watch Hamilton having difficulties with the car in Saturday's session. "It's weird to see," he told media including RacingNews365.com. "I would guess he had some kind of issue, I don't know."

Overall, Bottas feels very happy that he made the decision to join the Swiss outfit. "I think this was kind of the best case scenario for our first season together that I could ever imagine, with the information I had," the 10-time race winner explained. "I'm really happy with the decision I made, and I'm happy overall as well. So yeah, [I'm] enjoying it."

‘Valterreri Bottas Happy With Move From Mercedes To Alfa Romeo’;

https://racingnews365.com/bottas-explains-how-it-feels-to-see-hamilton-and-mercedes-struggle

Valtteri Bottas “Pleased to be in Q3” For Second Week in a Row
By Joe McCormick
March 27, 2022

Valtteri Bottas has qualified eighth for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, marking a second consecutive Qualifying 3 appearance for Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN. Progress has been excellent for the Swiss team, after spending the majority of 2021 fighting to get out of Qualifying 1.

Setting a lap time of 1:29.183, Bottas will start on the fourth row of the grid for the second race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, and is happy with Alfa Romeo’s consistency:

“I am pleased to be in Q3, especially with our performance: we were very consistent, made good progress in each session and got a good spot on the grid for the race. The main thing today, though, is that Mick is ok after the heavy shunt. We hope to see him back in a race car as soon as possible.”

‘Alfa Romeo F1 Consistency’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/valtteri-bottas-pleased-to-be-in-q3-for-second-week-in-a-row/

Valtteri Bottas confident Alfa Romeo 'in the fight' on Sunday
26 Mar 2022

Valtteri Bottas is encouraged by the consistency shown by his Alfa Romeo after finishing P8 in Saturday qualifying and is optimistic about challenging for points in Sunday's 2022 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

‘Consistency Encouragement’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.valtteri-bottas-confident-alfa-romeo-in-the-fight-on-sunday.1728392916593728832.html

Saudi Arabian Qualifying “Confirms our Bahrain Result was Not a Fluke” – Alfa Romeo
By Joe McCormick
March 27, 2022

Frédéric Vasseur, team principal for Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN believes that the second consecutive Qualifying 3 entry for Valtteri Bottas and an impressive thirteenth place for Zhou Guanyu confirms that the good performance in Bahrain last weekend was not a one-off exception.

“First and foremost, the important news from the evening are about Mick Schumacher being ok after a very big accident. Full credit to the FIA for making these the safest cars in F1 history,” states the Alfa Romeo boss.

“It’s going to be a long race and we’ve seen tonight that this track doesn’t forgive any mistake: there are a lot of challenges, but also a lot of potential opportunities to take and it will be up to us to bring home a good result.”

‘Alfa Romeo Not A Fluke’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/saudi-arabian-qualifying-confirms-our-bahrain-result-was-not-a-fluke-alfa-romeo/

Alfa Romeo working on fix for Bottas and Zhou’s “very poor” starts
2022 F1 Season
Posted on
24th March 2022, 8:2224th March 2022, 10:03 | Written by Hazel Southwell

Alfa Romeo is looking into how it can improve its performance at the start of races, after Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu lost more places than any other drivers on lap one in Bahrain. Bottas fell from sixth to 14th at the start while Guanyu slipped from 15th to 19th.

“Both cars experienced a very poor start,” he explained. “Then not only the start, but also trying to get grip and avoiding incidents during lap one.

“So that one definitely is an area that we’ll have to take some actions and try to understand a bit more, see how we can solve it or try to mitigate as much as possible for the next week because we don’t have so many days.” The next round of the championship takes place at Jeddah Corniche Circuit this weekend.

‘Working On A Fix’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/24/alfa-romeo-working-on-fix-for-bottas-and-guanyus-very-poor-starts/

Fortitude

27th March 2022, 18:19

Hamilton blasts Mercedes car as 'undriveable' in five-year low.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton described his Mercedes car as "undriveable" on Saturday after qualifying only 16th on the grid for Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Issued on: 26/03/2022 - 21:32

"Of course, I am very disappointed," said Hamilton, who apologised to the team.

"We have a serious issue – something in the set-up – and it was looking good in P3 (practice) so I tried to progress further in a similar direction, but maybe went too far.

"The car was so nervous it was undriveable."

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220326-hamilton-blasts-mercedes-car-as-undriveable-in-five-year-low

“Can’t seem to improve, man”: How Hamilton’s “bolder” set-up gamble led to shock Q1 exit
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted on
27th March 2022, 10:22 | Written by Keith Collantine

“We’re still experimenting with set-ups to find out where the sweet spot of the car is,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained in response to a question from RaceFans. “On Lewis’s side they went a bit bolder and the outcome was that basically they had no rear end in the car. And that explains that big lap time deficit.”

Hamilton was six tenths of a second slower than his team mate on the same rubber when he dropped out at the end of Q1. “I had no rear end,” he admitted while the qualifying session continued without him. “The car was feeling good in [final practice] and I made a couple of adjustments. But I had no rear end, the rear was so loose.”

Ahead of his final run, Bonnington’s feedback to Hamilton was much the same as it had been after his first, that he was trying to take too much speed into the corners.

‘Bolder Gamble’

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/27/cant-seem-to-improve-man-how-hamiltons-bolder-set-up-gamble-led-to-shock-q1-exit/

‘Balance of the Car’ Responsible for Hamilton’s Shock Q1 Exit in Saudi Arabia
By Joe McCormick
March 27, 2022

Lewis Hamilton surprised race fans around the world on Saturday, when the Briton was knocked out of the first qualifying stage in the dying moments of the session at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit – qualifying sixteenth on the grid. The 2021 runner up has claimed that the setup of the car “went the wrong way tonight” as Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team continue to struggle with their W13 car.

Before analysing his qualifying performance, the seven-time world champion was quick to comment on the Qualifying 2 accident with Schumacher – “I hope Mick is OK, that corner is 170mph and it’s terrifying to see what’s happened – that’s the biggest crash we’ve seen at this track.”

“For me, I struggled with the balance of the car today, the rear end was snapping out and this isn’t where we want to be. We went the wrong way with the set up tonight and the car just wasn’t underneath me for this session,” Hamilton claims, after visibly struggling to keep the car stable during his onboard camera feeds.

‘Balance Of Car Wrong’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/balance-of-the-car-responsible-for-hamiltons-shock-q1-exit-in-saudi-arabia/

Button wonders what Hamilton will do after 'very strange' qualifying
27/03/2022, ‎15‎:‎10
Author Thomas Maher

Jenson Button is curious to see what Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will choose to do after only managing to qualifying 16th for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

One of Lewis Hamilton's former teammates is intrigued about the approach Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will have to Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with the seven-time World Champion only qualifying 16th for the race.

"It was a really, really strange qualifying session for him, [and] very unexpected for him, for the team and for the whole of F1 to see him that far down."

‘Very Strange Qualifying’;

https://racingnews365.com/button-wonders-what-hamilton-will-do-after-very-strange-qualifying

Mercedes porpoising impacting more than just pace
Date published: March 27 2022 - Michelle Foster

George Russell says Mercedes’ porpoising issue is impacting more than just the W13’s pace, it is also a distraction for the drivers.

Russell believes a huge part of the problem is the W13’s porpoising, which is so extreme that it is forcing Mercedes to run at a higher ride-height which is costing them downforce. “It’s exactly the same as we’ve seen since day one,” the new signing told The Race.

“The only way to run is to raise the car very high. And obviously, with this ground effect car, we lose all of the downforce.”

‘W13 Woes’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-mercedes-porpoising-distraction/

Juan Pablo Montoya: George Russell could beat Lewis Hamilton in standings on one condition
By George Dagless
Published: 27 Mar 2022, 12:46

Montoya, speaking to Vegas Insider, believes that if the Mercedes isn’t quick enough to win the title this year, Russell could have the edge over Hamilton:

“If Mercedes is not as strong as to win a championship, absolutely. If Mercedes has a shot at the championship, no. I think Lewis is still going to beat him just because he has a lot more experience.”

“If the car is average, running fifth every week, I think George will still push like he wants to win where Lewis might be disappointed, and won’t care enough.”

‘George Russell Could Have The Edge’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87988981-juan-pablo-montoya-george-russell-could-beat-lewis-hamilton-in-standings-on-one-condition

Fortitude

27th March 2022, 19:44

Verstappen wins after thrilling fight with Leclerc.
Max Verstappen took the chequered flag ahead of Charles Leclerc after an action-packed end to the race in Jeddah.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
by Emer Hedderman
27th March 2022

After a late Virtual Safety Car… …Verstappen had closed the gap and the fight for the lead was back in full flow. Verstappen did make the move and got into P1, but a couple of corners later Leclerc made used of the DRS and retook the place.

The following laps were full of action with both locking up at one point trying to make the other cross the DRS detection line first so that they, the car behind, could have the advantage. There was a bit of a breather then as the Red Bull dropped back but the reigning champion didn’t leave Leclerc alone for long. Three laps from the end and Verstappen made it into the lead again with a pass on the start-finish straight.

‘A Thrilling Fight’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen-wins-after-thrilling-fight-with-leclerc-78484

Race Results – 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
by Emer Hedderman
27th March 2022

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2022 F1 World Championship season opening race from Jeddah.

Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -50 laps
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.549
3. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +8.097

‘Results’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-results-2022-saudi-arabian-grand-prix-78483

Fortitude

28th March 2022, 08:09

Ain't No VER-Stopping Max! - Saudi Arabia GP Sunday.
Sunday night finally arrived at Jeddah, and with it the conclusion of a turbulent weekend for Formula One. And what a spectacle it was. Charles Leclerc led most laps, Max Verstappen never allowed him to relax…
March 27, 2022
By: Adil Muhammad, Unmesh Datta, Mikey McGuire

The two drivers who are emerging as the top championship contenders again squared off, delighting Formula One fans with another thrilling battle right up to the flag.

Plus, Lewis Hamilton started from the back of the pack, reliability bit teams hard – one before the race even started –, teammates squared off, and we eventually got one Turn 1 crash due to a divebomb. The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix had it all.

At the flag, Verstappen held on, defended his position brilliantly, and won the race from P4 on the grid, just 0.5 seconds ahead of Leclerc.

‘Thrilling Battle Up To The Flag’;

https://missedapexpodcast.com/article-list/2022/3/27/saudi-sunday

Verstappen beats Leclerc in frantic fight to the flag: 2022 Saudi Arabian GP report
March 28th 2022
Author Chris Medland

If Formula 1’s rulemakers could have picked two races to start the season to show they’ve got their new regulations right, they would probably have settled for the two they’ve just got. For the second race running, a thrilling battle between two of the sport’s brightest young stars lit up the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and for a few hours dispelled the unease at racing in Jeddah in the first place.

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc staged a second round of their Bahrain F1 battle at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with the Dutchman holding on for victory in an action-packed cat-and-mouse finale

‘Cat And Mouse Finale’;

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/verstappen-beats-leclerc-in-frantic-fight-to-the-flag-2022-saudi-arabian-gp-report#

Formula 1: Max Verstappen relieved at 'kick-starting' title defence in Jeddah
28/03/2022, 05:37
First Post

Leclerc congratulated his rival on his victory on their slow-down laps, but after two races remains the embryonic championship’s early season leader by 12 points.
Agence France-Presse March 28, 2022 09:48:41 IST

World champion Max Verstappen admitted he was relieved to secure his first win of the season after battling to a thrilling victory ahead of old rival Charles Leclerc in Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old Dutchman said it had been a difficult, but good race and it showed that this season’s title battle "will be super-close between the two of us" after he won by just half a second ahead of the Ferrari.

"It was a tricky one," said the Red Bull driver. "We were battling hard at the front and we just had to play the long game. They were really quick through the corners, but we were quick on the straight. "The tyres were wearing out quite quick around here so you could see, at the end, I think we just had a little more pace and I just tried to get by."

‘Tricky But Relieved’;

https://www.firstpost.com/sports/formula-1-max-verstappen-relieved-at-kick-starting-title-defence-in-jeddah-10494461.html

Verstappen’s racing savvy and Red Bull’s strategy deny Leclerc a second win.
On-track, an enthralling exhibition of wheel-to-wheel racing between two of motorsport’s highest calibre talents.
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix review
Posted on
28th March 2022, 7:1028th March 2022, 7:17 | Written by Will Wood

Eventually, at the end of lap 46 with just four tours remaining, Verstappen judged his approach perfectly and swept by the Ferrari as they crossed the timing line and keep ahead through the opening two corners. Leclerc fought back hard to keep in touch with the Red Bull, but a yellow flag at turn one after Alexander Albon hit Lance Stroll compromised Leclerc’s opportunity to make a lunge into the corner.

Verstappen held on over the final two laps to successfully fend off the Ferrari and take the chequered flag for his first win of the season by a margin of just half a second at the end of what had been a true sprint finish for the pair.

“I’m very happy for Max and the team after the disappointment we had last weekend,” said Perez. “To get those results is really nice.”
‘
Red Bull Strategy’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/28/verstappens-racing-savvy-and-red-bulls-strategy-deny-leclerc-a-second-win/

Perez “had the race under control” until “bad luck” with Safety Car
Sergio Perez said “bad luck” with the timing of the Safety Car cost him a likely win in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver led the race from pole position until his pit stop on lap 14. Those running behind him were yet to pit at that point, and when the Safety Car came out soon afterwards it allowed them to pit and emerge in front of the former race leader.
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted on
27th March 2022, 22:1227th March 2022, 22:13 | Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham

“Just bad luck, bad timing,” said Perez. “I felt I had the race pretty much under control and [then] came this incident from Latifi and basically it hurt me. It just came at the wrong point of the race for me. As a driver, there is nothing you could do. We have everything in place, plenty of margin for the undercut and unfortunately we couldn’t execute what what we should today.”

“I think we did everything throughout the weekend perfectly,” he said. “At the end behind Carlos, I think the car wasn’t as good as it was on the first stint. We did some adjustment going on to the hard compound, which probably hurt us a bit. And then, at the end, it was catching him up. Unfortunately we had the yellow flag and then he pulled away.”

The television coverage of the race gave the impression the timing of Perez’s pit stop was a reaction to Ferrari’s call for Charles Leclerc behind him to come in. However Perez said “I don’t think it was an early stop. I think they would have to have stopped a lap earlier. So I think it was the right lap to box.”

‘Bad Luck For Checo’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/27/perez-had-the-race-under-control-until-bad-luck-with-safety-car/

Sergio Perez underlines his class as he reflects on rotten Saudi Arabian GP misfortune
By George Dagless
Published: 27 Mar 2022, 20:42

Spare a thought for Sergio Perez this Sunday evening who had a potential third career Grand Prix victory taken away from him through no fault of his own at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The Mexican put his Red Bull car on pole for the first time ever on Saturday night and led away at lights out on Sunday evening, with him building up a nice little cushion ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. Indeed, things were going really well for Perez who was driving superbly and he looked to have the race under control, before the racing gods intervened.

Ferrari called Charles Leclerc in to pit and so Red Bull made the same call to Perez to cover that move but, at the last moment, the Scuderia opted to stay out once they saw the Mexican had come in. That may not have cost him in normal conditions but, moments later, the Williams of Nicholas Latifi was in the wall and a Safety Car was called, allowing the likes of Leclerc, Verstappen and Carlos Sainz to take to the pits and change tyres whilst the rest of the field was well off of racing speed.

‘Sergio Perez Underlines His Class’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87989105-sergio-perez-underlines-his-class-as-he-reflects-on-rotten-saudi-arabian-gp-misfortune

Leader Perez left ‘hurt’ by Safety Car timing
Date published: March 28 2022 - Maria Bright

Sergio Perez put in a sterling lap in qualifying and seemed to have the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in hand, until the Safety Car came out. Red Bull were confident in the undercut strategy so Perez pitted, and Charles Leclerc in second place at the time stayed out, but a Virtual Safety Car was called, and then the full Safety Car, which meant Leclerc could pit at no harm to his position.

As quoted by GP Fans, Perez said: “[It was] just bad luck, bad timing [and] I felt I had the race under control then came this incident with Latifi…Basically, it hurt me and came at the wrong point of the race for me. As a driver, there’s nothing you can do.”

“We had everything in place and plenty of margin for the undercut, unfortunately, we couldn’t execute what we should have today.”

‘Hard luck today but that's racing @SChecoPerez Still a strong weekend and good points in P4’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio-perez-hurt-saudi-arabia-safety-car/

Fortitude

28th March 2022, 08:51

Hamilton ‘glad everyone’s safe and looking forward to getting out’ of Saudi Arabia.
In brief, Hamilton: “I just want to go home”.
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on 28th March 2022, 0:01
Written by Hazel Southwell

Following a stressful and worrying Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where drivers stayed late into the night at the circuit on Friday night debating whether the event should go ahead, Hamilton said he was pleased to move on after finishing a disappointing 10th on Sunday.

“I’m so happy the weekend is done,” said the Mercedes driver. “I’m also just so happy that everyone’s safe, and just looking forward to getting out.”

Hamilton refused to be drawn on whether the race should go ahead next year, saying that for now: “I just want to go home.”

‘Getting Out!’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/28/racefans-round-up-28-03-5/

Lewis Hamilton and other F1 drivers unhappy at racing in Saudi Arabia
• Missile strike hit Jeddah 10 miles from the circuit on Friday
• ‘I am just looking forward to getting out. I want to go home’
• Giles Richards
• Sun 27 Mar 2022 22.38 BST

Lewis Hamilton and other drivers have made it clear they still have serious misgivings about racing in Saudi Arabia. Formula One is facing clear dissent and unease about the meeting’s future with Hamilton stating: “I am just looking forward to getting out.”

The weekend had been dominated by a missile strike that hit Jeddah on Friday, 10 miles from the circuit, and almost resulted in a driver boycott of the race. With distaste at the regime’s appalling human rights record and fears for the safety of their teams, it took a four-hour meeting on Friday night before the drivers were ultimately placated and persuaded to race.

F1 is enormously keen to keep racing in Saudi Arabia given the reported $900m contract they have to do so but the pushback from the drivers after this weekend is palpable. “Of course, I am relieved [to have got through the weekend],” said McLaren’s Lando Norris. “It is a nervous place to be and you are going to have these nerves.”

‘Nervous Place To Be’;

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/27/lewis-hamilton-and-other-f1-drivers-unhappy-at-racing-in-saudi-arabia

Lewis Hamilton makes his feelings clear about Saudi Arabia GP
By Daniel Hepburn
Published: 27 Mar 2022, 12:02

If there’s one man you listen to in the Formula 1 world, it’s seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. He made his thoughts about the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and its lack of human rights very known to F1 fans across the world, who would tune in and listen to the British driver when expressing his views.

Hamilton is commonly known to champion equality and human rights, but in Saudi Arabia they are still very behind, and this didn’t seem to sit right with Hamilton.

It’s got to the point that experts and critics have become to question whether F1 should even operate in countries with poor political views and Hamilton already knows his answer to that question.

“Just "Looking forward to going home"…man doesn't wanna comment on dramas!! Sir Lewis Updates’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87988987-lewis-hamilton-makes-his-feelings-clear-about-saudi-arabia-gp

F1 boss blocked Lewis Hamilton interviews after Saudi Arabia meeting
By LUKE CHILLINGSWORTH
13:28, Sun, Mar 27, 2022

Lewis Hamilton was reportedly banned from talking to the media after F1’s decision to continue with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. A missile strike hit just miles from the circuit on Friday afternoon before FP2 got underway. Finnish tabloid newspaper Iltalehti says Hamilton was stopped from talking to reporters by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

They claim: “Stefano Domenicali made sure Hamilton was not allowed in front of the microphones". After a disappointing qualifying session, Hamilton was asked his views on the crisis.

He said: “I’m not here to comment on that. We worked together as a group, we all discussed and made a decision as a sport.” The drivers cancelled their media commitments after the crisis and were embroiled in four-hour talks with F1 bosses.

‘Stefano Domenicali made sure Hamilton was not allowed in front of the microphones!’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1586974/f1-news-latest-lewis-hamilton-mercedes-saudi-arabian-grand-prix

F1 will consider suitability of future venues with “rationality” after missile strike near Jeddah
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted on 27th March 2022, 17:00
Written by Keith Collantine

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali says the sport will consider any further response to the missile strike which put the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in doubt “in the right way.” Domenicali insisted the sport had put the safety of all involved before any other considerations.

“There’s been a lot of discussion, a lot of debate, but safety, security for all the people of our world is at the maximum level of attention to all of us. And there’s no discussion about it. It’s just the first priority.

“Of course, when you talk with the right authority, they have the responsibility for that in terms of the Ministry of Defence, the internal security. When we have received all the [as]surance that everything was under control the properly managed – and we need to rely on them because they have the responsibility for that – we inform the teams and the drivers and we move on.”

‘F1 Rationality’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/27/f1-will-consider-suitability-of-future-venues-with-rationality-after-missile-strike-near-jeddah/

Fortitude

28th March 2022, 14:30

This year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix deserves to be inscribed as one of Formula One's darkest moments.
Stefano Domenicali has been a fixture in the paddock for decades, but you wonder if F1's chief executive has any idea of the forces with which he is meddling by banking Middle Eastern riches so heedlessly.
Oliver Brown
March 28 2022 08:32 AM

Willingness to accept the sportswashing millions of the Middle East could soon come back to haunt the sport's chiefs

This sport has conjured many jarring juxtapositions in its time: think back to 1994, when, after Ayrton Senna's fatal accident, Martin Brundle was outraged that officials let the remaining cars speed past a pool of the Brazilian's blood. But there have been few spectacles quite so distasteful as staging motor racing next to a missile strike.

This year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix deserves to be inscribed as one of F1's darkest moments, and not just because of the sunlight eclipsed by the nearby inferno.

‘Darkest Moments’;

https://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/motor-sport/this-years-saudi-arabian-grand-prix-deserves-to-be-inscribed-as-one-of-formula-ones-darkest-moments-41494364.html

Rip-roaring Saudi GP action cannot make up for ridiculous decision to race in Jeddah.
Holding a world-famous sporting event in a country that is regularly attacked with missiles and drones is inexplicable in itself. That's before we even get onto the other reasons why a regime like the one in control of Saudi Arabia shouldn't be given such a platform to sportswash in the first place.

Mirror Sport's Daniel Moxon remains unconvinced about Formula 1 racing in Saudi Arabia despite the exciting action in Sunday's race
OPINION
By Daniel MoxonSports Writer
• 06:30, 28 Mar 2022

Friday gave us a very stark reminder of one of the many reasons why. The missile strike on an Aramco oil facility just a few miles from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which occurred while cars were out on track for the first practice session of the weekend, caused many people from online fans to some drivers themselves to question if it was even safe to hold a race in the city.

But the question – rightfully – was asked about why it was deemed safe to race in a country that is regularly bombed in such a manner in the first place. After all, the missile that hit on Friday afternoon was far from the only time such an incident has occurred. Ever since the Saudis led the intervention in Yemen which began in 2015, the Houthi rebels have been attacking cities across the Kingdom.

We cannot be naïve and pretend that cash doesn't talk, but it's hard to stomach so many major issues being overlooked for the sake of a money-spinning sporting event. The list includes, but is not limited to, the country's terrible human rights record, its backwards and archaic anti-gay laws and shocking incidents like the killing of U.S journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

‘Sportswash’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1/saudi-arabia-gp-safety-sportswashing-26569249

Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc entertain, but shadow hangs over Saudi Arabian GP
Nate SaundersF1 Associate Editor

It was a strange F1 race weekend, with the 48 hours before the race dominated by a missile attack on an oil depot just 10km from the circuit. At one point, it looked like F1's 20 drivers would refuse to take part in the event, and after agreeing to race they have demanded F1 reevaluate its decision to continue to race in the country long-term.

It's clear the issue will not simply be left in Saudi Arabia when Formula One leaves the country in the next 24 hours. Drivers have already agreed to discuss the future of the race with F1 in the coming weeks, and hopefully talks can be productive.

‘Shadow Hanging Over Missile Attack’;

https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/33610633/max-verstappen-charles-leclerc-entertain-shadow-hangs-saudi-arabian-gp

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Formula 1 drivers to hold talks with bosses over future of race
28/03/2022, 12:34
By Matt Majendie

Formula 1 drivers are set to hold discussions over the future of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after agreeing to yesterday’s race going ahead.

Race winner Max Verstappen was among those to raise doubts about a return to the Middle East country next season. He said: “We had a lot of guarantees that of course it would be safe but, after this weekend all the drivers together, we will speak with F1 and the team bosses to see what is happening for the future.”

Further down the grid, Lewis Hamilton could not have sounded less keen on racing in Saudi again. Along with Sebastian Vettel, who missed the race because of Covid, he has been the most outspoken driver against the Saudi regime. It is thought that the seven-time world champion was one of the strongest voices pushing for the drivers to boycott the race in the wake of the missile strike by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

‘Doubts Raised About A Return’;

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/formula-one/saudi-arabian-grand-prix-formula-1-talks-race-future-b990848.html

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Drivers to meet with Formula 1 bosses over concerns from weekend's race
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix went ahead as planned despite a rocket attack, claimed by Houthi rebels, on an oil facility less than 10 miles from the circuit during Friday's opening practice session
Last Updated: 28/03/22 1:27pm

The inclusion of Saudi Arabia on the Formula 1 calendar has been controversial since it first appeared ahead of the 2021 season due to the country's record on human rights.

Friday's rocket attack heightened concerns over the safety of the event too and although the rest of the Grand Prix passed off without incident, there are still questions the drivers want answering.

‘Answers’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/12576787/saudi-arabian-grand-prix-drivers-to-meet-with-formula-1-bosses-over-concerns-from-weekends-race

F1 bosses 'have NO PLANS to review' their £50m-a-year, decade-long Saudi Arabia Grand Prix deal, 'but have told them they must do more to convince drivers it's safe' after boycotts were threatened over a nearby missile strike
• Formula One has told Saudi Arabia that the kingdom needs to do more on safety
• F1 bosses have no plans to review their big Saudi Grand Prix deal, claim reports
• The country has a bumper £50million-a-year, decade-long contract to host races
• But there are wide safety concerns after practice was disrupted by a bomb blast
• It reportedly took a long meeting to persuade the drivers not to boycott the race
By Max Mathews For Mailonline
Published: 13:21, 28 March 2022

Formula One chiefs currently have no plans to review their bumper Saudi Arabia Grand Prix contract despite narrowly avoiding a driver boycott over safety concerns, according to reports.

Drivers had to be persuaded not to pull out of Sunday's race in Jeddah after Friday practice was affected by thick black smoke when an oil depot a few miles down the road was bombed by Yemeni Houthi rebels.

However, it was reported F1 chiefs are not planning to review the decade-long, £50million-a-year deal - one of the most lucrative in the sport - as things stand.

‘Decade-long, £50million-a-year, one of the most lucrative’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-10659779/Formula-One-bosses-NO-PLANS-review-50m-year-decade-long-Saudi-Arabia-GP-deal.html

Fortitude

29th March 2022, 07:22

Horner hails 'very, very hard work' as Red Bull bounce back in style.
Red Bull's Christian Horner has praised his team for responding to the disappointment of their Bahrain double retirement, after Max Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
28/03/2022, ‎07‎:‎00

"It was great to rebound after the disappointment of Bahrain," he told media, including RacingNews365.com, after the race.

"The team have worked very, very hard in the past week to understand and address, hopefully, the issues that we had.

"What a great race! It was a very strategic race for Max, not taking too much out of the tyres to make sure he had enough to attack at the end of the Grand Prix, and [we had] some great racing between him and Charles."

‘Red Bull Bounce Back’;

https://racingnews365.com/horner-hails-very-very-hard-work-as-red-bull-bounce-back-in-style

Christian Horner lauds ‘patient’ Max Verstappen after thrilling F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix victory
Daniel Austin
Monday 28 Mar 2022 10:08 am

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has lauded Max Verstappen’s ‘patience’ after the Formula 1 world champion took a late victory at the thrilling Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Horner says that his driver’s patience was key to securing the win. ‘That DRS is so powerful down the straight that you can see neither driver wanted to get it,” he told Sky Sports F1. ‘They actually braked and accelerated back towards the corner, so what a great race! It was an exciting last few laps but, thankfully, we just had enough to bring it home.’

‘It was a very patient race from Max,’ he said. ‘He looked after the tyres until the end of the race and then, after that last [virtual] safety car, he really went for it.’

‘Maximum ‘Patient’ Max’;

https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/28/christian-horner-lauds-patient-max-verstappen-after-thrilling-f1-saudi-arabian-grand-prix-victory-16356597/?ito=newsnow-feed

Red Bull set for ‘significant time gain’ in fight with Ferrari for F1 title
Daniel Austin
Monday 28 Mar 2022 4:12 pm

Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko says that the team is set to bring a significant car upgrade to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix which could give it a crucial advantage in Formula 1 title race with Ferrari. Marko says that a significant boost should come at the Imola race which follows the Australian Grand Prix.

“The Ferrari is a car that is always fast, in all conditions [regardless of] temperature or tyres,’ Marko told Austrian TV station Servus. ‘Our car is definitely more difficult to tune, but we will lose some weight in Imola. That should give us a significant time advantage, time gain in other words.”

“I think we are in a good position, but we have an almost equal opponent in Ferrari. [Charles] Leclerc is driving absolutely flawless this season, so it will be an exciting year.”

‘Significant Boost’;

https://metro.co.uk/2022/03/28/red-bull-set-for-significant-time-gain-in-fight-with-ferrari-for-f1-title-16359526/

Ferrari: Red Bull low downforce approach 'merits some analysis'
Michael Delaney
28/03/2022 at 17:49

Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto says Red Bull's decision to opt for a low downforce configuration for Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix "merits some analysis". "Max was on a slightly higher downforce level on Friday, and then he reduced it," Binotto explained, quoted by Motorsport.com.

"We decided ourselves to stay on a higher level of downforce, because we believed that was important for tyre degradation. But finally, in the race, the tyre degradation was very little.”

"I think that their choice somehow merits some analysis from our side. But overall, it's always a compromise. It's only a matter of details and the right pieces that can decide the race at the end."

‘Further Analysis’;

https://f1i.com/news/436874-ferrari-red-bull-low-downforce-approach-merits-some-analysis.html

Marko shares details about 'significant' Red Bull update
28/03/2022, ‎15‎:‎15

As their battle with Ferrari continues, Red Bull are set to work on one of the key issues that has been affecting their car, according to team advisor Helmut Marko.

"The Ferrari is a car that is always fast, in all conditions [regardless of] temperature or tyres," Marko told Austrian media outlet Servus TV. "Our car is definitely more difficult to tune, but we will lose some weight in Imola."

Marko is reluctant to predict how Red Bull with fare at Albert Park (Australia), but is anticipating an exciting race all the same. "I think it will be more or less like here [in Saudi Arabia]," Marko added. "It's all about who can get the car set up in the best possible way. The track has suited us in the past, but it is difficult. It will probably be particularly exciting again."

‘Working On Key Issues’;

https://racingnews365.com/marko-shares-details-about-significant-red-bull-update

Horner 'concerned' after multiple Honda engine issues
28/03/2022, ‎11‎:‎30
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is hopeful of fixes being identified and put in place after a spate of engine-related issues for their sister team.

The Red Bull Powertrains-badged engine in the back of the AlphaTauri is identical to that in the Red Bulls and, worryingly, was already Tsunoda's second power unit of the season, after he suffered an issue with his first unit during Friday practice.

On top of that, Pierre Gasly endured a stoppage in FP3, and had also taken on his second power unit for the campaign following a catastrophic fire at the Bahrain Grand Prix. "Of course, we're concerned about it," Horner told media, including RacingNews365.com, when asked about the issues with the engines.

‘Hoping For Fixes’;

https://racingnews365.com/horner-concerned-after-multiple-honda-engine-issues

Fortitude

29th March 2022, 16:19

Ferrari have been ‘beyond all expectations’ says Binotto.
“We have scored more points than Red Bull and Mercedes combined!” Mattia Binotto told motorsport.com.
Date published: March 29 2022 - Sam Cooper

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto says even he has been surprised by the team’s performance in the opening stages of the 2022 season. After two races, Ferrari have taken 78 points from a total of 88 available and both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc have been on the podium twice.

“I can say in summary we have collected 78 points out of 88 available – we have scored more points than Red Bull and Mercedes combined!” he told motorsport.com.

“The credit goes to a team that in three long weeks (we left for testing in Bahrain, then we stayed in Sakhir for the race and then moved to Jeddah) did a very solid job – the car worked, but also the pit-stops, the mechanics. In short, the strategies and engineering were of a high level. So I am very satisfied because we have collected so much, beyond all expectations.”

‘Scuderia Ferrari Scored More Points Than Red Bull and Mercedes Combined!’

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mattia-binotto-season-start-ferrari/

Binotto predicts how Ferrari/Red Bull battle will develop
28/03/2022, ‎16‎:‎45
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto reckons his team's close battle with Red Bull will come down to "fine details" as the season progresses. Asked where he felt the characteristics of the Ferrari and Red Bull differed, and how the Scuderia intend to take their developing knowledge of their opponent into consideration for future races, Binotto said that his team had made their downforce choice based on analysis.

The F1-75 has remained largely unchanged since it rolled out at the start of the first pre-season test in Barcelona, unlike Red Bull's RB18. The Milton Keynes-based outfit introduced a large update package for the final day of testing in Bahrain, which seemed to elevate their pace significantly.

But Ferrari are in no panic to respond with an upgrade package of their own just yet, with Binotto explaining that their calm approach is due to delaying spending as far into the season as possible in light of the budget cap. "It's not only a matter of when we'll be ready, but there's the matter of the budget cap and trying to make sure that we're not spending what we've got in the first races," he said.

‘Ferrari Spending Wisely’;

https://racingnews365.com/binotto-predicts-how-ferrari-red-bull-battle-will-develop

Red Bull guru Newey promises development war with Ferrari
28/03/2022, ‎10‎:‎45

Red Bull's Adrian Newey is expecting a close development war to play out between the team and Ferrari as the season goes on. After watching the fight unfold between Verstappen and Leclerc, Newey believes that the two teams were on a par in Jeddah.

"It was really tight, wasn't it?" Newey told Sky Sports F1 after the event. "The performance of our car and Ferrari's seemed to be absolutely identical through the whole race." In terms of what will give one team the edge going forwards, Newey is expecting development to play a key role.

"We saw it in Bahrain, we saw it here [in Saudi Arabia]," the Chief Technical Officer explained. "There seems to be so little to choose between the two of them. I guess it's just going to be a big development war now, but it's also a development war with one hand tied behind our backs, with the cost cap."

‘Develpoment War’;

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-guru-newey-promises-development-war-with-ferrari

Red Bull exposed Ferrari's 'bigger weaknesses' - Leclerc
Ian Parkes & Topher Smith
Tuesday 29 March 2022 15:25

Charles Leclerc believes Ferrari's weaknesses became "much bigger" when battling Max Verstappen's Red Bull for victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

On where Ferrari's deficit to Red Bull came from during the battle with Verstappen, Leclerc explained: "I think the point where we struggled the most is whenever Max got the DRS basically because our weaknesses were just bigger, the straight-line speed difference was much bigger.

"We were still quick in the corners, but not enough to have that margin to cover. So from that moment onwards, it was a bit more difficult for us."

Ferrari Weaknesses’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78970/red-bull-exposed-ferrari-s-bigger-weaknesses-leclerc/

Charles Leclerc's post-race comments summed up how fans feel about exciting start to F1 season
By George Dagless
Published: 28 Mar 2022, 09:38

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has summed up how F1 fans feel about the new season with him saying how exciting the Saudi Arabian GP was despite him finishing second.

“Oh my god! It was not enough today. I really enjoyed that race,” he said after the chequered flag. “It’s hard racing but fair. Every race should be like this. It was fun, I’m of course disappointed, we wanted to win today.

“We had two very different configurations with the Red Bulls. We were quite quick in the corner, but slow in straights. It was extremely difficult for me to cover Max in the straight. Max did a great job, it was a fun race.”

‘Fun Race’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87989103-charles-leclercs-post-race-comments-summed-up-how-fans-feel-about-exciting-start-to-f1-season

Leclerc strongly denies suggestions of a Ferrari 'bluff'
29/03/2022, ‎13‎:‎40
Author Thomas Maher

Charles Leclerc has made clear that Ferrari didn't bait Red Bull into pitting Sergio Perez from the lead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Given that Ferrari's tactic appeared to be a masterstroke, the obvious question was whether their appearance in the pits - combined with the radio message to Leclerc - was actually bait to get Perez out of the way. Leclerc, though, denied such suggestions during the post-race press conference.

"No, no. We were ready to pit," he told media, including RacingNews365.com. "I mean, yes, we basically went for the opposite to Checo [Perez] in front, and he boxed that lap, so yeah, I think we did the right choice."

‘Ferrari Didn’t Bait Red Bull’;

https://racingnews365.com/leclerc-hits-back-at-suggestions-of-ferrari-bluff

Fortitude

30th March 2022, 08:31

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admits it is 'extremely painful' not to be part of Formula One's 'fun games' at the front, with his team well off the pace of leading duo Red Bull and Ferrari two races into the 2022 season.
Toto Wolff has conceded that Mercedes' drop in pace at the start of the Formula One season has left him hurting at not being involved in the championship battle.
By Dan Ripley for MailOnline
Published: 08:55, 29 March 2022

Lewis Hamilton could only finish 10th in Saudi Arabia, with George Russell fifth. Wolff admits to feeling pain having to watch the championship battle from the outside. “We have had the luxury of being right in the middle of those fun games for the last eight years,” the Mercedes boss was quoted to have said by GPFans.

'Actually luxury is the wrong word. We were right in the middle of those fun games in the front, and talking as a Formula One stakeholder we're benefiting from a great show that is really spectacular to look at.”

“On the other side, it is extremely painful to not be part of those fun games by quite a chunk of lap time deficit. We're not going to rest until we are back in the mix. It is no fun at all and an exercise in humility. It's going to make us stronger even though it's not fun right now.”

‘Extremely Painful’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10662847/F1-Toto-Wolff-admits-extremely-painful-Mercedes-not-fun-games.html

The real reason why Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes can't keep up this F1 season
Tom Cary14:41, Mar 30 2022

When it was announced last May that Red Bull had nabbed another five Mercedes engineers for their new in-house engine facility at Milton Keynes, it was seen as a bit of a power play. Red Bull socking it to Mercedes, trying to topple the king. Following hot on the heels of Red Bull’s poaching of Ben Hodgkinson, head of Mechanical Engineering at Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, as technical director of the project, it prompted a natural question: just how significant was this ‘brain drain’ from Brixworth to Milton Keynes?

Toto Wolff, Mercedes’s team principal, played it very cool at the time. “We have 900 or so employees [at Brixworth],” he said, calmly. “And if you’re fishing out 15 of these or so, that’s pretty normal. They went mainly after manufacturing staff so it’s not really performance.”

But there were whispers, too, that Mercedes were down on power. Hamilton and Russell were the only two Mercedes-powered cars to finish in the top 10, while the bottom six finishers all had Mercedes engines. Coincidence?

‘Brain Drain Coincidence?’;

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport/300554110/the-real-reason-why-lewis-hamilton-and-mercedes-cant-keep-up-this-f1-season

Saudi Arabia weekend a “reflection of where we currently stand” – Mercedes’ Toto Wolff
By Paul Hensby
March 29, 2022

Toto Wolff reckons the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix result for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team highlighted just where the team are at this point of the season as George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and tenth respectively.

Wolff, the Team Principal at Mercedes, says the results in Saudi Arabia mean the team have a lot of work to do to play catch up to the leading two teams, both in Qualifying and in the races.

“Today’s race was the reflection of where we currently stand,” said Wolff. “The performance gaps seemed to be similar in qualifying and the race, and clearly there is a lot of work for us to do in order to get into the fight at the front.”

‘Work In Progress’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/saudi-arabia-weekend-reflection-of-where-we-currently-stand-mercedes-toto-wolff/

Villeneuve: Russell can handle the Mercedes, Hamilton not coping
Jad Mallak
29 March, 2022

Jacques Villeneuve believes that Lewis Hamilton is not coping with this year’s Mercedes W13, having had perfect cars for some time, while George Russell seems to handle it better.

“It will be interesting what the response will be in the team, because Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton are not used to this. We can say that competing for the prizes is no longer an option for Mercedes,” the Canadian added. “George Russell can still handle the car to some degree. Maybe that’s because of his years at Williams where he also had to drive a difficult car.”

“But Lewis Hamilton is not coping at all. He’s always had a perfect car, he never had to push because they were so much faster. In the race yesterday he did alright, but on Saturday he was nowhere to be seen,” the 50-year-old reflected.

‘Jacques Villeneuve: Lewis Hamilton Not Coping, Nowhere To Be Seen’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/29/villeneuve-russell-can-handle-the-mercedes-hamilton-not-coping/

Wolff explains "confusion" led to Hamilton "game over"
Sam Hall & Ewan Gale
Tuesday 29 March 2022 17:15

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has explained the "confusion" of Daniel Ricciardo and Fernando Alonso's failures that led to Lewis Hamilton facing "game over" at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion was knocked out in Q1 during qualifying but made amends through strategy early on at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, using a safety car period to continue on his hard tyres and make his way into the top 10.

looked like a late switch to mediums would consolidate much-welcomed points given the struggles experienced in the W13 over the weekend, before Hamilton was unable to make his stop when the pit lane closed as the McLaren and Alpine both stopped at pit entry.

‘Confusion’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79030/wolff-explains-confusion-led-to-hamilton-game-over/

Hakkinen: There’s been a power shift in F1 in 2022
Jad Mallak
29 March, 2022

Former double Formula 1 Champion Mika Hakkinen reflected on the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and believes there has been a power shift within the sport, as Mercedes took a step back.

“After two races we can see that there has been a power shift in Formula 1,” Hakkinen said in his Unibet column. “We knew from the opening race in Bahrain that Charles Leclerc is looking incredibly strong at Ferrari, well supported by team mate Carlos Sainz. But now that Red Bull seems to have to have solved the fuel vaporisation problem which caused both cars to return from the first race, they are just as competitive.”

“Mercedes have a significant set of problems to fix if they are to catch up with Red Bull and Ferrari. They need to do it quite quickly because the top two teams are going to be pushing so hard on their own development.”

‘Mercedes Power Shift, Step Back’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/29/hakkinen-theres-been-a-power-shift-in-f1-in-2022/

Mercedes F1 Team Boss Toto Wolff Believes Poor Form Has Humbled Reigning World Champs
29 Mar 2022, 08:43 UTC ·
by Sergiu Tudose

With two F1 races already in the bag this year, it’s clear that Mercedes-AMG are struggling to keep up with Red Bull and Ferrari. In terms of pace, it’s like Ferrari and Mercedes have swapped places from where they were in 2021, leaving the German outfit in kind of a no man’s land.

This past weekend in Saudi Arabia, George Russell finished the race fifth, while Lewis Hamilton could only manage P10 after recovering from his first Q1 knockout in over four years. Don’t get us wrong, it’s not that Mercedes look like a midfield team now, but rather they don’t look like title contenders anymore – same as Ferrari last year.

“We’re not going to rest until we are back in the mix. But you’re absolutely right: it’s no fun at all. [It’s] an exercise in humility, and it’s going to make us stronger in the end, even though it’s not funny right now.”

‘Not Going To Rest’;

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/mercedes-f1-team-boss-toto-wolff-believes-poor-form-has-humbled-reigning-world-champs-185121.html

Wolff sends message to Mercedes' rivals: We won't rest until we're back
‎28‎ ‎March‎ ‎07‎:‎45
Author Thomas Maher
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says it's "extremely painful" that his drivers aren't able to join in the battle at the front of Formula 1 as things stand.

Toto Wolff has vowed that his Mercedes team will not rest until they are able to rejoin the lead battle in Formula 1, having seemingly slipped from the pinnacle of the sport.

‘Vowed To Not Rest’;

https://racingnews365.com/wolff-vows-mercedes-wont-rest-until-were-back-in-the-mix

Fortitude

30th March 2022, 15:17

Alpine drivers leave Saudi with contrasting fortunes after ‘intense’ wheel-to-wheel battle.
It was a tale of two races for Alpine on Sunday as Esteban Ocon finished sixth, just a tenth ahead of Lando Norris, while Fernando Alonso retired from the race and was left wondering what could have been at Jeddah.
28 March 2022

The Grand Prix began with a brilliant wheel-to-wheel battle between the Alpines, Ocon and Alonso jostling aggressively but cleanly before the Frenchman was told to back off by his team. And neither driver was sour about the situation, both clearly excited to take each other on around the high-speed street circuit.

“Yes it was good. Obviously very intense,” said Alonso. “We had also in Bahrain another fight so… My car for whatever reason today felt a little bit faster that Esteban’s car so I had relatively more pace, tried to overtake and pull away, which is what I did, and concentrate on Bottas – he was very fast as well.”

‘EL PLAN: Told To Back Off’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alpine-drivers-leave-saudi-with-contrasting-fortunes-after-intense-wheel-to.3XMbNjBx9Wg9zzorHoXLe1.html

Alonso frustrated ‘two great races’ haven’t been rewarded
30/03/2022, 07:18
By Scott Mitchell

“I had two great races,” said Alonso. “One in Bahrain, but unfortunately with maybe the wrong strategy with the starting tyres that had been scrubbed that compromised my whole race, and also with an engine that was not great.”

“And now I was very fast in qualifying [in Saudi Arabia], very unlucky because some other people didn’t have new tyres in Q3 and the scrubbed set was the fastest.”

“So we had to overtake some cars and go back to our natural position this weekend, which was fifth or sixth. And then another retirement. I could be sixth or seventh in the championship and I’m not in that position,” he said. “And it’s not because we don’t deserve it. It’s just because we didn’t maximise the points.”

‘Two Great Races’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/alonso-frustrated-two-great-races-havent-been-rewarded/

Alonso rues giving ‘points to other teams’ in Saudi
Date published: March 28 2022 - Michelle Foster

Fernando Alonso was left to rue his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix retirement, the Spaniard saying Alpine “gave points to other teams”.

Having spent the bulk of Sunday’s 50-lap grand prix ahead of his team-mate Esteban Ocon, the Frenchman P6 on the night, Alonso was on course for a solid points finish at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. But it all came to zero on lap 36 when he reported lost pace and reported “no power”.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, we are still investigating,” he told the official F1 website. “We lost power and eventually the car stopped so let’s see what we can find. “The race was good until that point, we were fast, we felt competitive and unfortunately we lost a lot of points.”

‘Points Given Away’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernando-alonso-points-to-other-teams-saudi/

Szafnauer happy to let Alonso and Ocon race each other
Date published: March 28 2022 - Sam Cooper

Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer said he is happy to let his two drivers continue to race each other following the showdown during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“It was fine, it was clean,” team principal Otmar Szafnauer said as per The Race. “It’s what the fans want to see. And we told them at the beginning, we’ll allow them to race.”

“We were losing a little bit more time than anticipated. That’s a little bit because of the track specific stuff here and a little bit because the cars can follow each other easier now, which was the aim of the new regulations. And because of it, if you can follow easier, you can start overtaking each other one lap after the next.”

‘Happy Racing’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/otmar-szafnauer-alpine-saudi-arabia-battle/

Otmar Szafnauer delivers verdict after epic duel between Fernando Alonso & Esteban Ocon
By George Dagless
Published: 28 Mar 2022, 13:31

The early entertainment in the race around the Jeddah circuit was provided by the two Alpine drivers, as Alonso and Ocon squabbled lap after lap for position.

Indeed, in the end, it was Alonso who emerged victorious with Ocon told to hold position after Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa Romeo had closed up on them. Ocon had the last laugh, however, as he earned a P6 whilst Fernando had to retire and, post-race, Szafnauer said that he was happy with what he saw from the pair, and that the team had told them they were allowed to race at the beginning of the Grand Prix.

Szafnauer must have been a little nervous that the two were going to take each other off but, in the end, it was clean and certainly a spectacle to enjoy for fans.

‘Clean Racing’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87989262-otmar-szafnauer-delivers-verdict-after-epic-duel-between-fernando-alonso-esteban-ocon

Fortitude

31st March 2022, 11:49

"We can't be happy and therefore we're not," says Norris.
McLaren's inauspicious start to the season has had a detrimental effect on team morale admits Lando Norris, while insisting that the Woking outfit remains fully motivated.
NEWS STORY
30/03/2022

Determined to reclaim third spot from Ferrari and close the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull, McLaren's pre-season hopes appear to have been cruelly dashed as the Woking outfit lies eighth in the team standings.

"When you have points and you have success and you have podiums, then there's always a rise in morale," says Norris, who heads to Australia tenth in the driver standings.

"I don't think it's got worse," he insists. "I think there's expectations, of course, that's racing, we want to have success and do well. So we're never going to be as happy in P16 compared to if we were P8 or P7 or whatever, so there's always just a little bit of happiness gone.”

‘McLarens’ Expectations’;

https://www.pitpass.com/72154/We-cant-be-happy-and-therefore-were-not-says-Norris

The good, the bad and the ugly of McLaren’s miserable start to F1’s new era
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
March 30th, 2022 6:13 am

If you replay qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in slow motion, you can actually pinpoint the second Zak Brown’s heart rips in half. Dnial Ricciardo dealt the first blow, knocked out in P18. In an ambitiously hopefully moment Brown might have written it off to the Australian still recovering from COVID, but the knockout punch came only 15 minutes later, when Lando Norris was eliminated from qualifying in 13th.

In the space of about a week McLaren went from championship smoky to surprise backmarker, and though Saudi Arabia showed the car to be not quite as bad as Bahrain suggested, scrapping for minor points is a shatteringly long way from the target of regular podiums and victories. What’s gone wrong?
THE GOOD: February testing in Spain was a bright start for McLaren.
THE BAD: So when is a ‘good’ car not fast?
THE UGLY: McLaren’s shocker in Bahrain is unlikely to be repeated this season but is no less egregious for that fact.

‘THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY, THE MCL36’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-mclarens-miserable-start-to-f1s-new-era/news-story/b3b68f975788fa8e41b5c926241d5fef

McLaren apologise to Ricciardo as double points finish evaporates
‎28‎ ‎March‎ ‎14‎:‎30
Author Thomas Maher

Daniel Ricciardo was a contender for a possible points finish as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix reached its closing stages. Team boss Andreas Seidl was apologetic over letting Ricciardo down.

"We have to apologise to Daniel," Seidl said in his post-race debrief. "Without his mechanical failure we would have had both cars home in the points. We'll analyse the exact cause of his DNF when we're home."

"The end result was obviously not what I wanted, but this weekend was more promising and we performed better on this track," he explained.

‘Daniel Ricciardo Apology’;

https://racingnews365.com/mclaren-apologise-to-ricciardo-as-double-points-finish-evaporates

Norris: MCL36 was in ‘exact same place’ as Bahrain
Date published: March 30 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Lando Norris says the McLaren MCL36 did not improve between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, the latter track just suited it more. It has been an underwhelming start to the season for McLaren, who after two rounds find themselves P8 in the Constructors’ Championship with only six points.

Asked during the F1 Nation podcast how much of a surprise that P7 finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was, Norris replied: “I mean, after last week (Bahrain) you would say it was a surprise. But this week our pace was much better, so maybe not the biggest. I’m happy with it. I feel bad that I have to be happy with a P7.”

“The car is in exactly the same position as Bahrain, that’s the problem. If we went back to Bahrain, we’d still be out in Q1 and we’d be fighting for 16th and 17th like we were.”

‘Feel Bad That I Have To Be Happy With P7’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-norris-mcl36-track-comparison/

Lando Norris reveals stark visibility issues in late-race battle with Esteban Ocon
By George Dagless
Published: 28 Mar 2022, 09:57

Esteban Ocon and Lando Norris enjoyed an exciting battle over 6th and 7th place in the final moments of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, with Norris revealing after the race he had the added the dynamic of not being able to see very well out of the car to deal with.

It was a thrilling finish to the race for the pair, and Norris has revealed that he found it hard to see out of the car in the fight with Ocon, thanks to the cars that are harder to see out of and the way the Saudi track is set up with high walls and a lot of blind corners.

“What also had me over here is because the visibility is so much worse, as soon as I braked, I couldn’t see where Esteban was because you can’t see as far left,” Norris said to Sky Sports after the race.”

‘Visibility Issues’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87989177-lando-norris-reveals-stark-visibility-issues-in-late-race-battle-with-esteban-ocon

Ricciardo: Mercedes still got a bit to find in its power unit
Jad Mallak
30 March, 2022

Daniel Ricciardo believes Mercedes have still got to find more performance from their PU, as Mercedes-powered teams occupy the lower end of the grid after the first two races of the 2022 Formula 1 season.

“It’s no secret that Mercedes, let’s say, have still got a bit to find,” the Australian revealed, and claimed that Mercedes-powered teams are running lower drag setups to compensate for less power.

However, the Australian has faith that Mercedes can sort the PU out insisting: “Let’s say, in this situation, there are no better hands I would rather it be in.”

‘Got To Find More Performance’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/30/ricciardo-mercedes-still-got-a-bit-to-find-in-its-power-unit/

Fortitude

31st March 2022, 13:11

Gasly was “screaming with pain” from intestine over last 15 laps.
“The last five laps, it was just about surviving,” the AlphaTauri driver said in response to a question from RaceFans.
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Posted on
27th March 2022, 22:5728th March 2022, 13:30 | Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham

Gasly said he’d never experienced a pain like it before. “I had the feeling like every left turn there was someone stabbing me on the inside the intestine, so it was not nice.”

“It’s been the most painful last 15 laps of my entire career,” he added. “I don’t know what’s happened with my intestine, but I was dying inside the car. I was screaming because of pain.”

Despite his uncomfortable end to the race Gasly said afterwards he was “really happy” with his result, having dropped out of the top 10 early in the race but recovered to finish in the points.

‘Pain In The Intestine’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/27/gasly-was-screaming-with-pain-from-intestine-over-last-15-laps/

AlphaTauri provide update on Gasly after extreme pain
‎29‎ ‎March‎ ‎12‎:‎50
Author Thomas Maher

AlphaTauri have offered a fresh update on how Pierre Gasly is feeling, after the French driver struggled with extreme intestinal pain during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Approached by RacingNews365.com for an update on Gasly's condition, and whether the potential reason for his discomfort had been identified, a team spokesperson confirmed that the French driver has since recovered fully.

"[It was] nothing serious, just some intestinal pain, but [now] all [is] OK!" they commented.

‘All OK’;

https://racingnews365.com/alphatauri-provide-update-on-gasly-after-extreme-pain

Red Bull doesn't want to 'lose' Gasly - Marko
By GMM F1 | 5h

Dr Helmut Marko admits he is thinking about giving Pierre Gasly another chance at Red Bull's top Formula 1 team. The Frenchman, now 26, struggled alongside Max Verstappen in 2019 before his mid-season relegation, where he is now the solid team leader at the junior outfit Alpha Tauri.

F1 legend Gerhard Berger recently said Gasly is "good enough for another chance" at Red Bull, where the experienced Mexican Sergio Perez - Checo - is currently Verstappen's teammate. "Gerhard is right," Marko admits. "But at the moment we still have a contract with Checo.”

"We need to compare the performances of these two drivers. We still have until the middle of the year with Checo to do that." The latter comment implies that Perez's current one-year deal includes an option clause, which is typically activated by Formula 1 teams in the late summer.

‘Another Chance For Pierre Gasly’;

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/formula-1/red-bull/news/red-bull-doesnt-want-to-lose-gasly-marko_482025.html?newsnow

'I trust the team' – Gasly backs AlphaTauri to solve reliability issues after problems in Jeddah
29 March 2022

AlphaTauri’s weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a tale of contrasting fortunes for their two drivers as Pierre Gasly finished the race in P8, while Yuki Tsunoda stopped on his lap to the grid with a suspected drivetrain issue that ended his Sunday early.

“Not a big concern but clearly it is something we know [we’ve got to] improve, so I trust the team in finding the solutions going forward, it’s something we have to sort out together, but I am sure the team will find the right things to do for the rest of the year.”

Tsunoda, on the other hand, was frustrated... “It’s such a shame that we are having these problems two times in a row and for us it’s two rounds in a row. We cannot continue like this, we have to solve this issue as soon as possible, reliability issue, to have more consistent results.”

‘Reliability Problems’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.i-trust-the-team-gasly-backs-alphatauri-to-solve-reliability-issues-after.5E7EbTdVzYvDzkoMdnfaCV.html

Yuki Tsunoda urges AlphaTauri to improve reliability issues
By George Dagless
Published: 31 Mar 2022, 12:46

Yuki Tsunoda has urged his AlphaTauri team to try and get on top of the reliability issues they are having at the start of this new Formula 1 season.

That said, then, Tsunoda has urged his team to try and get on top of their current troubles. Speaking after the retirement in Saudi last weekend, he said:

“Even though I was starting P19, anything can happen, maybe it was possible to be in the points. It’s such a shame… in Bahrain, the race pace was quite good. From also my side, disappointed that I could not have the experience to improve myself, but it is what it is.”

‘Must Improve Reliability’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87990574-yuki-tsunoda-urges-alphatauri-to-improve-reliability-issues

Gasly’s Points Overshadowed as AlphaTauri Reliability Gremlins Continue
By Nick Golding
March 30, 2022

Pierre Gasly’s first points of the 2022 Formula 1 season were somewhat overshadowed, as team-mate Yuki Tsunoda failed to start the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after yet more reliability problems to his AT03.

Tsunoda failed to even make it to the grid, after experiencing reliability issues on the way round to take his spot. Tsunoda’s weekend was ridiculed by reliability issues, the Japanese driver didn’t even take part in Qualifying after issues arose with his AT03.

Scuderia AlphaTauri Team Principal, Franz Tost, “It was a difficult race for us, it’s always disappointing when a car isn’t able to make it to the starting grid. We had a problem on Yuki’s car with the oil pressure, therefore we had to stop. We now have to go away and investigate what the reason for this was.”

‘Gremlin Ridden AT03, Difficult and Disappointing’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/gaslys-points-overshadowed-as-alphatauri-reliability-gremlins-continue/

Fortitude

1st April 2022, 09:47

‘The rest is just like powder’: Steiner reveals eyewatering cost of damage to Schumacher’s Haas.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will cost the Haas team somewhere in the region of $500,000 to $1 million.
by Rob Kershaw
31 March 202231 March 2022

“I don’t know money-wise as yet but these cars, between gearbox, the whole bodywork’s gone, radiator. [The cost is] between half a million to a million [dollars] I would say.” This will come out of Haas’ budget for the 2022 season which, for all of the teams, sits at $140 million, down from $145 million last year.

However, Steiner confirms that the engine and the chassis are all that survived the scary accident, and the rest of the car was irreparably damaged. “The chassis in itself doesn’t seem to be broken, the side impact structure… the engine also, I was told from Ferrari, seems to be okay, the battery pack as well, and then all the rest is broken,” Steiner said.

The Italian cautioned that the cost to put the car back together will be steep. “I think the cost is still pretty high because all the suspension is gone, except the front left. I think there’s still something on there. The rest is just like powder, carbon powder,” he explained.

‘Carbon Powder’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/the-rest-is-just-like-powder-steiner-reveals-eyewatering-cost-of-damage-to-schumachers-haas/

Haas: More to lose then to gain from fixing Schumacher's car
Michael Delaney
27/03/2022 at 14:51

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says it "didn't make sense" for the US outfit to fix Mick Schumacher's car for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and risk compromising the team's next race in Australia.

While the 23-year-old was undergoing precautionary checks at a hospital in Jeddah, and with little chances of Schumacher scoring points in Sunday's event, Steiner made the wise call to withdraw his driver from Sunday's event and spare his team any further hardship in Jeddah or in two weeks' time in Melbourne.

"You could work all night and then find out you’ve compromised yourself so much because you did everything in a hurry," explained the Haas boss. "Then you end up with not all the spare parts in Australia, and then you have a little thing [happen] in Australia, and then you cannot race when you in theory should be in a better position. It doesn't make sense to me. It's just like trying too hard to call it."

‘Wise Call’;

https://f1i.com/news/436577-haas-more-to-lose-then-to-gain-from-fixing-schumachers-car.html

Haas explain decision not to let Schumacher race in Jeddah
‎28‎ ‎March‎ ‎10‎:‎00
Author Anna Francis
Co-author Dieter Rencken

After undergoing checks in hospital following his high-speed crash in Saturday's qualifying session ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Mick Schumacher was later released, but Haas boss Guenther Steiner has explained why the team opted against entering him into the race.

Steiner says there were "too many unknowns" in letting Schumacher race Steiner says that there were multiple factors in deciding not to enter Schumacher into the race.

"We made the decision not to race with Mick," Steiner told media including RacingNews365.com. "There are too many unknowns, about how he will feel, and there's nothing to be gained."

‘Too Many Unknowns’;

https://racingnews365.com/why-haas-opted-against-letting-schumacher-race-in-jeddah

“Spirits Are High” at Haas After Another Points Scoring Finish in Saudi Arabia
By Joe McCormick
March 30, 2022

Haas F1 Team principal, Guenther Steiner, has said that team morale is high at the moment, following a second consecutive points finish for the American racing team. With Kevin Magnussen finishing in ninth place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Steiner says that Haas “cannot wait” for the first grand prix at Melbourne in three years, where they are hoping to get both cars into the points.

“It was a good day again and we got some points. Obviously, we planned to have more but we’re happy with what we got and as long as we keep scoring, we’re happy,” the boss explained.

“We started on a different strategy – on the hard tire – to most of the other teams and unfortunately the safety car came out at the wrong moment. Nevertheless, Kevin and the team fought back to get into the points which was fantastic to see again. Spirits are high here and we cannot wait to get to Melbourne to hopefully score some more points with both cars.”

‘Spirits Are High’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/spirits-are-high-at-haas-after-another-points-scoring-finish-in-saudi-arabia/

Haas can be “at the front of the midfield” with 2022 car – Steiner
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on
31st March 2022, 0:01
Written by Hazel Southwell

Magnussen’s ninth-place finish on a less than ideal weekend for Haas in Jeddah shows they can lead the midfield this year, says Steiner. “Kevin didn’t drive an F1 car for a year, comes here, has never driven here, has a miserable Friday we did three timed laps. Then he goes out there and does this time in qualifying and couldn’t do a better lap because of his neck. And in the race he said ‘the car is just doing what I want it to do’.

“Obviously, there’s always things to improve. But he said it’s really nice to drive if you’re so competitive, he said ‘I can challenge all the time.’ So the car is pretty good and then it’s down to having a good week and finding the right set-up and getting the best out of it. If we get the best out of it, I would say we are at the front end of the midfield.”

In the round-up: Günther Steiner says Kevin Magnussen’s pace shows Haas only needs a good week to score a big result.

‘Good Pace, Big Result’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/03/31/racefans-round-up-31-03-5/

Steiner confirms two Haas cars will run in Melbourne
Date published: March 28 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Haas principal Guenther Steiner assured that the team can field two cars in the upcoming Australian Grand Prix. Steiner was asked then if this meant Haas could still struggle to put a new chassis together for the Australian GP, but he assured that Haas will be back up to two cars for that race.

“In Melbourne yes, Melbourne is no issue,” he told Channel 4 when asked if Haas have the parts for two cars at the Australian Grand Prix. We decided not to go out there tomorrow [for the Saudi Arabian GP] and focus on Melbourne, Melbourne will not be an issue.”

Schumacher acknowledged that 20 years ago, a crash like that may well have had a different outcome for him, such is the safety advancements of the modern Formula 1 cars. Steiner also hailed F1’s safety work and is aware that they and Schumacher got lucky, but when asked if the Jeddah track was unsafe, Steiner argued that risk is a part of motorsport.

‘Two Haas F1 Cars Running In Australia’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/two-haas-cars-confirmed-australian-gp/

Haas reveal new nickname for Magnussen after impressive return
Yesterday, ‎14‎:‎30
Author Anna Francis

With Steiner having initially hailed Magnussen's performance in Bahrain as a "Viking comeback", the Team Principal admits he has slightly changed the phrase to suit his driver's condition in Jeddah...

When asked how Magnussen was feeling after the 50-lap race, Steiner told the F1 Nation podcast: "He was quite sore. "He wanted to play it how we are [like] a Viking. I called him the Viking with the weak neck!

"But anyway, he was sore and it's one of these things, especially on this race track with the high speed corners. If you haven't driven one of these cars for a year, I think it is very demanding."

‘Viking Comeback’;

https://racingnews365.com/haas-reveal-new-nickname-for-magnussen-after-impressive-return

Steiner reflects on how long Haas can remain competitive
1st April 2022, ‎09‎:‎30

Haas have found themselves battling much further up the field in 2022 than in recent years, and Team Principal Guenther Steiner remains hopeful that this can continue.

When asked on the F1 Nation podcast how much longer the team can maintain their current form, Steiner light-heartedly asked: "Why should it stop? Why do you think we cannot keep it going?"

Presenter Tom Clarkson responded that Haas may have fewer resources than the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari, but Steiner thinks that the budget cap introduced for 2022 is helping to balance the field out in this respect. "We are not competing at the moment against Ferrari or Red Bull, but I think we can keep growing where we are now," the team boss explained.

‘Why Should It Stop?’;

https://racingnews365.com/steiner-reflects-on-how-long-haas-can-remain-competitive

Fortitude

1st April 2022, 12:15

Valtteri Bottas wants to rub salt in Mercedes' wounds as he targets fight with old team.
VALTTERI BOTTAS is keen to outperform his former team in Mercedes this season
By LIAM LLEWELLYN
06:57, Fri, Apr 1, 2022

F1’s Valterri Bottas is determined to beat Mercedes this season. The Finn left the Silver Arrows following the conclusion of the 2021 campaign after five years.

Bottas is keen to hit the ground running and believes his team have what it takes to give his former employers a run for their money. "We have what it takes to take on Mercedes and become the third power behind Red Bull Racing and Ferrari,” Bottas said. “That has to be our goal now."

"It's not just his speed," he told Speedweek.com. "It's mainly his attitude. He radiates so much positivity that the whole team gets involved." Speaking about his former team over the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix weekend, Bottas admitted he was surprised to see Merecdes struggling. “It’s weird to see,” he said following Hamilton’s elimination in Q1, as reported by grandprix247.com. “I would guess he had some kind of issue, I don’t know.

‘Bottas Determined to Bear Mercedes’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1589423/Valtteri-Bottas-Mercedes-targets-fight-old-team-f1-news

Mika Hakkinen raises concerns over Lewis Hamilton's 'very strange' Mercedes car
By STUART BALLARD
10:44, Tue, Mar 29, 2022

Mika Hakkinen felt it was "very strange" to see Lewis Hamilton struggling to battle his way through the pack at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Mercedes have begun the new 2022 season on the backfoot with Red Bull and Ferrari far out in front after two races.

"Mercedes have a significant set of problems to fix if they are to catch up with Red Bull and Ferrari," Hakkinen told Unibet. "They need to do it quite quickly because the top two teams are going to be pushing so hard on their own development.”

‘Very Strange Mercedes’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1587843/Mika-Hakkinen-Lewis-Hamilton-F1-news-Mercedes-W13-Saudi-Arabian-Grand-Prix

Bottas: Strong Alfa Romeo F1 form is “best case scenario”
Valtteri Bottas admits that the strong early form of his Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team in 2022 represents “the best case scenario” in terms of what he expected going into the season.
By: Adam Cooper
Mar 30, 2022, 4:50 PM

After losing his Mercedes drive to George Russell, Bottas had a choice between Alfa Romeo and Williams for this year, and he eventually opted for the Swiss-based team.

Bottas said the team can aim to take on Mercedes and lead the chase of Red Bull and Ferrari in the fight for the third-best team on the grid. "I think that needs to be the target now," he said. "We seem to be more or less in the same place as in Bahrain, even though I thought this could be maybe more difficult.

“I think aiming to be the best of the rest is a good motivation, and good targets. Hopefully, we eventually can fight for fifth position in the race. That would be a big step for us."

‘Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Positive’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/bottas-alfa-romeo-strong-early-form/9458488/

Valtteri Bottas offers thoughts on Mercedes' current struggles
By George Dagless
Published: 28 Mar 2022, 13:15

Alfa Romeo and Haas look more like Mercedes’ rivals, as well as the likes of Alpine, and that just shows the kind of shake-up we have seen thanks to the new regulations in the sport.

Bottas, of course, is one man to be benefitting from that with him scoring points on his debut race in Bahrain for the team and also challenging again inside the top 10 before his car gave up on him due to overheating issues.

Clearly, the switch has worked out nicely for him and he admits it is strange seeing a team that he knows so well in Mercedes struggling.

‘Alfa Romeo Switch Working Well’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87989292-valtteri-bottas-offers-thoughts-on-mercedes-current-struggles

Bottas was 'looking good' for P6 in Jeddah ahead of DNF
Michael Delaney
29/03/2022 at 09:53

Valtteri Bottas believes he was on track for a P6 finish in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix before a cooling issues ruined his efforts.

The Alfa Romeo driver had launched his race from eighth on the grid and then gained a position during his first stint on the medium tyre when he slotted himself between the dueling Alpine duo of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon.

He remained among the top-ten thereafter and reckons he could have targeted P6 but for a cooling issue that forced Alfa to retire the Finn's car on lap 36 of 50.

‘P6 Looking Good’;

https://f1i.com/news/436895-bottas-was-looking-good-for-p6-in-jeddah-ahead-of-dnf.html

Bottas retired from Saudi to save the engine
Date published: March 30 2022 - Michelle Foster

Alfa Romeo made the call to retire Valtteri Bottas’ C42 in Saudi Arabia to hopeful save him from a late-season engine penalty. Fighting for sixth place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the Finn pulled into the pits with on lap 46 to retire his Alfa Romeo.

He told F1 TV: “It was a good race until we saw the issue with the engine temperature, it started to go up. It was initially a small rise in the engine temp but that it was rapid and even with lift and coast and finding clean air it was going up to the point that the engine was at risk of failing. We retired the car to not lose the engine, that was the only option.”

He qualified inside the top ten, P8, and was racing for sixth place when he retired the car. “I think performance wise compared to other teams it felt quite similar to Bahrain,” he said. “I think we are fighting for sixth place more or less. It was good to see that even with this different track, more high speed, we are up there fighting. That gives me hope for the coming races and I think we are not in a bad place.”

‘Up There Fighting, Gives Hope’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/valtteri-bottas-saudi-dnf-avoid-engine-penalty/

Fortitude

1st April 2022, 13:38

BLUNT “The fish always stinks from the head” – Ex-Formula 1 team boss hits out at Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll saying they’re ‘going nowhere’ under his leadership.
Aston Martin are ‘going nowhere’ under Lawrence Stroll, according to former Formula 1 team boss Colin Kolles.
Phil Spencer
31st March 2022, 2:49 pm

Speaking to SPORT1, Kolles said: “It won’t work anymore. You have a team owner who thinks he is the team boss, who knows everything better and thinks he should put his son up front with all his might.”

“For me, that is the completely wrong approach. The fish always stinks from the head. I can see the racing team going nowhere.”

“As long as Mr Whitmarsh is in charge and Mr Stroll doesn’t see that he should be staying at home and only giving budgetary guidelines and letting people work who know their stuff and get the right people to lead the team, it will never work in life.”

‘Stinking Fish’;

https://talksport.com/sport/motorsport/1076408/

“I don’t think he wants to drive”: Ex-team principal claims Vettel doesn’t want to return to Aston Martin
Former Force India team principal Colin Kolles has given his verdict on the current state of affairs at Aston Martin, insisting that owner Lawrence Stroll is too heavily involved in the operation.
by Rob Kershaw
30 March 2022

Kolles suggests that Vettel has no interest in returning from his COVID-enforced break to drive what looks a dire 2022 machine.

“I don’t think he wants to drive at all. He just doesn’t want to do that to himself,” he said in conversation with Sport1.

“It’s certainly a very daring thesis but I’m sure that he thinks a lot about whether he should still be doing what he’s doing.”

‘A Very Daring Thesis’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/i-dont-think-he-wants-to-drive-ex-team-principal-claims-vettel-doesnt-want-to-return-to-aston-martin/

Ralf’s advice to Aston Martin: ‘Stick with Hulkenberg’
Date published: March 30 2022 - Jon Wilde

Ralf Schumacher has doubled down on his opinion that Aston Martin should keep Nico Hulkenberg as one of their race drivers. The 46-year-old Sky Germany pundit had said after the Bahrain Grand Prix that team owner’s son Lance Stroll should find himself a “different hobby”.

The four-time former World Champion should be available again for the Australian Grand Prix on April 10 and, therefore, The Hulk would naturally be the man to make way. However, Schumacher “hopes” to see Vettel back in Melbourne – but also says he would keep Hulkenberg in a race seat.

Aston Martin are enduring a poor start to the campaign having collected zero points from the first two races – they and Williams being the only teams yet to score.

‘Stick With Hulkenberg’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ralf-schumacher-nico-hulkenberg-aston/

Vettel on Saudi GP: ‘How independent can you be when you’re on the payroll?’
Controversy has surrounded Formula 1's decision to race in Saudi Arabia.
by Rob Kershaw
28 March 202228 March 2022

Vettel suggests that it is difficult to simply withdraw from commitments in a country, and sees the significance of making a tangible difference in the nations Formula 1 visits.

“How independent can you be when you’re on the payroll?” he told ARD in Germany.

“You can say ‘boycott, don’t even go there’. On the other hand, you can go there and represent our Western values, show our freedom and stand up for it.

‘On the Payroll’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/vettel-on-saudi-gp-how-independent-can-you-be-when-youre-on-the-payroll/

Vettel - Why F1 missed four-time champion during illness
Ewan Gale
Friday 1 April 2022 11:45

Sebastian Vettel will return to the F1 grid for the Australian Grand Prix after missing the first two races of the season after contracting Covid-19. The German was absent from the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabian and was replaced at Aston Martin by Nico Hulkenberg.

Over the past two or three seasons, Vettel has put himself forward as a leading voice for the sport when it comes to sensitive topics. Firstly, as a Grand Prix Drivers' Association director, anything Vettel says when tackling issues and concerns carries weight.

He even held a karting event for women only in Saudi Arabia last year which was an incredible visual demonstration against human rights abuses in the Kingdom given that women have only recently been permitted to drive.

‘Vettel Returns’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79235/vettel-why-f1-missed-four-time-champion-during-illness/

Hulk: Vettel will need to ‘dig a bit deeper’ on return
Date published: April 1 2022 - Jon Wilde

Sebastian Vettel will “need to dig a little bit deeper” to make up for lost time this season says his Aston Martin stand-in, Nico Hulkenberg.

In Vettel’s absence, his fellow 34-year-old German – and junior by 47 days – Hulkenberg has deputised, finishing 17th and 12th respectively. Although he described himself after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as “the old rusty guy”, The Hulk’s results were more down to the car’s lack of competitiveness than his own driving.

“Obviously he’s lacking those two races so he will start a little bit on the back foot,” said Hulkenberg, quoted by Motorsport Week. “But I think, you know, he’s very skilled, very talented. I think he’s capable of catching up, but for sure he has a bit more work to do and he needs to dig a little bit deeper to try and make up for it.”

‘Digging Deep, Digging Deeper’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sebastian-vettel-dig-deeper-return/

Fortitude

2nd April 2022, 08:53

Saudi Arabian GP: Double DNF for Williams racing.
Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi both retired from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
By Williams Racing
March 28 2022

After a tough weekend in the leadup to the 2022 Saudi Arabian GP the Williams Racing Team was remaining positive going into Sundays race. Well the race ended with just about the most disappointing result for the team with both Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi retiring. Nicholas would crash early in the race when his car was to snap into oversteer with the end result been the car being sent into the barrier.

For Alex he would attempt a pass on the Aston Matin of Stroll with the end result being the cars making contact and Alex coming away with a damaged right front wheel. Such was the dame that he was forced to stop at the side of the track. Simply said definitly not the result the team was hoping for.

On top of this disappointment was the announcement that Alex would receive a three grid place penalty in Australia as penalty for his part in his accident.

‘Double DNF’;

https://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s107/st203082.htm

Latifi branded ‘FIA industry plant’ after costing Perez victory in Saudi Arabian GP
Sergio Perez lost the lead of the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to a Safety Car caused by Nicholas Latifi.
by James Clifford
28 March 202228 March 2022

There was a slight sense of déjà vu at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend, as Nicholas Latifi collided with the barrier and turned the race on its head. This follows on from the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December when Sir Lewis Hamilton was comfortably leading Max Verstappen in the dying moments of the race, and Latifi crashed at Turn 14, extracting the Safety Car.

“Latifi’s an FIA industry plant they’ve hired him for entertainment purposes,” tweeted Niran, a YouTuber and part of Lando Norris’ Quadrant group.

“His timing is immaculate,” replied one user, with another joking that he was “developed by Netflix,” who have become notorious for manipulating storylines to manufacture drama.

‘Timing Is Immaculate’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/latifi-branded-fia-industry-plant-after-costing-perez-victory-in-saudi-arabian-gp/

Rosberg to return with Williams, Latifi gets demoted
Editor
1 April, 2022

The 2022 Formula 1 season just keeps on giving with the latest sensational news that 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg will return to the grid with Williams replacing badly-performing Nicholas Latifi.

The former Mercedes driver, who began his F1 career with Williams at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix, returns to the team with whom his father Keke Rosberg won his F1 world title.

The move comes about as Latifi, in the wake of a crash-packed first two rounds of the F1 season, realises he is a liability to the team and its development. The billionaire’s son stepped down to the role of Williams reserve to allow Rosberg to team up with newcomer Alex Albon.

‘April Fools’ Joke’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/01/rosberg-to-return-with-williams-as-latifi-gets-demoted/

'I don't regret the move' says Albon – despite grid penalty for contact with Stroll
28 March 2022

Alex Albon has received a three-place grid penalty for April’s Australian Grand Prix as a result of his late-race move on Lance Stroll in Saudi Arabia and, despite the incident putting him out of the race, the Williams driver said he wasn't regretful.

Albon dived to the inside of Stroll into the opening chicane, spinning the Aston Martin driver out of P11 and ending his own race prematurely – also bringing out yellow flags in Sector 1 that impacted the lead battle between Charles Leclerc and eventual winner Max Verstappen.

After the race, a defiant Albon said: “It was a strong defence, but it's fine. I went for the move. Honestly, we are struggling because we are not great on the brakes, but I went for it. We were fighting for points at the end, and, at least… get some points on the table. I don't really regret the move – for me it was a racing incident.”

‘Racing Incident’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.i-dont-regret-the-move-says-albon-despite-grid-penalty-for-contact-with.3ijkgKseEjCjnPR6rrEPpu.html

Albon on Stroll Contact: “The points were almost there, and we had to go for it”
By Paul Hensby
April 1, 2022

Alexander Albon felt he had a ‘pretty quick’ car towards the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the Williams Racing driver was unable to convert that into points as he ended the day in retirement after contact with Lance Stroll as the duo battled over eleventh place.

Despite the disappointing end to the race, Albon believes Williams do have a ‘decent car’ when they are able to get it into the right window, and it will be up to them to find that window early every weekend if they are to become genuine top ten contenders.

“We were trying to fight our way into the points at the end and I went for the move with Lance,” reflected Albon. “He made a strong defence and unfortunately, we made contact. We had to retire due to the puncture, but the points were almost there, and we had to go for it.”

‘Points Were Almost There’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/04/albon-on-stroll-contact-the-points-were-almost-there-and-we-had-to-go-for-it/

JV: Latifi’s ‘rookie errors’ and Ocon’s ‘illogical’ fight
Date published: March 30 2022 - Michelle Foster

Nicholas Latifi is making “rookie errors rather often” says Jacques Villeneuve, but at least he provides “some excitement” in the grands prix.

“Nicholas Latifi’s accident was strange,” Villeneuve said in his latest Formule1.nl column. “He seems to make these kinds of rookie errors rather often.”

“It didn’t even look like an F1 accident, more like he was surprised by the new cars. Let’s put it this way – he always provides some excitement.”

‘Excitement, though, that Sergio Perez could have done without.’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jv-latifis-rookie-errors-and-ocons-illogical-fight/

Fortitude

2nd April 2022, 12:20

Formula One hits the jackpot in Las Vegas after sealing a deal worth £1BILLION over 10 years for a Grand Prix along the famous Strip starting in 2023, the biggest payday in the sport's history.
It is believed the race, held on Vegas' famous Strip, could generate around £100million per race
By Jonathan McEvoy for the Daily Mail
Published: 03:30, 31 March 2022

In a break with recent tradition, the 50-lap extravaganza will take place on a Saturday on one of the two last weekends in November, probably at 10pm local time — scheduling that guarantees F1 mass projection.

While Domenicali is cock-a-hoop at landing the fabled venue for the glamour it lends the sport, the financial rewards are eye-watering owing to the terms of the contract. Rather than receive a fee from the host city, as is usually the case, F1 will themselves promote the event.

Sources believe this could accrue more than £100million per race. If the arrangement lasts for a decade, as is minimally hoped, the billion-pound mark should be exceeded, making Las Vegas the most lucrative grand prix ever.

‘One Billion Dollar Race Series’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10669875/F1-Las-Vegas-Grand-Prix-confirmed-year-racing-chiefs-hit-jackpot-1bn-deal.html

Formula 1: Huge announcement ends 38-year drought
by Asher Fair
2nd April 2022, 11:35

Formula 1 announced earlier this week that a street race will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada for the first time since 1982, and that wasn’t the only thing that got fans talking. After months of speculation, Formula 1 finally confirmed the addition of a third race in the United States to the 2023 schedule earlier this week.

In addition to traveling to Circuit of the Americas and Hard Rock Stadium for races in Austin, Texas and Miami, Florida, Formula 1 is set to travel to the famous Las Vegas Strip for a race in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Formula 1 has raced in Las Vegas before, but this race is set to be contested at a much different track. The Caesars Palace Grand Prix was contested around a 14-turn, 2.268-mile (3.650-kilometer) parking lot circuit in 1981 and 1982. It left the Formula 1 schedule and became a CART race in 1983 and 1984. The circuit for next year’s race is a 14-turn, 3.8-mile (6.116-kilometer) temporary street circuit.

‘41 Year Wait!’;

https://beyondtheflag.com/2022/04/02/formula-1-huge-announcement-ends-38-year-drought/

Peugeot mulling 2026 entry into Formula 1!
Michael Delaney
01/04/2022 at 08:19

The rumor mill is in full overdrive this morning in France, with whispers that Peugeot Sport is considering an entry into Formula 1 from 2026! Grand Prix racing's current power unit cycle will run until the end of 2025, after which the sport will usher in its next-generation engines, based on a less complex and less expensive regulation platform that that has attracted the interest of multiple manufacturers, including Porsche and Audi, and now Peugeot.

Formula 1's future power unit will likely no longer feature the costly and complicated MGU-H hybrid element, but will include an MGU-K component that will see its capability augmented to 350 kw/h (476 bhp) of power, a significant boost from the current 120 kw/h (163 bhp) threshold.

The increase in electrification is a key argument to attract new manufacturers and one that is highly apparently appealing to Peugeot, as well Formula 1's move to a 100% sustainable fuel from 2026.

‘Peugeot Sport Whispers’;

https://f1i.com/news/437039-peugeot-mulling-2026-entry-into-formula-1.html

Drivers seeking to have a voice on where Formula 1 races
Phillip van Osten
30/03/2022 at 18:06

After last weekend's drama in Saudi Arabia, Formula 1 drivers are reportedly seeking to have an input on where the sport races in the future. The Grand Prix Drivers Association convened last Friday in Jeddah after the opening day of running at the track that was marked by a missile attack perpetrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels on a nearby Saudi Aramco oil storage facility.

The meeting that ran into the early hours of Saturday brought to the fore the worries of many drivers over the risks of racing Saudi Arabia.

The group ultimately decided to continue the race weekend, having received assurances from Saudi authorities and F1, but it was also promised by the latter that further discussions would take place in the coming weeks about the safety risks or the merits of racing in certain countries.

‘Grand Prix Drivers Association Input’;

https://f1i.com/news/436981-drivers-seeking-to-have-a-voice-on-where-formula-1-races.html

Domenicali: 'No one can judge Formula 1's morality'
Phillip van Osten
28/03/2022 at 19:07

Stefano Domenicali says "no one can judge F1's morality" on the basis of its commercial relationship with Saudi Arabia, insisting the sport isn't blind to the controversies surrounding the country's presence on Grand Prix racing's calendar.

"No one can judge our morality, to be honest," argued F1's chief executive. "It is a matter of putting in place all the things that have to be considered.”

"Where is the line? That is the question. Our position, and it will always be, is that we believe that what we’re doing will have a very positive impact in all the political situations for the best of our life and at all levels. This will always be the consideration we will take for our future in the sport, all over the world."

‘F1’s Morality’;

https://f1i.com/news/436880-domenicali-no-one-can-judge-formula-1s-morality.html

Morals be damned as F1 continues to dodge unpleasant Saudi truths
Organisers claim to bring positive impact but little evidence sport changes regimes
The drivers may be the stars of the show but when considering the fallout from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix they should have no illusions as to where they stand in the eyes of the people running Formula One. A sport which now declares its moral stance beyond judgment will have no fear of putting pay day before the men delivering the show on track.
Wed, Mar 30, 2022, 20:13
Giles Richards

There was clear distaste from some in even being in Saudi Arabia, expressed once more by Lewis Hamilton, who was blunt in noting at the end of the weekend that he was: “just looking forward to getting out”. That statement that will sit uncomfortably with the Saudi ambition of selling their state as a destination for the post-oil future.

Domenicali as good as spelled this out when when asked if there was a question mark over the future of the race in Saudi Arabia. “It is a matter of understanding the situation,” he said. “We are not blind, but we should not forget one thing: this country and the sport is taking a massive step forward. You cannot pretend to change a culture of more than a millennium in the blink of an eye.”

This is F1’s most hackneyed refrain, that they can effect positive change. Yet their argument is not backed up by any evidence. Jonathan Grix, professor of sport policy and politics at the Manchester Metropolitan University, argues the Saudis are sportwashing and that F1 is complicit.

‘Sportswashing Complicity’;

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/morals-be-damned-as-f1-continues-to-dodge-unpleasant-saudi-truths-1.4840457

F1 star Lewis Hamilton reveals mental health struggles after Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Ryan Young ·Writer
1 April 2022, 0:12 am

Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton spoke out on Thursday about his struggles with mental health, something he said he’s been dealing with “for a long time.”

Hamilton, following his 10th place finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, wrote a message on his Instagram story on Thursday morning.

Hamilton’s post comes after a wild weekend in Saudi Arabia — where the race nearly didn’t happen at all.

‘‘Mental Health Struggles’;

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/f-1-star-lewis-hamilton-reveals-struggles-with-mental-health-after-saudi-arabian-grand-prix-231214595.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9jLm5ld3Nub3cuY28udWsv&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMZoTPCJa0CqpAfsVX4sOyUB2xCp B08WXrLrvUgzuH6wezT7cYWOWKrfl3UTECPnlIof5RipZtkiz2 ZgeMBnVBKwLU6EtwHIl3w51giKPPygUb6kMCWYO46lzrGr2JFd jlzc-68FOnqmIgeqQP5NgC5iEHiF155TMvzjyf1tsqWi

Fortitude

2nd April 2022, 18:05

Lewis Hamilton To Quit Mercedes For Better Team After 2022.
In a surprise move nobody saw coming, Sir Lewis Hamilton announced that he would not renew his contract with the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 team.
April Fools' Day
by Gerhard Horn

Hamilton is not retiring, however. Instead, he signed a contract with Red Bull, replacing Sergio Perez. Perez's contract expires at the end of 2022, leaving a spot open for a top-tier driver.
Pierre Gasly must be highly disappointed, as he was the number one driver in contention for the coveted Red Bull spot. Gasly drove for Red Bull briefly in 2020 before being demoted to the team's red-headed stepchild, AlphaTauri.

According to Hamilton, the main reason behind the move is Max Verstappen. As Verstappen is the number one driver and Christian Horner's golden boy, Hamilton knows he'll play a supporting role in the 2023 season.

"That's what convinced me to move from a manufacturer to an energy drink," said Hamilton. "As the second driver, there's a 100% guarantee that I'll always be behind Verstappen. And even if I pass him while he's boxing, the pit crew will give me enough warning when he's coming up behind me."

‘Quiting Mercedes’;

https://carbuzz.com/news/lewis-hamilton-to-quit-mercedes-for-better-team-after-2022

Hamilton - F1 like a "theme park"
Ewan Gale
Friday 1 April 2022 16:30

Lewis Hamilton has likened F1 to a "theme park" and insisted the sport "never gets boring".

Asked if he ever gets bored of racing in F1, Hamilton explained: "I don't get tired of racing because there are so many elements to the job, it is not just racing and going round in a circle as people think. "You are working with a large group of people, there are photoshoots, you are travelling to all these destinations, there's a training regime.

"Then you get to do the fun part, which is the racing part which is like going to a theme park every weekend and riding a different rollercoaster. There are all these different tracks and you are finding new challenges so it never gets boring."

‘Rollercoasters In Theme Parks’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79264/hamilton-f1-like-a-theme-park/

‘Superior engine camouflaged’ Hamilton’s bad weekends
Mercedes have been a considerable distance adrift of Red Bull and Ferrari so far in 2022.
by Rob Kershaw
30 March 202230 March 2022

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher is enticed by the early indicators of George Russell’s competitiveness at Mercedes, but emphasises that the championship is far beyond them at this stage.

Mercedes have been a particular victim of the “porpoising” problem that the new ground effect aerodynamics pose, and that proclivity has opened a Pandora’s Box of multiple other setbacks as they scramble to try and find a rapid solution that will aid their ascent back up the order.

Schumacher is enthused by the dynamic at the Silver Arrows now that we have seen a glimpse of the 24-year-old’s auspicious potential at Mercedes.
“Russell is also showing that Hamilton has a teammate at eye-level, which will be exciting to watch,” he said. “Russell is not someone who will be content with his current position of the second driver.”

‘Pandora’s Multiple Setback Box’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/superior-engine-camouflaged-hamiltons-bad-weekends/

How long will Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton's F1 2022 misery last?
Prior to the start of the 2022 Formula 1 season, the prospect of Mercedes being out of contention for wins was unthinkable, yet that is exactly where the German manufacturer finds itself after two races.
F1
Lewis Larkam
1 Apr 2022

Mercedes is struggling to get consistent performance out of its W13 challenger, which has been suffering from severe porpoising. The team is confident the car has inherent pace, but has been having to run with a compromised set-up that is masking the W13’s true potential in a bid to reduce the bouncing problem.

The Mercedes power units have also been curiously down on the straights, with both the works’ cars and its customer teams struggling in terms of top speed. But it is porpoising that is causing Mercedes the biggest headache.

"There's so many factors at play between the mechanical stiffness of the car and then the stiffness of the floors, the design of the floors, tyre pressures," Russell explained after the Saudi Arabian GP.

‘Mercedes Misery Struggles’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/999816/1/how-long-will-mercedes-and-hamiltons-f1-2022-misery-last

‘It’s not just pure talent’: Ex-Hamilton team-mate tips him to bounce back after abysmal Saudi GP performance
Heikki Kovalainen spent two years racing alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, winning the 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix.
by Rob Kershaw
31 March 202231 March 2022

Sir Lewis Hamilton’s former McLaren team-mate, Heikki Kovalainen, is full of admiration for the Briton having spent two seasons alongside him. Kovalainen was out-qualified 26 times in 35 races by Hamilton in 2008 and 2009 as the now 37-year-old claimed a world championship and seven wins, including two in their abysmal 2009 campaign.

“Occasionally I could match him but over the full season I had to stretch every session to match him,” he told talkSPORT. “You can only do so much stretching and then you run out of energy and that was the case with me, I didn’t have enough margin in my capacity to do the times and the races that he did, so it was not easy.

“His level of performance is so high that even for super talents like Max [Verstappen] it requires a lot of effort, a lot of focus, a lot of energy, so it’s not going to be easy, not everyone can handle that, it’s as simple as that.”

‘Can Only Do So Much Stretching’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/its-not-just-pure-talent-ex-hamilton-team-mate-tips-him-to-bounce-back-after-abysmal-saudi-gp-performance/

Wolff on Mercedes and Hamilton’s struggles: ‘The overall picture is sobering’
Mercedes need to "regroup" after an extremely challenging opening two rounds of the 2022 season.
by Rob Kershaw
1 April 20221 April 2022

Toto Wolff laments that the outlook for his Mercedes team looks fairly dire at the moment, but he is determined to put in the hours and climb back to the top of the tree as soon as possible. Mercedes have struggled enormously with the new technical regulations, and have looked especially caught out by the new ground effect aerodynamics.

It is estimated by the Italian edition of Motorsport.com that the floor accounts for 60 percent of the downforce this season, which explains why the wing alterations made by the team in Saudi Arabia did not seem to help their cause in any way.

Team Principal Wolff is concerned. “The overall picture is sobering, and it’s clear that we need to continue working hard if we wish to deliver a stronger performance in Melbourne,” he said, as quoted by RacingNews365.com.

The Floor Accounts For 60 Percent Of The Downforce’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-on-mercedes-and-hamiltons-struggles-the-overall-picture-is-sobering/

Wolff: Hamilton and Russell would be ‘much closer’ to Ferrari and Red Bull if Mercedes could make this one change
Mercedes have struggled in the opening two rounds of 2022, but many in the paddock believe they could still mount a championship challenge this year.
by Rob Kershaw
2 April 20222 April 2022

Trackside engineer Andrew Shovlin has previously testified that there is “a little bit of everything” wrong with the Mercedes car at present, while Hamilton described his car as “undriveable” after an awful qualifying in Jeddah.

Mercedes have had to raise the ride height of the W13 in a bid to tackle the “porpoising” that has plagued the team this year, and Wolff believes this sub-optimal set-up is costing them a lot of time relative to Ferrari and Red Bull. “I think we are not running the car where we wanted to run it,” he explained.

“Therefore, it is very difficult to really assess what the lap time deficit is if we were able to run the car lower [to the ground]. I would very much hope that the gap is much closer to what we’ve seen [in Saudi Arabia], but there’s deficit everywhere.”

‘IF The Car Ran Closer To The Ground’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-hamilton-and-russell-would-be-much-closer-to-ferrari-and-red-bull-if-mercedes-could-make-this-one-change/

Hamilton Russell not provided with 'what they deserve' by Mercedes - Wolff
Ian Parkes & Sam Hall
Friday 1 April 2022 04:00

Toto Wolff believes neither Lewis Hamilton nor George Russell has been given what they deserve by Mercedes so far this season.

Initially asked to assess the job Russell has done for the team so far this year after his move from Williams, team principal Wolff said: “I think he does a great job. But he is not given a tool to fight at the front where he and Lewis deserve to be.”

"They have both…George has proven that he has the ability of racing at the front but simply at the moment we are not providing him with the car, so I am very happy with his performance overall.”

‘Not Mercedes Needed To Fight At The Front’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79091/hamilton-russell-not-provided-with-what-they-deserve-by-mercedes-wolff/

Fortitude

3rd April 2022, 09:00

Turrini: Feelings we had in the Schumi years are coming back.
So good has been Ferrari’s start to the 2022 Formula 1 season, that Italy is rejoicing at the prospect of the return of the “Schumi Years” writes Italian journalist Leo Turrini.
Jad Mallak
31 March, 2022

That is the view of respected Italian journalist, and Ferrari insider, Leo Turrini who spoke about the Ferrari situation in 2022 to Pit Talk on f1sport.it: “We saw a Ferrari that on two very different tracks was always competitive at the top. If it had won them both there would have been nothing to say. “A car that is fast on a single lap in qualifying, and that is also strong in the race. And I might add, also with a pit management that is absolutely up to the situation,” he added.

“To me, it feels like we’ve gone back 30 years,” he began. “Today I went for a ride on my electric bike in the hills above Maranello, and since I’m physically exhausted, at one point I had to stop at a bar for a drink.
“Four people arrived, and despite the mask, they recognized me and said: This is the good year! How wonderful! – It feels like we’re back to those feelings of the Schumi years,” the Italian revealed.

“When the season started you could see that Ferrari was very good. Obviously, you didn’t know how it was going to end. But this is beautiful. This has to be credited to the people who work in Maranello,” added Turrini, crediting Mattia Binotto and his team for producing two cars their young star drivers deserve.

‘Credit To Mattia Binotto And His Team’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/03/31/turrini-feelings-we-had-in-the-schumi-years-are-coming-back/

Ferrari 'much better prepared' for F1 development push – Binotto.
Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto says the Scuderia is "much better prepared" than in the past for the inevitable development war that will unfold this season in F1.
Phillip van Osten
01/04/2022 at 15:43

"Keeping up the level on a long season is a challenge, not just for us but for all the teams," said Binotto. "It’s true that our competitors have very strong development; in 2017 and ‘18 we lost a bit of ground.”

"But since then, in car design, we have improved our [wind] tunnel, technologies, processes and simulations and so today we are much better prepared than in the past to do a good job with development.”

"We [also] have a budget cap which will affect the rate of development – we need to make sure we have the right policy on that, as it could be a game-changer in the fight for development."

‘Ferrari Much Better Prepared’;

https://f1i.com/news/437080-ferrari-much-better-prepared-for-f1-development-push-binotto.html

Leclerc warns of "more to come" from Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc has warned Red Bull and Max Verstappen that Ferrari has "more to come" from the F1-75.
Sam Hall
Saturday 2 April 2022 10:00

I am happy with this start to the season for sure," explained Leclerc. "I am working well with the team and the preparation for the first race was very good. I feel good in general but there is definitely more to come.

"The thing I am happy about is not really the performance but I know exactly where I still need to work and what I need to improve to unlock more performance. So yes, on that I am happy."

It is still very early on in the season but let's say it has been a very good start to the season. As I have said many times, I think development will be key and we as drivers need to help the team in the best way possible to keep this competitiveness."

‘Development Will Be Key’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79158/leclerc-warns-of-more-to-come-from-ferrari/

Leclerc does not watch past title battles to shape approach
Date published: April 2 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said he is not interested in watching past Formula 1 title battles to shape his own approach.

When asked by the media if he can watch and learn from past title scraps, Leclerc replied: “I actually didn’t watch that much of these battles, some of the races I’ve watched. “I think I learned more from my own experiences. Every driver has their own driving style, I have my own one.”

Leclerc does believe that he is “quite strong” in a wheel-to-wheel battle and reiterated that he learns from his own experiences instead of watching what others did. “I think in a wheel-to-wheel battle, I am quite strong and I always try to be better,” said Leclerc.

‘Learning From Own Experiences’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/charles-leclerc-learns-via-own-experiences/

Ferrari drivers’ impact lauded in president’s letter
Date published: April 2 2022 - Henry Valantine

Leclerc took victory in Bahrain and both Scuderia drivers have finished on the podium in the first two races of the season, and currently sit as the top two in the Drivers’ Championship at this early stage – a fact which team boss Mattia Binotto admitted himself was “beyond all expectations” at the start of the year.

“With five podium results and third place in the Constructors’ Championship [in 2021], the Formula 1 season has produced some encouraging signs,” Elkann wrote in his open letter.

“But now the company is focused on the 2022 challenge, aware that with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz the Scuderia has the best pair of drivers on the grid, who have started the season well.”

‘Ferrari Beyond All Expectations’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-drivers-lauded-president-letter/

Sainz details reasons behind "best experience" with new Ferrari
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Friday 1 April 2022 13:35

Carlos Sainz has detailed the reasons why the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix proved to be his "best experience" with Ferrari so far this year.

Asked what he had discovered, he replied: "The technicalities and the specifics, I think they need to stay in the team for the sake of privacy and not giving away too much. It is something so specific and so technical that it will be very difficult to explain and I think we need to keep a level of privacy with these kinds of things.”

"But I can tell you it was the best experience this year so far, in terms of going to a track that 100 days before I was at with a super high level of confidence in last year's car. I was super quick in quali and in the race and I knew exactly what to expect from the car and what the car was giving me.”

‘Something So Specific, So Technical, That Needs Privacy’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79252/sainz-details-reasons-behind-best-experience-with-new-ferrari/

Leclerc’s eliminated doubts that might’ve derailed F1 title bid
Mar 31 2022
By Scott Mitchell

Charles Leclerc has been waiting for a car that allows him to show the full extent of his potential in Formula 1. At the start of the 2022 season, he has that car. Surprise surprise, he leads the championship for the first time in his career.

But he was a more nervous driver when he won at Spa and Monza in 2019. Leclerc made some small mistakes and in Italy got away with shoving Lewis Hamilton into the run-off area at the second chicane. He admits now: “There were some parts of the race where I wasn’t managing the situation very well and I felt a bit overwhelmed.”

Leclerc had a great command of the situation in the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he outwitted and outfought Max Verstappen. And he came very, very close to doing the same in Saudi Arabia, cleverly rebuffing Verstappen’s attempts before finally being outgunned by the Red Bull’s superior straightline speed. Leclerc: “Whether it will be enough or not to win the world championship, I have no idea. It’s still very early on in the season. But…let’s say that it’s a very good start.”

‘Very Good Start’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/leclercs-eliminated-doubts-that-mightve-derailed-f1-title-bid/

Binotto: Leclerc driving at title-contending level
Date published: March 31 2022 - Henry Valantine

Mattia Binotto believes Charles Leclerc is currently driving at a level that can take him to a World Championship title. The Ferrari driver has diced with Max Verstappen at both races so far this season, the pair taking one win apiece as they have fought at the sharp end of the field.

The Monegasque driver signed a long-term deal with Ferrari as his future with the team was cemented, and Binotto says that faith placed in him was borne of the fact the team feel he has the talent to keep fighting at the top in a front-running car. “I think he is,” Binotto told reporters when asked if Leclerc is driving like someone who could be a title challenger, per The Independent.

“But it’s something I was expecting when renewing as well with him in the last year for up to 2024, because we know what he is capable of. I think he is simply demonstrating he is capable of fighting for the championship. No doubt he’s got the talent, he’s got the capacity. He is a very good racer and we are very happy with what he has proven in these two races.”

‘Title-Contending Level’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/charles-leclerc-title-contending-driving/

Fortitude

4th April 2022, 08:39

“Max – The Dutch Master”: Verstappen biography reviewed.
In ‘Max – The Dutch Master’, author Andre Hoogeboom takes a different approach, writing unashamedly in Verstappen’s corner and covering his triumphant 2021 championship campaign. This isn’t one for the sceptics.
F1 reviews
Posted on
3rd April 2022, 9:373rd April 2022, 12:59 | Written by Ben Evans

As only the second first-time Formula 1 world champion to be crowned over the last decade, it’s little surprise to see media interest in Max Verstappen reach an all-time high.

As F1’s hottest young property, ‘Max – The Dutch Master’ is not the first Max Verstappen biography to appear over the past few months. James Gray’s autumn offering provided a perfectly solid overview of Verstappen’s life and career prior to his title-winning season, whilst not having access to too many intimate sources.

Eschewing a strictly chronological structure, key moments from Verstappen’s life and career are dropped in throughout. Hoogeboom does a fine job in covering the key incidents, pivotal moments, and getting behind-the-scenes – particularly for the early part of Verstappen’s career.

‘Dutch Master’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/03/max-the-dutch-master-verstappen-biography-reviewed/

Ex-F1 driver claims Verstappen defeated Hamilton despite having a slower car
Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton went toe-to-toe for the 2021 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship.
by Rob Kershaw
3 April 20223 April 2022

Former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger has indicated that he does not believe Max Verstappen would have won the championship last year were it not for his belligerence on track, as Sir Lewis Hamilton had the faster car.

The 24-year-old claimed 10 race wins and finished on the podium 18 times in 2021, eventually wrapping up the championship in highly controversial circumstances on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Gran Prix following a bizarre Safety Car restart.

Berger is not sure he would have achieved the ultimate goal in the pinnacle of motorsport without his aggressive racing style. “Last year he had to be aggressive, because Lewis’ car was better,” said Berger. “If he had not been so aggressive, he would not have had a chance to win the championship in the end. So he did what he had to do.”

‘Beating Lewis’ Faster Car’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/ex-f1-driver-claims-verstappen-defeated-hamilton-despite-having-a-slower-car/

Button: Verstappen most gifted in F1, but perhaps not the best
Phillip van Osten
03/04/2022 at 13:27

In Jeddah, when Button was asked to name by Sky Sports the most naturally gifted driver he had ever see, the Briton offered an unsurprising reply. "Max. It's just natural, isn't it?" said the 2009 F1 world champion who is actually quite familiar with the Verstappen lineage.”

"When you look at Max's parents, his dad raced in F1. I raced against his dad and my first points finish was in Brazil, in my second race. To get that point, I had to overtake his dad, Jos. You didn't want to get him upset. There was a little bit of aggression there.”

"He was an amazing talent, one of the best kart drivers ever, and still probably to this day. And his mother, Sophie, I was teammates with her in karting. She was a professional and one of the best in the world, so it's definitely in the blood."

"Max. It's just natural, isn't it?"

https://f1i.com/news/437182-button-verstappen-most-gifted-in-f1-but-perhaps-not-the-best.html

Exclusive: Newey reveals Verstappen's greatest strengths.
‎Speaking exclusively with RacingNews365.com, Red Bull's legendary Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey, has spoken about Max Verstappen's unique strengths as a racing driver.

02‎ ‎April‎ ‎12‎:‎00
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Thomas Maher

Cars penned by Newey have resulted in championships for the likes of Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and Sebastian Vettel. At the end of 2021, Max Verstappen was added to that list as he used the Red Bull RB16B to defeat Lewis Hamilton in the title fight.

"What makes any great sportsman?" Newey pondered as he sat down with RacingNews365.com during pre-season testing in Bahrain in early March. "Obviously, you have to have a unique genetic makeup that makes you good at whatever your sport is, so Formula 1 is [the] judgement of speed, reactions, balance, etc.”

"That gets you to a certain level and, of course, you see some drivers that are naturally very good, but don't perhaps achieve as much as they should do. And you see other drivers who are the opposite. I think Max is one of those ones that combines both – where he has an obviously tremendous natural ability, but he also has an inner determination and grit to him that shines through."

‘Max Verstappen's greatest strengths’;

https://racingnews365.com/exclusive-newey-reveals-verstappens-greatest-strengths

Marko claims Red Bull poaching Mercedes engineers created ‘some difficulties’
Red Bull have remained at the front amid the changes to the technical regulations in 2022, while Mercedes have fallen back.
by Rob Kershaw
2 April 20222 April 2022

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko has been pondering the reasons as to why Mercedes have struggled thus far in 2022, and has suggested that their lack of pace is due to the new fuel blend as well as the engineers who have jumped ship.

Dr Marko supports Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s claim that Ferrari’s car is lighter than that of the Milton Keynes and Brackley sides. “I agree that Ferrari is a bit lighter than Red Bull and Mercedes,” he said, as quoted by the Italian edition of Motorsport.com.

“I can’t yet confirm when we will bring a lighter version to the track, today it is very difficult to take the weight off a car because there are budget cap constraints to always keep in mind, you have to find the right compromise,” he added. “But one thing is certain: this season it will not be possible to stay in the leading positions with an overweight car.”

‘Some Difficulties’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/marko-claims-red-bull-poaching-mercedes-engineers-created-some-difficulties/

Mercedes: Christian Horner keeps coy amid Silver Arrows' struggles
By George Dagless
Published: 2 Apr 2022, 16:01

Christian Horner has said that he has ‘no feelings’ over Mercedes‘ current struggles and that he is focusing on the task in hand at Red Bull.

Indeed, whilst the Bulls have remained competitive for race wins, Mercedes have been replaced by Ferrari at the front of the field, with the W13 proving a rather difficult car for them to optimise right now.

“They are struggling. I have no feelings about their competitiveness. Obviously I’m focused on our competitiveness in what’s a very intense fight with Ferrari at the moment. I have no doubt at some point Mercedes will join that battle, but my focus is very much on our team.”

‘Red Bull Focus’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87991376-mercedes-christian-horner-keeps-coy-amid-silver-arrows-struggles

Boardroom’s Formula 1 Beginner’s Guide to Red Bull
By Sam Dunn, Shlomo Sprung
Apr 03, 2022

It’s been a long and winding journey for the Red Bull F1 team since it launched in 2005. There’s been a lot of change, using engines from Cosgrove, Ferrari, Renault (which was re-named TAG Heuer for a year when the relationship hit a rough patch in 2015), and Honda. And of course, a growing list of drivers has come and gone.

But the one constant has been team principal Christian Horner, who’s managed the team since its inaugural year. Red Bull pulled the constructor and driver’s championship double four years straight from 2010-2013 with Sebastian Vettel before waiting nearly a decade to win the big one again.

An epic 2021 season ended with Max Verstappen besting Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes on the most controversial of final races in Abu Dhabi to win the Formula 1 Driver’s Championship.

‘Beginner’s Guide to Red Bull’;

https://boardroom.tv/red-bull-f1-team-verstappen-perez/

Fortitude

4th April 2022, 17:26

Wolff demands Mercedes improve "unacceptable" performance.
“We need to fight it is totally unacceptable where we are at the moment on performance," said Mercedes team principal Wolff.
Sam Hall
Monday 4 April 2022 04:00

During the years of Mercedes' dominance, Wolff maintained his fondness for competition and in 2020 claimed, "I would wish for nothing more than a strong competition."

Asked if this was still the case given Mercedes' current situation, Wolff explained: “I love competition and I have always loved competition. We had a really strong run of eight years where we were leading the pack.

“Not always, but we managed our way into the lead and this time for me feels a little bit like 2013 where we just weren’t up to the speed with the Red Bull and probably not also the Ferraris. "But we kept fighting and this is how I feel at the moment.

‘W13 Unacceptable’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79368/wolff-demands-mercedes-improve-unacceptable-performance/

[B]How long has Mercedes got to salvage its 2022? Our verdict
The Race.
4/4/2022, 07:42

Mercedes is adamant it’s nowhere near 2022 Formula 1 title contention given its performance gulf to Ferrari and Red Bull right now. But many are sceptical about its pessimism given that relentless run of championships under Mercedes’ belt. At what point do we count Mercedes out of this title fight?

GLENN FREEMAN: “IT MAY BE DOOMED ALREADY”

MATT BEER: “EXPECT SURPRISES, FROM MERCEDES OR OTHERS”

EDD STRAW: “HISTORY OFFERS MIXED MESSAGES”

MARK HUGHES: “NOT WHAT MERCEDES WAS BUILT FOR”

SCOTT MITCHELL: “THE ONE LUXURY THAT WILL QUICKLY RUN OUT”

SAM SMITH: “RECALL THE LAST MASSIVE F1 RESET”

VALENTIN KHOROUNZHIY: “RED BULL HAS BAILED IT OUT”

‘Their Verdict’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-much-has-mercedes-got-to-salvage-its-2022-our-verdict/

Mercedes face "deficits everywhere" – Wolff.
Sam Hall & Ewan Gale
Sunday 3 April 2022 04:00

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has conceded the team faces "deficits everywhere" after the first two races of the season.

Red Bull and Ferrari have been described as being "in a different league" by Wolff already this year and asked for a timeframe in sorting issues on the W13, the Austrian explained: “I think we are not running the car where we wanted to run it.”

"Therefore it is very difficult to really assess what the lap time deficit is if we were able to run the car lower. I would very much hope that the gap is much closer to what we have seen but there is deficits everywhere.”

‘Lap Time Deficit & Deficits Everywhere’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79310/mercedes-face-deficits-everywhere-wolff/

Smedley: Mercedes first to admit they haven’t got it right
Reuters
4 April, 2022

Mercedes bungled their 2022 Formula 1 car, the W13, under the new set of regulations, and the sport’s Technical Consultant Rob Smedley said they would be the first to admit so.

Mercedes, winners of the last eight Constructors’ Titles, are busy playing catch-up due to aerodynamics issues with their cars, with team boss Toto Wolff describing their travails as going through an “exercise in humility”.

“The development phase of the car is at such an immature stage, the cars will change significantly from the first race to the final race… There’s going to be a very, very strong development curve on those cars.” Smedley, a former Ferrari race engineer, said it was brilliant for Formula 1 to have the Italian team, the “most iconic of all brands”, fighting at the front again.

‘Humility’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/04/smedley-mercedes-first-to-admit-they-havent-got-it-right/

Why Mercedes F1 Is Struggling To Land A Podium In 2022
by Chase Bierenkoven Formula One
4/4/2022, 02:20

If you had told us one year ago that the Mercedes Formula 1 team would be struggling to climb onto the podium in 2022, we'd have asked you for some of whatever you were smoking. Lewis Hamilton was on for his 8th World Driver's Championship, Valtteri Bottas was providing some of the most solid support we'd seen from him yet, and Toto Wolff was in full "Smug Austrian" mode.

If you haven't heard right now, one of the team's biggest struggles is "porpoising." Basically, that means the car is bouncing about more than a low-rider with air suspension. The air moving over the 2022 Mercedes Formula 1 car isn't behaving, causing the car's body to move up and down at speed. Understandably, that makes it hard to drive. How can you brake from 180+ mph when your feet are moving about against the pedals?

For now, Merc will have to count on the AMG ONE rivaling the Aston Martin Valkyrie on the streets, and not on their F1 cars winning on the track.

‘Merc Struggles’;

https://carbuzz.com/news/why-mercedes-f1-is-struggling-to-land-a-podium-in-2022

DC challenges Russell, Hamilton to improve Mercedes
Date published: April 4 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

With Mercedes not contending for wins, David Coulthard says George Russell and Lewis Hamilton must now speak up and take them back there.

With neither driver currently in a position to achieve their aims, Coulthard says this is where Russell, alongside Hamilton, must be the “voice” that takes Mercedes back to the top.

“His (George Russell) next job will be, along with Lewis Hamilton, to be the voice that enables his Mercedes team to develop a winning car.”

‘The Voice’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-lewis-hamilton-challenge/

How Toto Wolff fumed at Lewis Hamilton over car: 'Always difficult'
TOTO WOLFF FUMED AT HIS STAR MERCEDES DRIVER LEWIS HAMILTON, CLAIMING IT WAS "ALWAYS VERY DIFFICULT" TO MAKE DECISIONS OVER THEIR CAR IN RESPONSE TO CRITICISM FROM THE SEVEN-TIME F1 WINNER.
By CLIVE HAMMOND
12:50, Sun, Apr 3, 2022 | UPDATED: 17:48, Sun, Apr 3, 2022

Prior to the end-of-season race in Abu Dhabi last year, Hamilton and Mercedes chief Wolff appeared already on a collision course, as they fell out after the Turkish Grand Prix. Hamilton was left incensed with his team's decision for him to pit, despite holding a third place position with only eight laps remaining of the race.

As a result of the team's decision, Hamilton finished fifth in the race and lost his top spot in the overall rankings to Verstappen. But Wolff was adamant the right choice had been made but was critical of the timing of the move.

‘Still Fuming’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1590490/toto-wolff-news-lewis-hamilton-f1-latest-turkish-grand-prix-motor-sport-spt

Mercedes don’t know if the W13 is ‘fast or not’
Date published: April 4 2022 - Michelle Foster

Andrew Shovlin says such is Mercedes’ porpoising problem that the team has no idea if their W13 is actually a fast car or not.

He told Motorsport.com: “That’s probably priority number one because that’s ultimately preventing us from running the car where we’d like to run it for optimum performance.

“What we don’t know is, if we could just magically make that issue vanish, where would we actually be in terms of car pace: is the car fast enough or not? And it’s very difficult to answer that question.”

‘No idea whether W13 is Fast’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/porpoising-priority-number-one-mercedes/

Fortitude

5th April 2022, 09:48

Alpine’s Otmar Szafnauer – “It’s clear our car has the potential to fight for big points”.
BWT Alpine F1 Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer felt that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix allowed the team to demonstrate their pace and potential to compete near the sharp end of the grid, with both Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso running in the points in Jeddah.
By Ashley Cline
March 30, 2022

“We have mixed feelings from today’s race and, in general, it’s another strong result, which underlines our competitiveness. It’s a great result for Esteban to finish in sixth place. He’s been solid all weekend and it’s good for him to convert a strong qualifying performance into a healthy bag of points.” said Szafnauer.

“We do have a taste of disappointment that we were unable to put both of our cars into the points with Fernando unfortunately retiring from the race after driving very well all evening. We’re investigating the issue to see what exactly has occurred.”

“Everyone at the team will continue to work hard on our return to Enstone and Viry to best prepare ourselves for Formula 1’s highly anticipated return to Melbourne in two weeks’ time. Well done to everyone at the team, we’ll keep pushing!”

‘Keep Pushing’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/03/alpines-otmar-szafnauer-its-clear-our-car-has-the-potential-to-fight-for-big-points/

Alpine ‘not shy of anybody’ with new engine.
Esteban Ocon believes Alpine have produced a power unit worthy of competing against their rivals this year, and don’t fear racing anyone as a result.
Date published: April 2 2022 - Henry Valantine

Fernando Alonso recently said he is “much happier” with his Alpine this season, adding that the team feels as though it is in the right “ballpark” in terms of pace.

And now Ocon has got a couple of races under his belt in the A522 and has experienced how his car stacks up against the rest, and feels Alpine are in the mix in terms of raw power.

“Good. I mean, we didn’t have to be shy of anybody,” he said when asked by Motorsport.com in Saudi Arabia about the team’s engine performance. “As soon as I had the DRS open I could pass, I could overtake easily the Aston of Nico [Hulkenberg], Lando in the McLaren.”

‘Power unit worthy of competing against their rivals’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/esteban-ocon-alpine-2022-engine-power/

Alpine’s solo engine project ‘marginally better’
Date published: April 3 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Once the McLaren deal had concluded in 2020, Renault have supplied only Alpine since, the division of Groupe Renault which took over from their works team from 2021. That means Alpine are the only team on the grid with an exclusive engine, which team boss Otmar Szafnauer thinks offers a slight advantage as it removes the need to factor in the wishes of another team.

“I think it’s marginally better, but not much,” said Szafnauer, quoted by GPFans. “If two teams run your engine, just because if something goes wrong, sometimes it will go wrong somewhere else because of the installation and then you learn.”

“But we have one installation, there are benefits with that too. We have zero consideration for anybody else’s wishes and as much as the teams that supply three or four teams say ‘yeah, but we focus on our works team’, not so.

‘Exclusive Engine’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alpine-solo-engine-project-better/

Alonso gets penalty-free engine change
NEWS STORY
04/04/2022

Following Fernando Alonso’s retirement from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Alpine engineers traced the cause to a disintegrating water pump as he takes on a new unit without penalty.

Like most retirements so far this season his team was unwilling to state the issue that sidelined the two-time world champion, and while it was initially thought to be engine-related it has now been revealed as being a disintegrating water pump. "It wasn't the engine, but a water-pump failure," team boss Laurent Rossi tells Auto Hebdo, "and that led to a lack of cooling and a host of problems, like the engine overheating, which triggered more troubles.

"Fernando managed to continue as the engine was working, although in less than ideal conditions," he adds. "But we preferred to stop him as the water pump was defective. "We've since identified the problem, and hopefully ii will be solved for Melbourne. It's related to some brand new engine components that haven't yet been fully validated, as is the case for all teams.”

‘Penalty-Free Engine Change’;

https://www.pitpass.com/72165/Alonso-gets-penalty-free-engine-change

F1 legend Fernando Alonso insists he WILL continue to race for 'at least two or three more years'... as the two-time world champion, 40, believes he still has 'A LOT to offer'
By Charlotte Daly For Mailonline
Published: 16:42, 30 March 2022

Formula One legend Fernando Alonso says he will continue to race for at least 'two to three more years' as he is enjoying life on and off the track. Alonso retired from the sport at the end of 2018, following four frustrating years at McLaren where uncompetitive machinery failed to give him any realistic chance of battling for world championships.

Alonso says he is still 'enjoying racing' and says he will continue on with his career for at least two to three more years. Speaking to DAZN, via Spanish publication Marca, Alonso said: 'I think that at least two or three years you will see me here. I won't drive forever. 'I still have a lot to offer. Right now I am enjoying Formula One a lot.

The Spaniard became the oldest driver on the grid after Kimi Raikkonen retired. However, he does not believe his age is a hinderance and instead his 'experience' would help him this season.

‘A LOT To Offer’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10668769/F1-legend-Fernando-Alonso-reveals-continue-race-two-three-years.html

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull in Renault "ballpark" - Alonso
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale
Thursday 31 March 2022 17:20

Fernando Alonso believes Renault's F1 power unit is now in the "ballpark" with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull after challenging for a strong result in Saudi Arabia.

Asked whether he was happy with the performance from the Renault power unit in his A522, Alonso replied: "Yeah, I think we are in the ballpark with the others.”

"We could battle on the straights with other people here and in Bahrain, so let's see. Hopefully, we need to keep investigating what happened with the engine in Bahrain, the engine in Saudi and make sure we have enough for the season."

‘Renault Power Unit In The Ballpark’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/78942/mercedes-ferrari-and-red-bull-in-renault-ballpark-alonso/

Fortitude

5th April 2022, 17:20

Vasseur: Alfa now in ‘different world’ compared to 2021.
After their 2021 struggles, Frederic Vasseur is encouraged to see Alfa Romeo compete in a “different world” in the upper midfield this year.
Date published: April 4 2022 - Henry Valantine

Given that Alfa Romeo finished second-last in the Constructors’ standings last year, only ahead of Haas, their team principal was glad to be disappointed to come away from Jeddah empty-handed, after Bottas also had to retire.

“We were less than a tenth off P5 in quali [in Saudi Arabia],” Vasseur told Motorsport.com. “It’s quite encouraging for the team, because after Bahrain on a different track we showed that the pace is there, and that we can be there on every single track, and this is good for us.”

“But then it’s a shame to not score big points in this situation. I think that for sure we are a bit disappointed because we are leaving with zero, but on the other hand one year ago, we were nowhere, we were out in Q1. But now it’s a different world.”

‘Different Alfa Romeo World’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alfa-romeo-2022-different-world/

Bottas aiming for prolonged fight with Mercedes
Date published: April 2 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Valtteri Bottas has set his sights on fighting Mercedes to establish Alfa Romeo as the ‘best of the rest’ in 2022.

“I think that should be the goal now, it looks like we’re more or less in the same place as in Bahrain, although I thought this [Jeddah] might be more difficult,” Bottas told Motorsport.com.

“I think that aspiring to be the best of the rest is a good motivation, and good goals. I hope that in the end we can fight for fifth place in the race, that would be a big step for us.”

‘Fighting For Fifth Place In Each Race’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/valtteri-bottas-targets-prolonged-mercedes-fight/

Bottas wants year-long fight with Mercedes amid 'surprising' problems
Ben Issatt
04 April 2022

Valtteri Bottas hopes Alfa Romeo can maintain a year-long battle with Mercedes after being "surprised" by their early-season problems.

Few imagined the Finn would find himself racing against his former team given their very different positions on the grid last year, but the combination of a strong Alfa and an underperforming Mercedes has meant just that.

“I’m very happy with the decision I made, and also in general, so yes, I’m enjoying it," he said. "If we can keep improving the car, there’s no doubt that in the future we should be able to always fight for Q3 and top ten, that’s good to see.”

‘Improving The Car’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15297-bottas-wants-year-long-fight-with-mercedes-amid-surprising-problems

Budget cap hardest on Alfa Romeo - Monchaux
By GMM F1

Formula 1's budget cap is harder on Swiss-based Alfa Romeo.

That is the view of the Sauber-run team's technical boss Jan Monchaux, who told motorsport-magazin.com: "Have you ever been to a restaurant in Switzerland? "The problem is that the budget cap does not currently compensate for the differences in the cost of living between countries."

Indeed, the vast bulk of the F1 teams are based in the UK, with Ferrari and Alpha Tauri operating out of Italy. Sauber, on the other hand, have operated from the Zurich Oberland region since its founding by Peter Sauber in the early 90s.

"But compared to a team that might be based in England or Italy with the same number of staff, we have a relatively big payroll problem. "In the end, that eats up 20 to 30 percent and a lot of potential that would otherwise be in the car. That's the price of being at home here."

"Have you ever been to a restaurant in Switzerland?”

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/formula-1/sauber/news/budget-cap-hardest-on-alfa-romeo-monchaux_482447.html?newsnow

Valtteri Bottas opens up on lessons learned at Mercedes and Alfa Romeo expectations
By George Dagless
Published: 5 Apr 2022, 11:48

Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas has said that he learned a great deal during his time at Mercedes and that he is expecting a positive campaign with Alfa Romeo having got his first two races under his belt with the team. “Obviously, I’ve learned how a championship-winning team works and what kind of mindset it needs. I’ve learned a lot about teamwork. I’ve learned a lot of technical knowledge. I think I’ve also learned to deal with setbacks.”

“Sometimes, I put too much pressure on myself. I’ve had many ups and downs and learned how to bounce back. And I think it’s just made me a lot stronger person overall. I almost feel nothing can really shake me.”

“I’m expecting a positive season for us as a team, but that will require a lot of work. I think it’s going to be a very rewarding feeling once we get the results that we want. I think that reward, that feeling that comes out of it, those moments are going to be the highlights.”

‘Very Rewarding Feeling Once We Get The Results’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87992119-valtteri-bottas-opens-up-on-lessons-learned-at-mercedes-and-alfa-romeo-expectations

Fortitude

6th April 2022, 07:39

McLaren’s poor performance not just down to brake duct fix.
The compromises McLaren made to address its braking problem in pre-season testing are not the only cause of its uncompetitive start to the season, according to team principal Andreas Seidl.
2022 Australian Grand Prix
Posted on
6th April 2022, 7:186th April 2022, 7:21 | Written by Hazel Southwell and Claire Cottingham

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said the team’s focus would be on “understanding more the current strengths and weaknesses of the car” before this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix. “We need to see which improvements we can make already for Melbourne,” he added. “At the same time I don’t expect big miracles there, we simply need a bit more time.”

The braking problem the team encountered for the first time in Bahrain forced it to run an interim fix at the opening two races. “In the time available it was the only solution we could bring to the car which is definitely not optimal in terms of performance,” said Seidl.

However, he admitted the team has other problems to resolve on its MCL36. “We simply lack grip, which is the result of missing mechanical grip and aerodynamic load on the car, which was [clear] on the race weekend in Bahrain,” he said. “Definitely not just an issue of the current brake ducts we’re running.”

‘Grip, Mechanical Grip, Aerodynamic Load & Brake Ducts’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/06/mclarens-poor-performance-not-just-down-to-brake-duct-fix/

Norris says McLaren have lost ‘a little bit of happiness’ after difficult start to season
05 April 2022

Lando Norris has conceded that moods have dipped at McLaren, who sit eighth in the championship ahead of this weekend’s 2022 Australian Grand Prix – but the squad are still motivated to push on and recover.

“You can't lie. If you have points and you have success and you have podiums, there's always a rise in morale… I think there’s expectations, of course, and... as racing people, we want to have success and do well.

“We're never going to be as happy P16 compared to if we were P8 or P7 or whatever. So, there's always just a little bit of our happiness gone.”

‘A Little Happiness Lost’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.norris-says-mclaren-have-lost-a-little-bit-of-happiness-after-difficult.41WmK02d4s36RbxB9zHHdI.html

[B]Ricciardo 'a big bundle of excitement' ahead of home race
Phillip van Osten
05/04/2022 at 10:48

The McLaren driver returned home to Perth last winter to spend some down time with his family and local friends. But racing on home soil is a "privilege" Ricciardo has solely missed these past few years.

"I'm excited to go home, definitely, it's been a while," said Ricciardo. "I've heard sales have been nuts and it's going to be an awesome atmosphere so I cannot wait. "It's personal to me because I am Aussie and it's a home one and that's a privilege, but every driver I speak to about Melbourne, they love it, they love it as an event.

"It’s exciting to go through the track changes as well this year, see what kind of racing that produces. So, just a big bundle of excitement."

‘Bundle Of Excitement’;

https://f1i.com/news/437258-ricciardo-a-big-bundle-of-excitement-ahead-of-home-race.html

McLaren’s Andreas Seidl: “The team and I are excited to be back in Australia”
By Paul Hensby
April 5, 2022

Andreas Seidl says this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix will be a significant one as it will be Daniel Ricciardo’s first home race with the McLaren F1 Team, with the race back on the calendar after two years away following restrictions being in place due to COVID-19.

“The team and I are excited to be back in Australia after a few years, especially with the significance of it being Daniel’s first home race with McLaren,” said Seidl.

Seidl says the logistics of travelling to Australia from their Woking base has always posed challenges to McLaren, but they know they will be doing their best across the weekend, with an eye on scoring points with both Ricciardo and Lando Norris.

‘McLarens’ Australian Excitement’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/04/mclarens-andreas-seidl-the-team-and-i-are-excited-to-be-back-in-australia/

Audi reportedly close to securing McLaren stake in huge deal
Audi are pushing on with a bid to secure a stake in the McLaren Formula 1 team, and have recently raised their offer, according to reports in the German media.
Yesterday, ‎08‎:‎40
Author Dieter Rencken
Co-author Mike Seymour

Volkswagen Group brands Audi and Porsche have both been heavily linked with Formula 1 in recent times, and the rumours have only gathered pace amid the sport's recently-introduced budget cap and planned engine formula for 2026.

Back in December, RacingNews365.com revealed a letter from Audi bosses to former FIA President Jean Todt and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, which stated that the brand was almost ready to commit to an entry.

Now, German automotive newspaper Automobilwoche reports that Audi are offering 650 million euros - up from 450m - to land an initial stake in McLaren's F1 outfit, before potentially investing in the wider brand.

‘McLaren Bid’;

https://racingnews365.com/audi-reportedly-close-to-securing-mclaren-stake-in-huge-deal

Fortitude

6th April 2022, 12:01

Guenther Steiner Hoping for More Points at Haas’ Milestone 125th Grand Prix.
Steiner believes that the camp has a positive team dynamic and the new driver partnership is working well, with Magnussen able to use his previous experience in the sport to guide Schumacher, who is in his second season of Formula 1.
By Ashley Cline
April 5, 2022

Haas F1 Team Principal, Günther Steiner: “I think it’s realistic that we can aim for points in every race, at least for the first half of the season and then we will see if teams make big upgrades or if they gain a lot of pace. I’m optimistic that we can keep this form, we just have to try to score points with both cars.”

“First of all, yes, it was a rollercoaster and we’ve had a lot of downs on the rollercoaster ride over the six years but quite good ups as well. I’d say more than 50 percent of the people that were there at the first race are still with us, so that for me is an achievement. It’s been a very good ride, there’s been some challenges in the ride, but it’s been fantastic.”

‘Haas F1 Rollercoaster’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/04/guenther-steiner-hoping-for-more-points-at-haas-milestone-125th-grand-prix/

Haas adamant Schumacher’s confidence won’t be dented by Jeddah F1 crash
4th April 2022, 12:08
Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths

Haas Formula 1 boss Gunther Steiner doesn’t expect Mick Schumacher’s confidence will be knocked after his high-speed qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia.

Approaching the fast chain of corners at Turns 10/11/12 on a flying lap, Schumacher lost control of his car before slamming into the concrete wall on the left-hand side of the track. The hefty impact caused severe damage to his Haas F1 car and, after being taken to hospital for precautionary checks, Schumacher was found to have suffered no injuries.

“I don’t think that he’ll lose confidence,” Steiner said, as quoted by Motorsport.com. “Obviously now the target is set a little bit higher than last year. Last year there was no question at all, we contended to be 19th and 20th. Because that was where we were – consistently, by the way.

‘Confidence Won’t Be Dented’;

https://readmotorsport.com/2022/04/04/haas-adamant-schumachers-confidence-wont-be-dented-by-jeddah-f1-crash/

Haas hampered by limited testing - Steiner
Sam Hall & Ian Parkes
Tuesday 5 April 2022 13:35

Guenther Steiner has warned there is 'more to come' from Haas with the team's performance limited at the opening races through a lack of testing. Haas has enjoyed a strong start to the current F1 season with Kevin Magnussen scoring points in each of the first two races with finishes of fifth and ninth in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Despite its pace, the VF-22 has suffered from poor reliability and team principal Steiner warned if the team can get on top of these issues and spend more time on track in free practice, results could improve further. "The biggest improvement will be the set-up because we haven't done enough testing," explained Steiner.

"There are still things to come. It's not that we have a bad set-up but I think there is still more in the car. If we had more time to work, it's not that the guys don't understand, it's just that we need to learn about it because in testing we did about half the mileage of the big teams, and in Saudi Arabia, with Kevin, we did three timed laps," Steiner added.

‘More In The Haas Car’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79480/haas-hampered-by-limited-testing-steiner/

Haas to think carefully about ‘over-rated’ upgrades
Date published: April 3 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Haas boss Guenther Steiner is keen to make sure any upgrades introduced by the team this season will be worthwhile.

“We will bring upgrades as well. People like to bring upgrades but if you bring upgrades, [they may be worth only] one, two, three points,” said Steiner, quoted by GPFans. “And if you bring upgraded parts, what does it actually do? That’s important for me.”

“If you ask an aerodynamicist at every grand prix they will bring a million dollars’ worth of upgrades for one point, so that needs to be managed under the budget cap more than anything else. With upgrades, I’m not saying nobody brings bad ones but they are a little bit over-rated.”

‘Over-Rated Upgrades’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-2022-upgrade-strategy/

Steiner: K-Mag ‘realised what he lost’ in year away from F1
Date published: April 2 2022 - Henry Valantine

Now he has returned to Formula 1, Guenther Steiner thinks Kevin Magnussen has matured and realised what he missed out on in his year away.

Steiner said it was good for him to have kept racing last year, and his time away from the top tier has left him more rounded as a result. “Yes, of course it hasn’t hurt him,” Steiner said of Magnussen’s IndyCar and sports car racing last year, quoted by Formula1.com.

“Obviously, he matured, he was out of Formula 1 and when you are out of Formula 1 you just realise what you lost and making it back in is like something… which I think he didn’t expect to do.

‘More Rounded As A Result’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/kevin-magnussen-formula-1-year-away/

Steiner asks ‘Tom the expert’ why Haas can’t maintain form
Date published: April 1 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner turned the tables when the interviewer asked him how long the team can maintain their current form.

When F1 journalist Tom Clarkson asked Steiner how long Haas believe they can keep this run going, Steiner responded: “Why should it stop? Now I’m asking you, Tom the expert.
“Why you think we cannot keep it going?”

But to answer the question, Steiner is confident Haas can continue to compete in the midfield, citing the budget cap he feels has made it possible for teams to keep themselves in the conversation for points. “But I think we can keep going where we are now,” Steiner continued.

‘Keep Going’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/guenther-steiner-hits-back-haas-doubts/

Fortitude

6th April 2022, 18:21

Williams’ Dave Robson: “So pleased to be back” racing in Australia.
Williams Racing’s Head of Vehicle Performance, Dave Robson, is delighted to see the Australian Grand Prix back this weekend, for the first-time in two years due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
By Nick Golding
April 5, 2022

After a highly disappointing Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where both Alex Albon and Nicholas Latifi retired, Robson is very happy to be heading back to Australia this weekend. Formula 1 isn’t returning though to the usual Albert Park Circuit layout, drastic changes have been made to the layout for this weekend, in the hope that overtaking is easier. This clearly wasn’t enough, as this weekend will see a whopping four DRS zones around the Albert Park Circuit.

Williams endured a horrific weekend at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and a repeat simply can’t happen for the British team, Robson is hoping that it will be a cleaner weekend for the side.

“Following our difficult weekend in Jeddah, we are looking forward to a clean event here as we look to extract a little more potential from the FW44. The challenges here are different to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and so we will be open-minded and pragmatic with our approach.”

‘Four DRS Zones’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/04/williams-dave-robson-so-pleased-to-be-back-racing-in-australia/

Williams: Tyres mean 'crucial' set-up compromise for Aussie GP
Phillip van Osten
05/04/2022 at 17:23

Williams head of vehicle performance Dave Robson says Pirelli's decision to skip a step in its compound selection for Melbourne implies a crucial set-up compromise for race day. Pirelli as opted to experiment at next weekend's Australian Grand Prix by nominating its C2 and C3 rubber but skipping its C4 and assigning instead its soft C5 compound to teams.

The tyre supplier's unusual range coupled with Albert Park's track revisions means that teams will be facing a few interesting challenges next weekend upon their return to Melbourne after a three-year hiatus.

Dave Robson : "Adding to the complexity of the weekend is a courageous compound choice from Pirelli, with the C2 and C3 compounds being the Prime and Option as they were in Jeddah, but C5 being the Qualifying compound here in Melbourne.”

‘Set-Up Compromise’;

https://f1i.com/news/437287-williams-aussie-gp-tyres-mean-crucial-set-up-compromise-for-race.html

“The new track changes look promising” -Nicholas Latifi
By Nick Golding
April 5, 2022

After a bitterly disappointing Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Nicholas Latifi and Alex Albon are both looking forward to the returning Australian Grand Prix, at the Albert Park Circuit.

Latifi endured a terrible weekend in Saudi Arabia, which ultimately ended with him in the wall at the final corner during the race. The Williams Racing driver will be hoping for considerably better luck this weekend, as the Canadian sets his eyes on his first-ever Australian Grand Prix.

Nicholas Latifi: “I’m really excited to get my first taste of racing at Albert Park. I’ve not yet driven there with Formula One, although I did get to explore the venue in 2020 and I thought Melbourne was an incredible place. The circuit itself looks really fun, so to experience the whole event will be great. The new track changes look promising; I really hope it’ll improve the racing so we’re able to put on an exciting Grand Prix for the fans after they’ve waited for so long.”

‘First Taste, Track Looks Promising’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/04/the-new-track-changes-look-promising-nicholas-latifi/

Williams is ‘actually a good car’ in the ‘right window’
Date published: March 31 2022 - Henry Valantine

Alex Albon believes if the FW44 is in a set-up sweet spot, Williams can be competitive in qualifying and races this season. Albon pinpointed the main issue of his car as being the lack of downforce available to him while driving, but he has managed to outperform Nicholas Latifi in the sister car through the year so far, making the most of what he has.

But despite Williams’ backmarking pace, the former Red Bull man thinks there is a particular place in which the FW44 can operate where it can be more competitive – but he added the caveat that the team need to find this set-up on a regular basis if they are to move forward.

“We lacked downforce,” said Albon. “The balance of the car can be tricky, but in the right window it’s actually a good car. “We were pretty quick at the end of the race, we just need to try and make the car more consistent and predictable.”

‘Finding the FW44 right window Set-Up Sweet Spot’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/alex-albon-williams-performance-window/

Williams’ Dave Robson: “A very frustrating end to three weeks away from home”
By Paul Hensby
April 2, 2022

Dave Robson, the Head of Vehicle Performance at Williams Racing, admits the opening two races of the 2022 Formula 1 season have been frustrating for the team.

“A very frustrating end to three weeks away from home for the team,” said Robson. “We completed a one-stop race with Alex using the preferred hard tyre for most of the race. Alex did well to manage his tyres during a long stint and through several safety car periods. There was a lot of attrition at this event, which we were expecting, and Alex was nearly able to benefit.”

“He was able to race with Stroll and attack him on several occasions into Turn 1, but unfortunately in racing for eleventh, there was contact, resulting in a front right puncture for Alex and the end of his race.”

‘Frustrating’;

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2022/04/williams-dave-robson-a-very-frustrating-end-to-three-weeks-away-from-home/

Mansell selling Williams that Senna hitched a ride on
Date published: March 30 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Nigel Mansell is selling his famous Williams FW14 which served as a race winner for himself and a taxi for Ayrton Senna. It was back at the 1991 British Grand Prix that Mansell and Senna provided us with one of the all-time classic scenes in Formula 1.

Mansell was dominant on home soil in the Williams FW14, taking pole, leading every lap, winning the race and claiming the fastest lap. Senna meanwhile would run out of fuel in his McLaren on the final lap, leaving him to be classified P4.

But rather than Senna setting off on a trek back to the McLaren garage, Mansell was on-hand to give him a lift as on his victory lap, Mansell stopped to allow Senna to hitch a ride on his FW14 back to the pits.

‘Williams FW14’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/nigel-mansell-selling-williams-fw14/

BEYOND THE GRID: Mansell on battling Senna, overcoming adversity, and why his 1992 title win left him 'empty'
06 April 2022

The inimitable 1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell is the guest on the latest Beyond The Grid podcast episode – and the former Williams and Ferrari driver recalls his success 30 years after his title triumph...

Mansell won his first and only F1 title at the age of 39 – making him the oldest driver to do so since Graham Hill in 1968. The Briton had spent years hunting for that elusive achievement and sealed it at the 1992 Hungarian Grand Prix. But how did it feel?

Thirty years later, he recalls: "Disbelief. 'Is it really true? Have we really done it?' Emptiness. Shock. It’s the flash of adrenaline where everything stands still. When something means so much to you, and you think you’ve actually done it and achieved it, and you’ve spent 40 years of your life attaining that – basically what happens, I think your brain upsurges to the point that your brain fuses. So when it fuses, there’s emptiness – because you can’t compute anything!"

‘Nigel Computing Emptiness’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.beyond-the-grid-mansell-on-battling-senna-overcoming-adversity-and-why-his.5YMeePTpZTqme5wZ4RTku8.html

Fortitude

7th April 2022, 09:04

Why Jackie Stewart thinks the Australian Grand Prix is ‘one of the great’ F1 races
Former F1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart says it’s “really one of the great grand prix”.
7/4/2022, 03:17
Tom Elliott

Jackie Stewart: “I think the spirit of Melbourne is very high on the Grand Prix,” he said.
“There’s enormous enthusiasm. Of course you’ve had some great Australian Grand Prix drivers.”
Press PLAY below to hear why Sir Jackie Stewart holds the Melbourne Grand Prix in such high esteem

‘Australian GP Great’;

https://www.3aw.com.au/why-jackie-stewart-thinks-the-melbourne-grand-prix-is-one-of-the-great-f1-races/

George Russell and Toto Wolff issue Mercedes warning ahead of Australian Grand Prix
Callum McAvoyWednesday 6 Apr 2022 5:22 pm

Speaking in Mercedes’ Australia GP preview, the Austrian said: ‘At the moment, our track performance is not meeting our own expectations, but everyone at Brackley and Brixworth is focused on understanding the problems and finding the right solutions.

“Lewis and George are making an important contribution to the overall effort, providing feedback, spending time in the simulator and working together to help push us forward.”

“While there may be no ‘magic fix’, it is imperative for the team that they solve their key issue as soon as possible, as Russell points out.”

‘Mercedes Warning’;

https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/06/f1-george-russell-toto-wolff-issue-mercedes-warning-before-australian-gp-16418986/?ito=newsnow-feed

Will Mercedes' fortunes improve? F1 Australian GP talking points
F1
Connor McDonagh
7 Apr 2022

Mercedes upgrades on the way? Mercedes was expected to introduce its first significant upgrade of the season for F1’s return to Melbourne with the arrival of an all-new rear wing to reduce drag and potentially a newly-designed floor, though it appears to still have the same rear wing it had in Jeddah.

The update, which may not arrive until Imola or Miami, are aimed at combating its porpoising issues. The phenomenon has been at the heart of the W13’s problems so far in 2022, forcing Mercedes to run a compromised setup in a bid to reduce the bouncing effect.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: "At the moment, our track performance is not meeting our own expectations, but everyone at Brackley and Brixworth is focused on understanding the problems and finding the right solutions.”

‘Late nights at Brackley and Brixworth!’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/feature/1000169/1/will-mercedes-expected-upgrades-work-f1-australian-gp-talking-points

'We still have plenty to learn': Toto Wolff predicts more Mercedes misery in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix as team boss admits they don't have a 'magic fix' heading into their third outing of the campaign.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admits their poor start could continue in Melbourne
By Oliver Salt For Mailonline
Published: 15:30, 6 April 2022

Russell is one place above his Mercedes team-mate on 22 points, sitting behind Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen, and Wolff insists their sights are set on bridging the gap and moving closer to the top of the standings. 'We are in a learning race and the first two weekends have shown we still have plenty to learn,' he told Mercedes' official website.

“At the moment, our track performance is not meeting our own expectations, but everyone at Brackley and Brixworth is focused on understanding the problems and finding the right solutions. There won't be a magic fix for the next race weekend, but we're pushing to steadily bring gains over the upcoming races, to hopefully move us closer to the front of the pack.”

“Until then, we need to maximise each opportunity and make the most of the package we have.”

‘Mercedes Misery’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10692425/F1-Mercedes-chief-Toto-Wolff-predicts-misery-Australian-GP-dont-magic-fix.html

Marko: If Mercedes control porpoising, they are back
Date published: April 5 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Red Bull’s Helmut Marko does not believe the Mercedes era is over yet, backing them to fight back if they can control their ‘porpoising’.

Speaking in an interview with Formel1.de’s YouTube channel, when asked if this was the end of the Mercedes era like Red Bull endured after 2013, Marko said: “You have to distinguish between the two cases. The post-2013 era coincided with the new engine rules and Mercedes had incredible dominance at that stage. They were up to two seconds ahead of everyone, but logically they didn’t show it.”

“Now, with the change of chassis and engine, the differences are not so big. Mercedes can no longer click and suddenly it’s a party for them. But the team are very well positioned and also have some really important people in the chassis area.

‘Mercedes can no longer click and suddenly it’s a party for them’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/helmut-marko-mercedes-still-contenders/

Tech Draft: The Grand Prix in Adelaide always special for me
Mark Kay
7 April, 2022

With Formula 1 being in Australia this weekend, I thought of writing a different Tech Draft, about the sport’s history in my country that shaped my career, and how the Adelaide Grand Prix will always be special to me.

The first Australian Grand Prix (AGP) was contested on the Phillip Island road circuit in 1928 and the event has been held every year since then, with the exception of 1936, and the period 1940-1946 inclusive. Over the years the AGP has been held at 23 different venues in various guises of stand-alone events and as part of national and regional championships and series, such as the memorable Tasman Series of the 1960s and 1970s which attracted many F1 teams of the day to travel all the way down under.

However, it wasn’t until 1985 that the Australian Grand Prix became a proper FIA sanctioned Grand Prix when it was the final round of that year’s Formula 1 World Championship held on the most memorable Adelaide Parklands street circuit. The AGP has remained a fixture on the F1 yearly calendar ever since with the exception of the 2020 and 2021 events being cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, and in 1996 it was held at the Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne for the first time, where it has remained ever since.

‘Aussie Memories’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/07/tech-draft-the-grand-prix-in-adelaide-always-special-for-me/

Verstappen: I’m there to race, not entertain crowds
Reuters
7 April, 2022

Max Verstappen is not willing to do more events on weekends, but would rather just race and entertain the crowds that way, instead of taking part in off track activities. The Formula 1 World Champion said he will try to keep his off-track commitments in check and focus on his day job as a racer, wary that his Title defense might suffer with too many distractions.

Verstappen said he felt sympathy for McLaren’s Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo, having seen him battle through busy schedules at his home Grand Prix when they were Red Bull team mates. “I always felt sorry for him because he was always so busy,” said Verstappen.

“He actually never really got to fully enjoy it. Maybe he manages it differently now but I remember when he was here it was tough, he was super busy in the week leading up to the Grand Prix. “So I hope for him that at least he can enjoy it a bit more now because I think it is very special to have a home Grand Prix,” he said.

‘Felt Sorry For Daniel Ricciardo”;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/07/verstappen-im-there-to-race-not-entertain-crowds/

Pirelli explains thinking behind ‘step’ in Melbourne tyre compound choice
2022 Australian Grand Prix
Posted on
7th April 2022, 6:137th April 2022, 4:54 | Written by Hazel Southwell and Claire Cottingham

Pirelli has made a departure from its recent tyre selection approach this weekend in the hope of creating more varied strategies at the Australian Grand Prix. In recent years Formula 1’s official tyre supplier has invariably selected consecutive compounds for each race. However it has brought the C2, C3 and C5 rubber to Melbourne, skipping the C4, which was the softest tyre used at the last round in Jeddah.

In recent years Formula 1’s official tyre supplier has invariably selected consecutive compounds for each race. However it has brought the C2, C3 and C5 rubber to Melbourne, skipping the C4, which was the softest tyre used at the last round in Jeddah. Pirelli’s head of motorsport Mario Isola said the manufacturer wanted to create a larger gap in performance between the medium and soft compound tyres.

“During our tyre test we found that the delta lap time between the C3 and the C4 was quite small,” Isola explained. Pirelli expected between 0.4 and 0.5 seconds difference per lap between the two around Jeddah’s 6.174-kilometre track. Around the shorter Albert Park course, Isola said Pirelli expect the difference to be “less than 0.3” of a second. “So we decided to jump one level, that is always possible, and bring to Melbourne C2, C3 and C5,” he said.

‘Tyre Compound Decisions’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/07/pirelli-explains-thinking-behind-step-in-melbourne-tyre-compound-choice/

Fortitude

7th April 2022, 13:02

Lewis Hamilton's hopes of Australian Grand Prix win rubbished by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has rubbished any suggestions that Lewis Hamilton can win the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. The Silver Arrows ace has fallen well short in the first two races of the season following a winter of F1 regulation changes and car upgrades.
By TOM PARSONS
14:18, Wed, Apr 6, 2022

Mercedes have failed to redesign their 2022 car in a way which keeps them competitive - and their struggles have been clear to see in the early stages of the new season. At the opener in Bahrain, Hamilton finished third - but only after Red Bull duo Verstappen and Sergio Perez were forced to retire due to power failure. And in Saudi Arabia, Hamilton suffered the ignominy of finishing 10th.

But, despite his team’s woes, Wolff insists he’s looking forward to the first Australian Grand Prix since 2019. “Now we head back to Melbourne for the first time since 2020 and will be racing in Australia for the first time in three years - that's too long for a city and country that are so passionate about F1,” Wolff added.

“We're looking forward to seeing the fans and the new track layout which promises more overtaking opportunities and faster lap times.”

‘Australian Win Rubbished’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1592124/Lewis-Hamilton-Australian-Grand-Prix-Mercedes-Toto-Wolff-Max-Verstappen-Red-Bull-Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton braced for more misery in Melbourne as Mercedes rule out upgrades
07/04/2022, 12:12
Philip Duncan

Hamilton has already been cast 29 points adrift in the championship race

Lewis Hamilton is braced for more misery in Melbourne after his Mercedes team ruled out any major upgrades for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton has already been cast 29 points adrift in the championship race after he finished only 10th at the second round in Saudi Arabia a fortnight ago…

‘Upgrades Ruled Out’;

https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/lewis-hamilton-melbourne-mclaren-lando-norris-george-russell-b2052760.html

Lewis Hamilton warned of 'vicious cycle' Mercedes are battling to overcome this season
By STUART BALLARD
11:01, Thu, Apr 7, 2022

Mercedes have a "huge problem" to fix with Emerson Fittipaldi warning Lewis Hamilton just how much work needs to be done to catch Red Bull and Ferrari. Ahead of pre-season testing, Mercedes were the team to beat having just clinched their eighth consecutive Constructors' Championship.

The cars will take to the track on Friday where Mercedes will hope to see some improvements. But Fittipaldi has warned Hamilton that Mercedes are currently in a "vicious cycle" which they're struggling to get out of. "Mercedes engines are down. They suffered a lot of performance in the first two Grands Prix," he told VegasInsider. "We know all the Mercedes teams are having a difficult time.

“Lewis Hamilton had a great race in Bahrain where he got the podium. With that car, Lewis should not be on the podium. They are struggling. The speed on the stretch is much lower. When you have less power from the engine, you sacrifice the aerodynamics. And then it’s a compromise of handling, as well.

‘‘Vicious Mercedes Cycle’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1592608/Lewis-Hamilton-F1-news-Mercedes-Emerson-Fittipaldi-Australian-Grand-Prix

THIS IS HOW MERCEDES EXPERTS ARE HELPING RED BULL
07/04/2022, 07:30
Catherine Micallef

Red Bull are currently in process of finalising their new engine factory, Red Bull Powertrains, which is rumoured to work with Porsche. This is after the German car manufacturer seeks to return to Formula One in 2026, the year new engine rules come into place.

Honda is still in the picture for Red Bull and in an interview with Formel1.de, Helmut Marko spoke about the project and its employees. “In parallel to this, of course, we need to set up our own production line. Our advantage is that we have a very versatile team. People from Honda have been hired to work on our project, some of the Red Bull staff have been displaced, and experts from Mercedes have been hired.”

The interviewer asked whether about 50 people were hired and Marko replied, “Actually the number is close to that, yes.” This came after Marko discussed Mercedes’ poor form during the first few stages of the season. He said, “I don’t have detailed knowledge of the situation at Mercedes, but those problems must have something to do with the new fuel.”

‘Red Bull Powertrains’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/redbull-powertrains-helmut-marko-mercedes/

Lewis Hamilton faces extending long barren run at Australian GP as Mercedes low on hope
MELBOURNE has not traditionally been a happy hunting ground for F1 star Lewis Hamilton.
By CHARLIE GORDON
05:20, Thu, Apr 7, 2022

Lewis Hamilton may be helpless on his pursuit to end a barren run in Australia which has seen him fail to win the race for seven years. All voices coming out of the Mercedes camp suggest that the issues which blighted their weekend in Saudi Arabia are not going away any time soon, which threatens to leave them off the pace once again.

That will come as painful news for the 37-year-old in particular, given that he has failed to win in Australia since 2015. In terms of the current F1 calendar it is therefore Hamilton's standout bogey track, boasting a longer streak without him winning than any other.

‘Bogey Track’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1592199/lewis-hamilton-australian-grand-prix-mercedes-f1-news

Fortitude

8th April 2022, 08:07

FP1: Sainz leads Ferrari team mate Leclerc in opening Australian Grand Prix practice session
Ferrari kicked off their weekend in style as Carlos Sainz set the pace in first practice for the returning Australian Grand Prix, with team mate Charles Leclerc slotting into second.
08 April 2022

The Spaniard clocked a 1m 19.806s on Pirelli’s softest tyre – the C5 – with Leclerc 0.571s adrift, the championship leader having run into the gravel on his out-lap and then backing out of his second attempt.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez – who caused one of two red flags when he lost a piece of bodywork – was third with a late quick lap on the soft, a couple of tenths ahead of team mate Max Verstappen, though the reigning champion set his quickest lap much earlier in the session.

McLaren showed a surprising turn of pace, after a challenging start to the season as they battle to get on top of a front axle issue, with Lando Norris in fifth and home favourite Daniel Ricciardo eighth.

‘Stylish Ferrari ‘Kick Off’!’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.fp1-sainz-leads-ferrari-team-mate-leclerc-in-opening-australian-grand-prix.4JXiUhH7SW44WUa991cksl.html

Lewis Hamilton finishes only SEVENTH in first practice for the Australian Grand Prix as Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc claim a one-two ahead of Red Bull in Melbourne
By Philip Duncan, Press Association
Published: 06:47, 8 April 2022

• Mercedes were once again well off the pace at the Australian Grand Prix
• Lewis Hamilton finished seventh in first practice, 1.2 seconds off the pace
• His team-mate George Russell was 12th as Melbourne weekend got underway
• Ferrari set the early pace with Carlos Sainz ahead of Charles Leclerc
• Red Bull duo Sergio Perez and reigning champion Max Verstappen were next

‘FP1, Lewis Hamilton 7th’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10698783/Australian-Grand-Prix-Lewis-Hamilton-seventh-practice-Ferrari-set-pace.html

Russell demands "too tough" Australian GP calendar change
Ian Parkes
Friday 8 April 2022 07:00

George Russell has called for more thought to be placed on next year's F1 calendar after declaring it "too tough" on everyone in the sport that the Australian Grand Prix is a standalone event.

There is a significant buzz about F1's return to the country that has been devoid of a race since 2019 after two cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic, with an Australian sporting record crowd of over 400,000 expected over the three days.

"But having Melbourne in between races, especially as a standalone, is too tough for the teams and everybody. People came out on the Saturdays and Sundays to get acclimatised to the conditions, to the time zone change, and [now] it's just too much. It needs to be thought about more. There's no reason why we couldn't do a back to back with one of the Middle Eastern races.”

‘Tough’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79688/russell-demands-too-tough-australian-gp-calendar-change/

Albert Park track changes will play into Red Bull’s hands, Leclerc predicts
2022 Australian Grand Prix
Posted on
8th April 2022, 7:05 | Written by Keith Collantine

Charles Leclerc believes the changes to the Albert Park for this year’s Australian Grand Prix will suit rivals Red Bull. The changes were made to create more overtaking opportunities at a track where passing has often been difficult. Leclerc suspects they will make a difference, but expects Red Bull will benefit from the alterations.

“Probably for our car I would have preferred to stay with the old layout, but that’s only from a performance point of view,” he said. “But I think for overtaking it will definitely be better. How much better is still yet to see. But it looks interesting. Turn six, seven will be quite challenging for us now. Nine, 10 we will arrive at much higher speed. So it should be it should be an exciting track.”

‘Red Bull’s Hands’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/08/albert-park-track-changes-will-play-into-red-bulls-hands-leclerc-predicts/

Drivers fear for F1's heritage despite 'awesome' Vegas race
Issued on: 08/04/2022 - 08:04

Melbourne (AFP) – Drivers enthusiastically welcomed on Friday Las Vegas hosting a night-time Formula 1 grand prix, but voiced concern that traditional races in Europe could pay the price as the sport expands in new directions. Racing returns to 'Sin City' next year for the first time since 1982, becoming the third grand prix in the United States alongside Miami and Austin.

It is part of a concerted effort by the sport's US bosses to attract a new, younger audience, rather than relying on a traditional, ageing fanbase.

But they also said it was important to remember Formula One's history and tradition. France, Belgium and even Monaco are all seen as vulnerable races.

‘Sin City Grand Prix’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220408-drivers-fear-for-f1-s-heritage-despite-awesome-vegas-race

Fortitude

8th April 2022, 08:41

FP2: Leclerc leads Verstappen in second Australian GP practice session.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in FP2 ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Scuderia team mate Carlos Sainz on Friday at the Australian Grand Prix.
08 April 2022

Verstappen jumped to second with under 20 minutes left, his opening soft-tyred runs compromised by traffic, then a lock-up in Sector 3 before the Dutchman finally managed a more representative lap on worn tyres to finish 0.245s off Leclerc – and drop Sainz to third.

Alpine's Fernando Alonso put in a blistering lap to take P4 at Sergio Perez's expense, while Alonso's team mate Esteban Ocon was sixth – but three-tenths down on the two-time champion.

‘FP2 Results’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.fp2-leclerc-leads-verstappen-in-second-australian-gp-practice-session.2GtKTHeyGmahGiCvJFHCds.html

Australian GP: Leclerc quickest, Alpine impress in Practice 2
08 April 2022
Ben Issatt

Charles Leclerc ensured Ferrari completed a Friday double as he led second practice at the Australian Grand Prix. The Monegasque would be the only driver to go sub-1m19s around the revised Albert Park as the drivers completed intriguing soft tyre runs mid-session.

Max Verstappen prevented another Scuderia 1-2 in second for Red Bull, but it was a tricky hour for the Dutchman who needed multiple attempts to get a clean lap.

As has been the trait in the opening races, the top two teams are achieving their lap times in different ways with Ferrari holding an advantage in the corners while Red Bull are flying on the straights.

‘‘Fernando Alonso EL PLAN 4th’;

https://www.insideracing.com/formula-1/15328-australian-gp-leclerc-quickest-alpine-impress-in-practice-2

Leclerc quickest from Verstappen in second Australian practice
2022 Australian Grand Prix second practice
Posted on
8th April 2022, 8:16 | Written by Will Wood

Charles Leclerc set the overall pace in the afternoon practice session ahead of Max Verstappen at the end of the first day of F1 running for the Australian Grand Prix.

Leclerc’s quickest time of a 1’18.978 saw him go a quarter of a second faster than Max Verstappen’s best lap time in the Red Bull. Carlos Sainz Jnr was third fastest in the second Ferrari, with Fernando Alonso fourth for Alpine. The clouds had drifted over the Albert Park circuit between the end of first practice and the start of the afternoon session. Teams took to the track on the medium tyres for some early data in the slightly cooler afternoon conditions.

With 12 minutes remaining, the session was red-flagged after the front left wheel faring on Stroll’s Aston Martin broke off the car as Stroll rounded turn 12, falling onto the racing line. The debris was recovered and the session quickly resumed. Having had his first practice session cut short with a power unit problem, Sebastian Vettel was unable to take to the track at all in the afternoon.

‘Wheel faring and Power Unit problems’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/08/leclerc-quickest-from-verstappen-in-second-australian-practice/

All you need to know about Australian GP F1 practice two
08/04/2022, 08:28
By Josh Suttill

Key moments
• Leclerc fastest ahead of Verstappen…
• …but Verstappen has to back out of faster lap
• Alonso an impressive fourth
• Mercedes duo both outside of top 10

George Russell was the fastest Mercedes driver in 11th place. His team-mate Lewis Hamilton was only 13th. The duo were once again experimenting with set-up in the early part of the session, leading to a high level of porpoising and a loose rear of the W13, for Russell in particular before changes were made.

Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel, who missed the first two races of the 2022 season, continued to suffer a nightmare Friday as his team was unable to change his power unit in time for him to get back on track following the issue that caused him to stop on track in FP1.

‘Mercedes Experimenting’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/all-you-need-to-know-about-australian-gp-f1-practice-two/

Australian Grand Prix: Ferrari strong again as Alpine impress in Friday practice
By George Dagless
Published: 8 Apr 2022, 08:21

Ferrari once again looked strong in Friday free practice for the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, as Carlos Sainz and then Charles Leclerc topped the time-sheets in the two sessions at Albert Park.

The Scuderia have been a leading light so far this season with the performances they have shown, and it is they and Red Bull that look to have got the regulations nailed down most of all.

An interesting couple of sessions, then, and whilst Ferrari and Red Bull once again look good, could we see Alpine being the third-fastest? Or even mixing it for the front two rows on Saturday? Time will tell…

‘Alpine Impress’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87993181-australian-grand-prix-ferrari-strong-again-as-alpine-impress-in-friday-practice

2022 F1 Australian Grand Prix – Free Practice 2 results
08/04/2022, ‎08‎:‎01
Author RacingNews365 Staff

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc led Red Bull's Max Verstappen during second practice in Australia. Check out the full results from FP2 at Albert Park below.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in Friday's second practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull rival Max Verstappen.

Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez followed their teammates in third and fifth respectively, with the Alpine of Fernando Alonso slotting between them.

‘FP2: Full Results’;

https://racingnews365.com/2022-f1-australian-grand-prix-free-practice-2-results

Fortitude

8th April 2022, 15:36

Alpine: In good shape to get both cars into Q3, more to come.
While TV pundits argued that Alonso may have been in qualifying mode, or using low fuel, no matter what he was only half a second shy of the top time with Esteban Ocon a quarter second down on his teammate in sixth, suggesting there is pace in those Blue & Pink cars.
Paul Velasco
8 April, 2022

Fernando Alonso made no mention of claiming the fourth-fastest time in FP2 for the Australian Grand Prix, the Alpine veteran clearly has a solid package for the weekend in Melbourne, but team boss Otmar Szafnauer expects both his cars to make Q3 on Saturday.

Alonso made little of the surprising pace they found today: “We had some minor things that delayed us a little in Free Practice 1, but we still managed a pretty normal day for us. We completed a good amount of running and got a lot of information from both sessions. There are some balance issues that we need to solve, especially on the higher fuel runs.”

“I obviously saw the track yesterday, but I think the changes are positive and the lap is obviously much quicker now. I’m not sure if there will be more overtaking on Sunday, but let’s see.”

‘FP2, Alpine F1 4th Fastest, Pretty Normal Day!’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/08/alpine-more-to-come-but-in-good-shape-to-get-both-cars-in-q3-melbourne-fp2/

Esteban Ocon feeling upbeat as Alpine look strong in Australia practice
By George Dagless
Published: 8 Apr 2022, 12:30

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon could not deny that things are looking in good shape for him and his team ahead of the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. Speaking to F1, Ocon said: “It’s been pretty decent, obviously both cars are in the top ten for both sessions and we’ve discovered a lot on this track… [there are] some great challenges with some great fast corners and we look pretty okay at the moment but it is only Friday.”

“I think so, we tried a few things between the cars to optimise the aero platform through there and it seems to have worked but tomorrow is when we need to put it together and release the power.”

An intriguing session on Saturday awaits, then, and though you’d probably not expect to see an Alpine on pole for Sunday’s race just yet, it is clear that they are making good progress with their A522.

‘El PLAN: Pole’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87993335-esteban-ocon-feeling-upbeat-as-alpine-look-strong-in-australia-practice

Alpine 'reasonably pleased' with strong Friday form
Andrew Lewin
08/04/2022 at 11:21

The Alpine team declared itself 'reasonably pleased' with their performance in friday's free practice sessions for the Australian GP, with Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon finishing in the top ten in both FP1 and FP2.

Sporting director Alan Permane: "In terms of our performance today, we can be reasonably pleased with the cars in both practice sessions. There’s still work to do, especially in extracting the most from the soft tyre on the first timed lap for qualifying.”

"We ran the medium and hard tyres with high fuel to assess race performance and this looked in line with our simulations. Overtaking will be difficult on Sunday so it’s essential to extract the maximum from all elements in qualifying.”

‘Reasonably Pleased’;

https://f1i.com/news/437655-alpine-reasonably-pleased-with-strong-friday-form.html

Alpine drivers braced for tight battle for Q3 spots despite strong Friday in Melbourne
08 April 2022

An encouraging turn of pace from Alpine in FP2 was met with cautious optimism from the two drivers, who expect qualifying to play a crucial part to their hopes in Melbourne.

“It’s been pretty decent, obviously both cars in the top 10 for both sessions,” Ocon said. “A lot of things discovered today on this track, some good surprises with the level of grip being much higher than before, the track being quite a lot smoother as well. Some great challenges with some great fast corners. We look pretty okay at the moment, but as you know I’m going to tell you, it’s only Friday.”

Despite the strong showing in terms of headline lap times, Ocon expects plenty of challengers to Alpine in the fight for best-of-the-rest behind Ferrari and Red Bull.

‘Plenty Of Challengers’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.alpine-drivers-braced-for-tight-battle-for-q3-spots-despite-strong-friday-in.6lRJYz4aJJVeYnTz4FQ4q9.html

Fernando Alonso issues warning to F1 CEO and Liberty Media
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has recently suggested that the calendar could eventually consist of 30 races.
by Rob Kershaw
8 April 20228 April 2022

Fernando Alonso has warned Formula 1 that it needs to be careful not to overwork the teams as they mull adding more races to the calendar.

The teams are all based in Europe, and the constant travelling and unsocial hours naturally takes its toll on team members financially and mentally. Alonso has called for caution on the amount of strain F1 management place on the paddock workers.

“We need to be careful on the number of races. We should be on a limit, because for the teams it’s quite demanding, how the schedule and the calendar is now, especially we don’t have so many races in Europe anymore,” he said, as quoted by Autosport.

‘Overworking the Teams’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/fernando-alonso-issues-warning-to-f1-ceo-and-liberty-media/

Fortitude

9th April 2022, 03:58

Lewis Hamilton demoralised as Mercedes woes continue at Australian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton appeared deflated and frustrated with Mercedes still unable to bring in the changes needed to challenge further up the grid.
By STUART BALLARD
09:04, Fri, Apr 8, 2022

LEWIS HAMILTON ended FP2, 13th fastest with Mercedes struggling to find the right package for this weekend. And the seven-time world champion appeared dejected when asked to review the session.

Hamilton remains hopeful that better things are to come for Mercedes in the near future. But, for now, they're powerless to compete towards the front of the grid.

"I don't think it's going to be tricky to find our way back, there's just not a lot we can do," he added. "This is the way it is so we just have to drive with it.”

‘Deflation and Frustration’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1593091/Lewis-Hamilton-Mercedes-FP1-FP2-Australian-Grand-Prix-F1-news

Race director fires warning at Lewis Hamilton over ‘safety concerns’ ahead of 2022 Australian GP
Niels Wittich has reminded drivers of a ban on jewellery during races.
by Rob Kershaw
8 April 20228 April 2022

Race director at this year’s Australian Grand Prix, Niels Wittich, has emphasised that there is rule in place prohibiting drivers from wearing jewellery while racing due to safety concerns. The drivers’ race suits and undergarments are all required to be specifically flame-retardant to avoid adding to the risk of a fire during a crash.

The FIA placed “an immediate ban on the wearing of jewellery (body piercing and heavy chains) by race and rally competitors.” Sir Lewis Hamilton is often seen wearing jewellery in the paddock and sometimes even when in the cockpit, so it is conceivable that Wittich’s reminder was aimed predominantly at the Briton.

“The wearing of jewellery in the form of body piercing or metal neck chains is prohibited during the competition and may therefore be checked before the start,” he wrote in 5.1 of his notes ahead of this weekend.”

‘Jewellery Prohibited’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/race-director-fires-warning-at-lewis-hamilton-over-safety-concerns-ahead-of-2022-australian-gp/

Sebastian Vettel fined €5,000 for moped incident during Australian Grand Prix practice
Callum McAvoyFriday 8 Apr 2022 6:27 pm

Sebastian Vettel has been given a €5,000 fine after riding a moped around the Albert Park circuit after the first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion was left stranded on track on Friday after his Aston Martin suffered engine problems and caught fire towards the end of FP1.

After helping to put the fire out, the German waited trackside until the end of the session before borrowing a moped from the marshals and riding it back to the pitlane via the track and not the designated, inner-circuit route, waving to the jubilant Melbourne crowds in the process.

‘€5,000 fine’;

https://metro.co.uk/2022/04/08/f1-star-sebastian-vettel-fined-for-moped-incident-during-australian-gp-16433300/?ito=newsnow-feed

F1 LIVE: Fears over ‘artificial race’ in Aus GP track swipe; Vettel cops bizarre scooter fine
April 9th, 2022 12:30 pm
Jacob Polychronis from Fox Sports

Many drivers gave an early tick of approval to track changes at Albert Park on Friday – but not everyone will be so easily won over at the Australian Grand Prix.

Former driver and Sky F1 pundit Paul Di Resta was critical of the new layout following practice, warning that the race is at risk of becoming “artificial”. “I’m not convinced on it to be honest,” he said on Sky F1. “I don’t think taking out the corners was the right call. 2022 is very different to 2019, four DRS zones is too much I think but I don’t want to see an artificial race.

Vettel explained the decision before he was penalised, saying he convinced the marshal to let him drive. “The guy came with a scooter and he said, ‘you can jump on the back,’ Vettel said. “I said, ‘can I drive it?’ Because I prefer to drive myself. “And then he handed me the scooter, so I said, ‘okay,’ and he said, ‘off you go.’ And I went. I mean, I would like to get the car back and not to have a problem in the first place. I’m not here to drive a scooter.”

‘Critical and Bizarre’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/f1-live-fears-over-artificial-race-in-aus-gp-track-swipe-vettel-cops-bizarre-scooter-fine/news-story/deed4542e09726f362d1e0b1ca665aa9

Ricciardo’s unexpected boost; Mercedes mystery deepens: What we learned from F1 practice
April 9th, 2022 10:06 am
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports

STILL NOTHING TO SPLIT FERRARI AND RED BULL RACING. The all-important long-run data from second practice reveals the evenness between the front running teams. In fact it’s Red Bull Racing who stands atop the race simulation times on the favoured medium tyre, albeit by a fine margin.

IMPROVED NEWS FOR MCLAREN McLaren arrived in Melbourne knowing the track would be on the favourable side for its problematic car, but the evidence of free practice suggests the team may be in better shape than even in Saudi Arabia.

Daniel Ricciardo, who predicted he’d be able to target strong points this weekend, agreed the day had gone unexpectedly well for the team just two races after fielding the slowest car of all. “I think again realistically, [based on] our expectation of where we think we could be, it’s been a good day,” Daniel Ricciardo said, the Australian 1.2 seconds off the pace. At least we’re there. “Hopefully there’s not too much sandbagging going on with others. The main thing is I think we have a decent level of confidence with the car.”

‘Mercedes Mystery, Fine Margins, Unexpectedly Well’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/too-close-to-call-ferrari-and-red-bull-neck-and-neck-as-aus-gp-qualifying-favourites/news-story/d903dab7c2ac1f535ba1d249a3e6ac90

Fortitude

9th April 2022, 20:26

F1 – Leclerc beats Verstappen to Australian Grand Prix pole position.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc beat Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen by almost three tenths of a second to take his second pole position of the season in an Australian Grand Prix qualifying session that was disrupted by two red flag periods.
09.04.22
FIA

Q1 began with both Ferraris heading out on track soon after the pit lane opened and Leclerc immediately moved to P1 with a lap of 1:19.391. McLaren’s Lando Norris slotted into second just under four tenths off the Ferrari driver.

In Q2 Verstappen was first out on track, with Pérez not far behind. Verstppen crossed the line in 1:18.611, marginally off his Q1 best, to take top spot, with his team-mate second. Alonso then split the Red Bulls as Leclerc made his way to fourth ahead of Norris.

Verstappen was again on track early in Q3 but the Dutchman’s opening run featured a small lock up in the penultimate corner and he crossed the line in 1:18.399. Pérez then took top spot just 0.001s behind his team-mate. Leclerc was running quickly though and his 1:18.239 was good enough for provisional pole.

‘Pole Position’;

https://www.fia.com/news/f1-leclerc-beats-verstappen-australian-grand-prix-pole-position

Leclerc keeps Australian GP pole after F1 stewards investigation
09/04/2022, 13:48
By Scott Mitchell

Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has kept his Australian Grand Prix pole after the stewards deemed no further action was necessary over him allegedly driving unnecessarily slowly in qualifying.

Leclerc took his second pole of the season after defeating early championship rival Max Verstappen in Melbourne. However, on Saturday evening he and his Ferrari team were called to the stewards at 20:55 local time.

Leclerc has allegedly breached Article 33.4 of the sporting regulations and the race director’s notes by “driving unnecessarily slowly on an inlap” in Q1.

‘Leclerc On Pole’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/leclerc-keeps-australian-gp-pole-after-f1-stewards-investigation/

Perez in the clear after yellow flag investigation
2022 Australian Grand Prix
Posted on
9th April 2022, 13:24 | Written by Will Wood

After investigating the incident, the stewards cleared the Red Bull driver of failing to respect the yellow flag. “As [Perez] approached turn 11, a single yellow flag was displayed for a car in the escape road,” the stewards explained.

“[Perez] was warned by his team on the radio at the same time the signals were displayed at the corner. Compared to his previous lap, he lifted 70 meters earlier, braked 50 meters earlier, and carried 14kph less speed into the corner.”

“As a result of these actions, the stewards conclude that [Perez] acted appropriately to the situation and take no further action.”

‘Lifted in the Clear’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/09/perez-in-the-clear-after-yellow-flag-investigation/

Fantastic Ferrari, marvellous McLaren and awful Aston: Aus GP qualifying analysis
Riccardo to start in top 10! | 01:39
Michael Lamonato from Fox Sports
April 9th, 2022 8:55 pm

Charles Leclerc has capitalised on difficult weekend for Max Verstappen to seize pole position for the first Australian Grand Prix in three years.

It was a disjointed session that Ferrari found easiest to master, its super-usable car doing the business when Red Bull Racing couldn’t and delivering Leclerc his second pole of the season.

But McLaren stole headlines with its unexpectedly powerful performance around Albert Park. Lando Norris was a fabulous fourth, and though a scruffy last lap left Daniel Ricciardo seventh, even the home hero was optimistic about his race.

‘Top 10 Ricciardo’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/formula-one/fantastic-ferrari-marvellous-mclaren-and-awful-aston-aus-gp-qualifying-analysis/news-story/9a558bd234e42a1d72ddac8d944bee78

Hamilton: I’m going to be battling as hard as I can for a podium
Paul Velasco
9 April, 2022

There is a sniff of a podium for Lewis Hamilton after he qualified fifth fastest for the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, but it is clear that the Mercedes W13 is proving to be an unlucky number for the World Champion team.

“I think we did a decent job to get to where we are because we had a bigger deficit yesterday,” Hamilton told Sky F1, with reference to Friday practice.

“My last lap, I felt like I there was more in it, so I had this unexpected step of grip and didn’t get to maximise it, but I am still naturally happy with it,” added the seven-time F1 World Champion.

‘Unlucky Number’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/09/hamilton-potential-podiums-possible-who-knows-australian-gp-qualifying-mercedes/

‘Angry’ Sainz reveals what led to disaster qualifying at 2022 Australian GP
Charles Leclerc qualified on pole for the 2022 Australian Grand Prix in the other Ferrari.
by Rob Kershaw
9 April 20229 April 2022

Sainz’s first lap in Q3 was set to be good enough to at least put him in the top five before a crash for Fernando Alonso, who had set a purple first sector, brought out the red flag.

Sadly for Alonso’s compatriot, the subsequent red flag was deployed just as he was about to cross the finish line, putting pay to his run.

‘Red Flag’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/angry-sainz-reveals-what-led-to-disaster-qualifying-at-2022-australian-gp/

Fortitude

10th April 2022, 08:39

Leclerc dominates down under as Verstappen fails to finish.
Australian Grand Prix – Charles Leclerc took a pole to lights victory in Melbourne while an issue for Max Verstappen saw him retire.
by Emer Hedderman
10th April 2022

As the lights went out for the first Australian Grand Prix since 2019, it was an ideal start for polesitter Charles Leclerc, who held station at the front and pulled out over half a second on Max Verstappen over the first lap. Behind the top two,it was Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver moving up from P5 while the big losers of the top 10 were Lando Norris, who got swamped and fell from P4 to P6, and Sainz who dropped to P14.

By lap 12 Verstappen was four seconds behind the leader, with the gap only widening, and was struggling with his tyres. The Dutchman telling his team “my left front is completely grained”. Lap 39 saw Verstappen told to “stop the car” and the reigning champion pulled his Red Bull off the track just after T2. He told his team he could “smell some weird fluid” and fire extinguishers were required when the car stopped. That meant Perez moved to P2 while the Mercedes cars of Russell and Hamilton were into P3 and P4. The Mexican was told not to worry about his teammate’s issue as it wasn’t relevant for his car.

Hamilton was also sending messages to his team, his “you guys put me in a really difficult position” was quite strange as it was Vettel’s accident and subsequent Safety Car which allowed Russell to be ahead of his teammate and in the final podium position.

‘Charles Leclerc Domination’;

https://formulaspy.com/f1/leclerc-dominates-down-under-as-verstappen-fails-to-finish-78709

Ferrari fans in raptures as Leclerc dominates Australian Grand Prix
By Michael Lynch
April 10, 2022 — 4.41pm

Charles Leclerc proved himself the class of the Australian Grand Prix field, winning a dramatic race in which his main challenger Max Verstappen’s hopes went up in smoke when his engine failed.

Ferrari fans were in raptures at Albert Park as Leclerc was imperious all race. The Monegasque driver qualified his Ferrari on pole position and made every post a winning one as he got off the line first and was never headed to win easily and increase his lead in the drivers’ championship. Leclerc also set the fastest lap.

Second home was Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, whose car proved more durable than that of the reigning world champion, with young British driver George Russell third for Mercedes.

‘Ferrari, Scuderia, Tifosi In Raptures’;

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/motorsport/ferrari-fans-in-raptures-as-leclerc-dominates-australian-gp-20220410-p5acf1.html

Charles Leclerc extends championship lead with Australian GP win.
Charles Leclerc extended his championship lead on Sunday at the Australian Grand Prix as he took victory in Melbourne, with both Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz retiring.
By George Dagless
Published: 10 Apr 2022, 07:43

Leclerc had his Ferrari on pole and controlled the race for the majority of the Grand Prix, with his two closest rivals losing serious ground over the course of the race. Carlos Sainz, already on the backfoot after a P9 in qualifying, found himself in the gravel trap and retiring early on, before more technical woes for Max Verstappen.

Indeed, we’ve already seen mechanical issues for Verstappen this season with him retiring in Bahrain and, after this further issue in Melbourne, it does appear as though the Red Bull is a quick but fragile car.

Saying that, Sergio Perez at least managed to bring his RB18 home as he finished in second place behind Leclerc, though the Monegasque was in a league of his own come the end of the race, whilst George Russell was on hand in the Mercedes to pick up third.

‘Championship Lead Extended.’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87993839-charles-leclerc-extends-championship-lead-with-australian-gp-win

What happened to Max Verstappen to cause F1 Australian GP retirement?
10/04/2022, 07:54
HITC

Verstappen retired from the Australian Grand Prix on Lap 39, but what happened to the Red Bull driver? Did it affect Sergio Perez?
The title defence of Max Verstappen has been hit or miss so far in 2022.

A fuel pick-up problem in Bahrain was followed up with victory in Saudi Arabia.

However, he could (NOT) add another win in Australia, conking out in the second half of the race at Albert Park. But what happened to Max Verstappen to cause his Australian Grand Prix DNF and retirement?

‘Questions’;

https://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/F1/Grand+Prix/Australian+GP

‘UNACCEPTABLE’ ISSUE LEAVES VERSTAPPEN DOWNCAST OVER F1 TITLE
10/04/2022, 08:15
By Josh Suttill

Max Verstappen branded his retirement from the Australian Grand Prix “frustrating and unacceptable” and says he doesn’t “even want to think about the championship fight” after his second DNF in three Formula 1 races.

“We’re already miles behind, I don’t even want to think about the championship fight at the moment, I think it’s more important to finish races,” Verstappen said when asked by Sky how it affects his title hopes. Today in general was just a bad day again, not really having the pace. Just managing my tyres and trying to bring it to the end.”

“Quite an easy P2 and I knew I could not fight Charles so was no point trying to put pressure on him. We didn’t even finish the race, so pretty frustrating and unacceptable. “These kinds of things, if you want to fight for the title, cannot happen,” he admitted. “I don’t know [what the problem was] I had to stop the car. They have to get the car back home and investigate.”

‘Frustration’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/verstappen-downcast-over-f1-title-after-unacceptable-problem/

Martin Brundle's awkward Marco Materazzi encounter on Australian Grand Prix grid-walk
MARTIN BRUNDLE bumped into Italian football legend Marco Materazzi on the Australian Grand Prix grid.
By MIKAEL MCKENZIE
06:05, Sun, Apr 10, 2022

Firstly Brundle strolled up to the 48-year-old and asked "are you Marco Mariachi?", completely butchering Materazzi's surname.
He then proceeded to ask the ex-footballer which team he played for and how he felt about Italy not making it to this year's World Cup in Qatar after their shock loss to North Macedonia.

"We are speaking about Formula 1," an annoyed Materazzi replied. Brundle got the sense that the former defender was in no mood to talk and quickly ended the conversation while muttering "well that didn't go well" to the camera.

‘‘Formula 1 Speak’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1593857/Martin-Brundle-Marco-Materazzi-Australian-Grand-Prix

Fortitude

10th April 2022, 13:58

Leclerc: Chances for the Championship, make me smile.
Leclerc will leave Melbourne leading the Formula 1 Championship with 71 points, as his reliability-inflicted rival, Max Verstappen languishes down in sixth place 46 points down, after failing to finish yet again in Australia.
Jad Mallak
10 April, 2022

It was a perfect weekend for the Monegasque, with pole, race win, and the point from the fastest lap all to his name, as the he seemed imperious at the wheel of the rapid F1-75, his lead never threatened during the 58-lap race. The Ferrari star said after the race: “It’s the first one where we’ve controlled the gap and what a car today. Of course, I did a good job all weekend, but it’s not possible without the car.”

“Especially this weekend with the race pace, we were extremely strong,” he reveled. “Obviously we are only at the third race, so it is difficult to think about the championship. But we’ve got a very strong car, a very reliable car too and for now we’ve always been there.”

“I hope it continues like this and if it does then we probably have chances for the championship, which makes me smile,” the four-time Grand Prix winner added.

‘Smiling Championship Chances’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/10/leclerc-chances-for-the-championship-makes-me-smile/

‘It feels incredible’ - Charles Leclerc wins Australian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen forced into second retirement in three races; Lewis Hamilton fourth
10th April 2022, 12:23
Irish Times.

Australian Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc hailed his team for producing a fast car after Ferrari stormed to the most dominant win of the Formula One season at Albert Park on Sunday.

Starting from pole, the 24-year-old from Monaco crossed the finish line more than 20 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s runner-up Sergio Perez to claim his fourth career win in style.

Having gone winless in the last two years as Ferrari struggled, Leclerc has now won two of the last three races, including the season-opener in Bahrain, to emerge as the early championship favourite. “It feels incredible . . . because now I know underneath me I’ve got a car that is capable of winning,” Leclerc told reporters.

‘Winning Car Beneath Me’;

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/it-feels-incredible-charles-leclerc-wins-australian-grand-prix-1.4849242

Charles Leclerc: "Difficult" to talk about world title after Australia win
By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has suggested that he will not get carried away with his excellent start to the new Formula 1 campaign.

Commenting after his victory at Albert Park, Leclerc said: ""We are only in the third race so it is difficult to think about the championship, but we have a very strong car, a very reliable car too, so I hope it continues like this and, if it does, we will have chances for the championship.

"That makes me smile after the last two years, which have been difficult for the team and myself so it is great to be back in this position."

‘Great To Be Back’;

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/formula-1/ferrari/australian-grand-prix/news/leclerc-difficult-to-talk-about-title-after-australia-win_482958.html?newsnow

Formula 1: Charles Leclerc eyeing feat no one has pulled off since 2015
10/04/2022, 11:01
by Asher Fair

In the first three races of the 2022 Formula 1 season, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has already doubled his career win total, winning the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit and then adding another dominant win in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park Circuit.

Drivers can only score a maximum of 26 points in each race, so Leclerc is guaranteed to be the points leader after the next race in Imola.

Additionally, even with second place finishes in the next four races, Leclerc would not fall from the lead — even if Russell, or any other driver, were to win all four races and do so with the fastest lap.

Doubling Career Win Total’;

https://beyondtheflag.com/2022/04/10/formula-1-charles-leclerc-eyeing-feat-no-one-pulled-2015/

Binotto left with mixed emotions after split fortunes for Ferrari
10/04/2022, ‎10‎:‎30
Author Anna Francis

Whilst it was a successful day for Charles Leclerc at the Australian Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz's race ended in disaster. Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto has given his take on the event.

"Today was great," the team boss told Sky Sports F1. "I think today [has been] a great satisfaction, but we know that each single race can be different. But at least, let's enjoy [it] for today. Charles had to get up to speed, but I think [he] worked well through the weekend. He made the pole, the fastest lap in the race, and [took] a fantastic win."

On the other side of the garage, Sainz was left feeling frustrated after a challenging day. "He's certainly pretty disappointed today," Binotto explained. "I think we understand his disappointment. I think it was important for him to prove that he was fast again coming here [to] Australia, but he has been very fast on Friday, fast on Saturday morning.”

‘Mixed Emotions’;

https://racingnews365.com/binotto-left-with-mixed-emotions-after-split-fortunes-for-ferrari

Sainz reveals what caused early-race problems and retirement
10th April 2022.
Author Thomas Maher

Carlos Sainz has shed some light on why he struggled so much in the early stages of the Australian Grand Prix, before making a driver error that forced him out of the race.

A disconsolate Sainz later explained that he felt he was starting the race on the back foot due to a change of steering wheel moments before the lights went out. We had another problem with the steering wheel with some switches not working," Sainz told Viaplay after the race.

"We had to change the steering wheel, but the steering wheel was not well-positioned for the start and it caused me [to go into] anti-stall twice because of this."

‘Early Race Problems’;

https://racingnews365.com/sainz-reveals-what-caused-early-race-problems-and-retirement

Sainz airs concern with Ferrari 'imperfections'
Ewan Gale
Sunday 10 April 2022 09:45

Addressing his scrappy race, Sainz explained: "We had a problem with the steering wheel, a similar problem to yesterday which was a few buttons that were not working. We had to change the steering wheel and it meant the steering wheel was not well-positioned at the start and we got anti-stall at both starts because of the clutch and the torque.”

On his frustration at missing out on points, Sainz said: "This car, the worst possible scenario was a top four with a good comeback. Without the issues of yesterday and the issues of today, we should have been fighting for the win.”

"So to go away with zero points is very disappointing. We need to be more perfect as a team and this weekend we clearly haven't been."

‘Ferrari Imperfections’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79939/sainz-airs-concern-with-ferrari-imperfections/

Leclerc stays calm as Ferrari fever grows ahead of return to Italy
Issued on: 10/04/2022 - 10:42
France24

Level-headed Charles Leclerc claimed his second grand prix win of the season Sunday but insisted it was too early to talk about winning the drivers' championship as the circuit prepares to move to Ferrari home territory in two weeks' time.

"It's good to be in the championship lead -- 34 points is always good to take wherever you are in the calendar, but I don't want to focus too much on the championship now. "Italy will be incredible but we need to approach it as we do every race weekend," he added.

"It's extremely important not to put extra pressure on ourselves and try to overdo things. "We are working as a team extremely well since the beginning of the season and we just need to keep doing our job like we did in the first three weekends."

‘Stay Calm, Ferrari Fever Grows’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220410-leclerc-stays-calm-as-ferrari-fever-grows-ahead-of-return-to-italy

Fortitude

11th April 2022, 05:15

Marko warns of 'difficult times ahead' for Red Bull.
"It leaked petrol, but we don't know where and how," Marko told Sky Sport Germany, revealing that the issue is not a direct repeat of the fuel system error that occurred in Bahrain.
10/04/2022, ‎09‎:‎30
Author Thomas Maher

Red Bull's Helmut Marko says his team are facing a "difficult balancing act" as they attempt to get on top of their reliability and weight issues. The Red Bull advisor spoke about the problem that meant Verstappen was already on the sidelines as the race concluded.

"It just leaked a lot of petrol. That's why we said he should stop immediately – preferably where there is a fire extinguisher. We don't just have these reliability problems, which are actually largely unknown to us – we don't know that at all," he commented.

"Difficult times are ahead of us. We were surprised at how fast Ferrari was today." Marko was full of praise for Ferrari's performance, adding: "They had to pay much less attention to the tyres than we did. Ferrari was in a class of its own and, unfortunately, we were clearly behind, even though [Sergio] Perez drove a great race."

‘Difficult Times Ahead’;

https://racingnews365.com/marko-warns-difficult-times-are-ahead-for-red-bull

Horner suggests cause of Verstappen’s ‘unacceptable’ DNF in Melbourne
Max Verstappen has retired from two of the opening three rounds of the 2022 season due to reliability issues.
by Rob Kershaw
10 April 202210 April 2022

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has indicated that there might have been another fuel problem for Max Verstappen as he was forced to retire for the second time in three races at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.

Horner sympathises with the reigning world champion, and is as yet unsure of exactly took his car out of the race. “[It’s] definitely frustrating, I think as Max said we didn’t have the pace to race Charles today, they were in a league of their own but [it’s] frustrating not to be bagging those points.”

“I’d rather fix a fast car than try and make a reliable, slow one fast,” he maintained. “We need to get on top of it, we can’t accept DNFs but we need to understand what the issue is and we need to address it.”

‘Fixing The Fast Car’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/horner-suggests-cause-of-verstappens-unacceptable-dnf-in-melbourne/

Video: How Verstappen’s F1 title defence is going wrong
10/04/2022, 21:28
The Race

Max Verstappen’s retirement from second place in the Australian Grand Prix leaves him, in his words, “already miles behind” Charles Leclerc in the fight for the 2022 Formula 1 world championship. It’s Verstappen’s second retirement in three races, so despite winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix he’s now 46 points off the world championship lead.

With 20 races to go, there’s plenty of time for Verstappen and Red Bull to catch up, but that’s only possible with a reliable car. To add to those reliability concerns, Verstappen and Red Bull were outpaced both in qualifying and the race in Australia while Leclerc and Ferrari won after leading every lap from pole position.
So what’s the problem and how big a threat are Red Bull’s current struggles to Verstappen’s hopes of defending the world championship? Our new video examines what’s going on.

‘VIDEO Analysis’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/video-how-verstappens-f1-title-defence-is-going-wrong/

Verstappen anger with Red Bull as Leclerc eyes F1 title - GPFans F1 Recap
Sam Hall
Sunday 10 April 2022 23:30

Max Verstappen has labelled a second Red Bull retirement in the opening three races as "unacceptable" after ending the Australian Grand Prix in flames.

"We are already miles behind," he told Sky Sports F1. "I don't even want to think about the championship fight at the moment, I think it is more important to finish races.

"Of course, today in general was a bad day again. Just not really having the pace, just managing my tyres to try bring it to the end because it felt like an easy P2 and I knew I could not fight Charles so there was no point trying. But we didn't even finish the race so it is pretty frustrating and unacceptable."

‘Frustration’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79926/verstappen-slates-red-bull-for-quot-unacceptable-quot-failure/

Perez: Lost Red Bull points will be ‘very costly’
Date published: April 10 2022 - Henry Valantine

Sergio Perez admitted the points Red Bull have lost from the first few races could well prove to be “very costly” later in the season. Max Verstappen retired from second place in Australia on Sunday for his second retirement in three races and, coupled with Perez’s own DNF in Bahrain, Red Bull find themselves well behind Ferrari and Charles Leclerc in both championships – despite having a car to compete with them at the front.

“We’ve been so unlucky for these first few races,” he told Sky Sports F1 after the race. “It’s nice to be back on the podium, but I think the race didn’t go as planned. We had a bit too much degradation on the tyres. I have a pretty good idea at the moment on the things we did wrong, but there’s a good analysis to be made.”

“We were quite far from the Ferrari today. It’s only race three of the season, so it’s a long way to go. It’s a shame that we lost Max today for the team.”

‘Points Lost Costly’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/sergio-perez-costly-points-loss/

Perez concerned by Red Bull failures but “sure we will turn things around”
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on
11th April 2022, 0:0110th April 2022, 22:44 | Written by Will Wood

Retirements costing us a lot of points – Perez. Max Verstappen’s retirement from yesterday’s Australian Grand Prix was the third time one of the two Red Bull cars has dropped out of a race with a technical problem over the first six races.

“It’s certainly a concern,” admitted his team mate Perez, who finished second. “We’ve lost a lot of points already in these first three races that in the end can make a huge difference in the championship. So we are obviously aware of it.”

“All the team back home in Milton Keynes, here, are working flat out to try to come up with solutions. We don’t know exactly the issue on Max’s today. We will see. I’m sure we will turn things around and hopefully we can start again from zero when we go back to Europe.”

‘Working Flat Out’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/04/11/racefans-round-up-11-04-5/

Fortitude

11th April 2022, 16:21

Hamilton calls for immediate improvement amid dwindling title hopes.
Seven-time champion is already 43 points adrift of Ferrari’s leader Charles Leclerc.
11/04/2022, 09:45
Giles Richards

Lewis Hamilton has demanded more from his Mercedes team if he is to keep any hope of competing for this year’s Formula One world championship alive.

“I have got to keep that encouragement and energy high. I will be on Zoom calls with our bosses, really trying to rally them up. It is about making sure we leave no stone unturned, that the hunger is there and we are maximising every moment. I will be chasing the people in the wind tunnel, the aerodynamic guys, and just looking at every single area.”

‘Chasing People’;

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/other-sports/hamilton-calls-for-immediate-improvement-amid-dwindling-title-hopes-1.4849791

Russell doesn’t ‘care who’s in front’ when it’s P5 at stake
Date published: April 11 2022 - Michelle Foster

rge Russell does not care which of the Mercedes team-mates is in front when it comes to fifth and sixth places. Given a shot at a podium finish in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, the Mercedes team-mates were elevated up the order when Max Verstappen retired, Russell running just ahead of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Russell was asked about the situation, telling F1-Insider.com that while a driver always wants to beat their team-mate, helping Mercedes to improve the W13 is the most important task right now – especially when fighting for fifth or sixth. “Of course you always want to be in front of your team-mate,” he said. “But for us it’s crucial we make the car faster.”

“When it comes to fifth and sixth place between me and Lewis, I don’t care who’s in front.” Sunday’s result means despite their troubles, Mercedes are second in the Drivers’ standings and the Constructors’.

‘Mercedes F1, 2nd Drivers and 2nd Constructors Standing’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george-russell-does-not-care-in-front-p5/

We need more speed NOW, warns Lewis Hamilton... Brit urges Mercedes to 'leave no stone unturned' in search of improvements to keep his title hopes alive after finishing fourth at Australian Grand Prix
By Jonathan McEvoy for the Daily Mail
Published: 22:30, 10 April 2022

It was an all-encompassing cry of frustration from Lewis Hamilton’s cockpit. ‘You guys put me in a really difficult position,’ he protested as he finished the Australian Grand Prix fourth best.

‘I will be making a lot of calls,’ he said. ‘I am flying to KL (Kuala Lumpur) tonight for a work event with Petronas. I will be on Zoom calls with sponsors and our bosses and really trying to rally them. We have got some improvements that we need to make and we need everyone’s support in doing so.

‘It is about making sure we leave no stone unturned, that the hunger is there and we are maximising every moment. On the Zoom calls, I will be chasing the people in the wind tunnel, the aero guys, just looking at every single area. There is performance to be gained in all areas and we need it now, not in two or three races. I have to keep that encouragement and energy high. I will be going on the simulator.’

‘Speed NOW’;

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-10705513/We-need-speed-warns-Lewis-Hamilton-finishing-fourth-Australian-Grand-Prix.html

Russell: ‘Pretty crazy’ to be second in F1 championship standings
10 April 2022, 15:36
by Fergal Walsh

Russell has finished fourth, fifth and third respectively through the first trio of grands prix, leaving him second in the standings behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. “I think it’s credit to the team back at Brackley and Brixworth because obviously we want more performance,” Russell said.

“We are a step behind Ferrari and Red Bull in terms of pace, but you’ve got to be there at the end if you want to pick up the points, and that’s what we’ve done on a number of occasions now.”

“I mean, this weekend we were the fifth fastest team behind these two guys and obviously McLaren and Alpine. And currently standing P3 on the podium and P2 in the Championship is pretty crazy.”

‘Crazy Second In Standings’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/04/10/russell-pretty-crazy-to-be-second-in-f1-championship-standings/

Wolff offers a glimmer of hope for Mercedes
Date published: April 10 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed that the Silver Arrows do leave Australia in a better state and with a fantastic team spirit.

“We are leaving Melbourne in a better state than when we arrived- more lessons learned, more data to analyse and more points on the board,” Wolff said. “Clearly we haven’t got the pace yet to challenge Ferrari and Red Bull but we know where we need to seek performance.”

“One factor that leaves me very optimistic for the future is the mindset and strength of the team. Everyone in the UK, in Stuttgart and in the travelling race team is pulling together every ounce of effort we have to tackle the performance gaps with determination and a deep hunger. Seeing Lewis and George perform at an exceptionally high level today with a tool that is clearly not on the pace of the leaders is another example of the spirit of this team.”

‘Glimmers Of Hope’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-wolff-offers-mercedes-hope/

Wolff not concerned by risk of Hamilton retirement amid Mercedes’ woes
Toto Wolff has no concerns about Sir Lewis Hamilton's commitment to the cause after a tough start to the season.
by James Clifford
11 April 202211 April 2022

“You can only walk away if you don’t like what you do any more but Lewis loves doing this,” he said, as quoted by The Sun.

“Lewis is in fantastic shape, his lifestyle is hugely disciplined and he has many, many years to go.

“And isn’t it a great challenge for him? He was at McLaren, then went to Mercedes when it wasn’t great and has won six titles. The team has got it wrong now, but he can be a part of the rise again.”

‘No Walking Away’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/wolff-not-concerned-by-risk-of-hamilton-retirement-amid-mercedes-woes/

Fortitude

12th April 2022, 08:43

A £1.50 part and a strategy misstep – Alonso’s lost weekend.
The problem was everything that the team tried to make up for its qualifying misfortune ultimately made matters worse. That probable podium became a last-placed finish.
12/04/2022, 08:25
By Matt Beer and Mark Hughes

Whether Alonso’s suggestion of pole, team principal Otmar Szafnauer’s prediction of second on the grid or technical chief Pat Fry’s belief it would’ve been row two (which The Race’s own assessment concurs with), the lap Alonso was on when a hydraulic failure caused him to crash in Q3 would’ve put him ahead of the Mercedes on the grid.

And that would’ve left him ideally placed to capitalise when Max Verstappen retired. Taking the third position George Russell inherited was surely on the cards. Perhaps holding Sergio Perez’s Red Bull off for second place would’ve been too given how hard Perez had to fight the Mercedes.

“The podium today would have been easy with Max out. With George on the podium, I think we were a lot faster than the Mercedes on this circuit. So we lost an opportunity.” Szafnauer said the failure that sent Alonso into the barriers was down to a part that The Race estimates probably cost about £1.50. “It was an o-ring on an oil seal,” Szafnauer replied when asked by The Race if Alpine had identified the exact issue.

‘£1.50 O-Ring on an Oil Seal’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/a-1-50-part-and-a-strategy-misstep-alonsos-lost-weekend/

Melbourne bad luck leaves Alonso "speechless".
But for a technical failure which caused him to crash on Saturday afternoon, few doubt that Fernando Alonso could have put his Alpine on the front row for Sunday's race.
NEWS STORY
11/04/2022

Starting the race from tenth, the Spaniard opted for the hard tyre while those ahead of him all went for the medium. His long opening stint strategy appeared to be working out for him, until Sebastian Vettel’s encounter with the barriers brought out the safety car, thereby allowing his rivals to take advantage and pit.

However, now running fourth, Alonso didn't follow suit and though he was able to hold on to fourth for a few more laps he slowly began to drop down the order, and by the time he finally stopped in lap 39 he was effectively out of the picture. "I'm speechless, to be honest," said the Spaniard at race end. "It's hard to accept that everything is going in the wrong way at the moment.

"But it's only three races in the championship, still twenty to go," he added. "Luck, I guess, is going to compensate sooner or later in the 23 races and we will be in other occasions lucky. I guess so.

‘Luck To Compensate Sooner Or Later’;

https://www.pitpass.com/72254/Melbourne-bad-luck-leaves-Alonso-speechless

Fernando Alonso makes podium claim after unlucky Australian Grand Prix
By George Dagless
Published: 10 Apr 2022, 16:30

“We were looking for P6 or P7, starting on the hard tyre on the reverse [strategy], which was good, starting in tenth. [It was] the Safety Car in the wrong moment of the race that was our killer, so I’m a little bit speechless because I think today, we could have been on the podium, to be honest.”

“If we qualified third or fourth yesterday, with Max [Verstappen] out, George in the podium – I think we’ve been a little bit faster than the Mercedes this weekend.”

“So we lost that opportunity here, also in Jeddah where we were doing a very good race. So this is the way it is at the moment, a little bit unlucky. Twenty races to go, in some of them I will be super lucky, I guess.”

‘Will Be Super Lucky’;

https://www.givemesport.com/87993886-fernando-alonso-makes-podium-claim-after-unlucky-australian-grand-prix

‘Alpine flattered to deceive with Melbourne pace’
Date published: April 11 2022 - Jon Wilde

Martin Brundle thinks Alpine “flattered to deceive” with their pace at the Australian Grand Prix, which promised them far more than it delivered. There were suggestions Fernando Alonso could have been on pole position in Melbourne but for a crash caused by a hydraulic failure while on a very promising lap in Q3.

His team-mate Esteban Ocon, meanwhile, started eighth and finished one place higher, essentially because of Max Verstappen’s retirement while running second behind pole-sitter and eventual winner Charles Leclerc.

“Alpine flattered to deceive on pace,” wrote Brundle in his post-race column for Sky Sports. “Esteban Ocon came home seventh, 62 seconds off the lead.”

Flattered To Deceive’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/martin-brundle-alpine-flattered-aus-gp/

Alonso: Hard to accept everything going wrong
Jad Mallak

Fernando Alonso was left ruing his luck after finishing last at the 2022 Australian Grand Prix, admitting it was hard to accept how everything is currently going wrong.

On race day, Alonso was doing well, but the timing of the Safety Car during the race hurt his strategy, as he ended up finishing the race dead last.

Asked about his race down under, the Spaniard said: “Speechless, to be honest.

‘Speechless’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/12/alonso-hard-to-accept-everything-going-wrong/

P7 Esteban Ocon thinks 'top five could have been possible' in Australian GP
10 Apr 2022
Formula 1.

Esteban Ocon is pleased with his P7 finish in the 2022 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, but thinks "top five could have been possible" at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit.

‘Top Five Possible’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.p7-esteban-ocon-thinks-top-five-could-have-been-possible-in-australian-gp.1729706703011600762.html

Fortitude

12th April 2022, 17:49

Ricciardo and Norris extracted "everything possible" in Australian GP.
McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl believes Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo extracted "everything possible" from the MCL36 at the Australian Grand Prix.
Ewan Gale
Monday 11 April 2022 09:30

The team-mates finished fifth and sixth to collect 18 points and promote McLaren to fourth in F1's constructors' standings, finishing behind only Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

The result marks a turnaround for the Woking-based team after only a single points finish from a possible four in the opening two rounds of the season.

‘Maximum Extraction’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79981/ricciardo-and-norris-extracted-everything-possible-in-australian-gp/

Norris: McLaren performance 'better than it looked' in Melbourne
‎10‎ ‎April‎ ‎13‎:‎30
Author Anna Francis
Co-author Dieter Rencken

Lando Norris finished the Australian Grand Prix in P5, with a sizeable gap to the Mercedes cars ahead. However, the McLaren driver is feeling positive about what the Woking-based squad were able to achieve.

Lando Norris feels that McLaren were better than they looked in the Australian Grand Prix, with the Briton and teammate Daniel Ricciardo finishing in fifth and sixth respectively.

Ahead of the event, Norris had predicted that the team would enjoy a battle with the Mercedes cars in the race. However, this fight did not quite materialise. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton ended the day in P3 and P4, with Hamilton nearly 25 seconds ahead of Norris on track by the end of the Grand Prix.

Fight Didn’t Materialise’;

https://racingnews365.com/norris-mclaren-performance-better-than-it-looked-in-melbourne

Brundle expects McLaren to 'edge forward' in pecking order
12/04/2022, 12:50
Author RacingNews365 Staff

Martin Brundle has predicted that McLaren will continue to move forwards after the team looked to have made significant progress at the Australian Grand Prix.

"McLaren are clearly beginning to return their car to a sensible aero base after the hurriedly butchered brake cooling changes in Bahrain," Brundle wrote in his column for Sky Sports F1.

"I would expect them to edge forward from there. Norris and home boy Ricciardo were equally matched in a solid and reliable car."

‘Sensible Aero Base Return’;

https://racingnews365.com/brundle-expects-mclaren-to-edge-forward-in-pecking-order

Ricciardo relieved to avoid another 'painful home race' as he delivers P6 in front of Aussie fans
11 April 2022
Formula 1.

Daniel Ricciardo was relieved to score his first points of the season and, moreover, accomplish that in front of his home fans at Albert Park given a rocky start to the season for McLaren.

“All weekend it’s just been a step in the right direction,” said Ricciardo. “A few weeks ago in Bahrain, many home fans were thinking, ‘oh no, this is maybe going to be a painful home race for Daniel’, but it was really nice to have such a quick turnaround.”

“The team certainly found a bit in the last few weeks and that’s been really nice and encouraging, so steps, big steps in the right direction. We will keep at it, keep chipping away. As always, still things to improve.”

‘Right Steps, Keep Chipping’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ricciardo-relieved-to-avoid-another-painful-home-race-as-he-delivers-p6-in.6FbBxs3htjIghyNMxyLniu.html

Ricciardo hails 'big step forward' for McLaren after tough start
11/04/2022, ‎09‎:‎30
Author Mike Seymour
Co-author Dieter Rencken

"Obviously [it was a] much better weekend – positives, for sure," Ricciardo told media, including RacingNews365.com.

"I thought at the start of the race it looked like we could hold the pace of Mercedes, but then they started to pull away a bit and they just had more pace than us.”

"We were a little bit lonely at the end of the race, but in any case, for the team, this weekend has been a big step forward. [It's] our first points of the year and a good weekend for both of us."

‘Positives For Sure’;

https://racingnews365.com/ricciardo-hails-big-step-forward-for-mclaren-after-tough-start

Aus GP result as ‘good as it gets’ for McLaren
Date published: April 12 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Lando Norris believes that the Australian Grand Prix could be the best performance that McLaren deliver for a while. “We are still optimising everything and there’s still a lot of things we’ve had to work on,” he said, quoted by RACER.

“But realistically, the car’s just worked well from the off. The car’s just been good from FP1 and throughout the whole weekend.

“It shows there’s strengths in the car and we just need to keep working on our weaknesses if we want to be here more often, because not all tracks are as smooth and as quick as this.

‘Optimisation’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/lando-norris-mclaren-peaked-australia/

Has McLaren got its mojo back?
21/04/2022, 14:20
by Fergal Walsh

It was a shock to everybody, including McLaren, to see where in the field the once-great F1 titan was competing during the opening two rounds of the 2022 Formula 1 season. Just last year, the Woking squad ended their nine-year victory drought with a spectacular 1-2 in Monza.

This past weekend in Melbourne, things took a genuine turn for the better. Lando Norris qualified in fourth place, ahead of everyone bar the Red Bulls of Checo Perez and Max Verstappen and Ferrari pole sitter Charles Leclerc. Even in the race the car looked comfortable throughout and in the early stages, it appeared that it had the speed to challenge Mercedes, but that started to fizzle out as the laps ticked down.

Despite that, McLaren remains one of the sport’s most marketable teams, and Formula 1 doesn’t need McLaren to be competing outside the points, never mind any lower. Although its successful history doesn’t entitle it to a spot at the front in the modern era, it only seems right to want to watch it compete for success.

‘F1 Titan Mojo’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/04/12/has-mclaren-got-its-mojo-back/

Fortitude

13th April 2022, 08:58

Bottas commends Alfa Romeo performance after P8 finish in Melbourne.
After a DNF in Jeddah cost him a top-10 finish, Valtteri Bottas was happy to leave Melbourne with a good haul of points as he commended the work done by his Alfa Romeo team over the weekend.
11 April 2022
Formula 1

Despite an “unlucky” Safety Car, and a battle with Lance Stroll that saw the Aston Martin driver penalised for weaving on the straight – while the Canadian also pushed Bottas wide at Turn 3 at one point – the Finn finished in P8 after passing Pierre Gasly in the closing laps. And while Bottas was happy with the points, he felt a higher finish could have been on the cards.

“Overall, I think it was a good race, good strategy. A bit unlucky with the Safety Car because we stopped before it but other than that it was okay,” said Bottas.

“It was a good performance with close racing and battles from beginning to end. Of course, the most important thing is that we brought home some points, and that is due to a good job done by everyone in the team; I am happy with the calls that were made and how we raced.”

‘Good Haul Of Points’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.bottas-commends-alfa-romeo-performance-after-p8-finish-in-melbourne.1C6smByNdBePcDu2GxntW1.html

Bottas takes issue with Stroll’s racing tactics
Date published: April 10 2022 - Jamie Woodhouse

Valtteri Bottas felt that Lance Stroll’s driving went beyond acceptable defence at the Australian Grand Prix.

Bottas’ Alfa Romeo team were not quite able to deliver the kind of pace which they had shown at the opening rounds in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia, but nonetheless, Bottas was very much a contender for points as the race entered its closing stages.

However, as he came across Aston Martin’s Stroll, who was trying to nurse his tyres to the end and snatch a point or two having gone long, the stewards look issue with his driving. The Canadian racer would receive a five-second time penalty and a point for his superlicence for weaving down the straight.

‘Stroll Weaving’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/valtteri-bottas-issue-lance-stroll-tactics/

Stroll calls Australian GP weaving penalty 'funny decision'
Phillip van Osten
11/04/2022 at 17:44

Lance Stroll says he "doesn't get" the Australian Grand Prix stewards' decision to hand him a five-second penalty for weaving during his battle with Valtteri Bottas.

"I don't get it," he said. "It was two guys weaving all the time, it's just the last move really. You can weave down the straight as long as you don't weave when the guy's approaching very close behind you.”

"I'm weaving to try and break the slipstream, not to try and defend, and then they penalise me for it. I don't get it. I guess a lot of funny decisions going on right now."

‘Funny Decisions’;

https://f1i.com/news/438263-stroll-calls-australian-gp-weaving-penalty-funny-decision.html

‘I don’t think that’s how you should race’ – Bottas slams Aston Martin driver
Valtteri Bottas was involved in two incidents with Lance Stroll during the 2022 Australian Grand Prix.
by Rob Kershaw
11 April 202211 April 2022

Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas has taken issue with Lance Stroll’s defensive tactics during the 2022 Australian Grand Prix. Stroll incurred the wrath of the stewards twice over the course of last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, colliding with compatriot Nicholas Latifi during qualifying before contravening the sporting regulations during his defence of his position from Bottas.

“Stroll moved to the right to defend against a potential overtake from Bottas,” read the stewards’ ruling. “Stroll returned to the racing line and then moved to the right for a second time to defend from another move by Bottas.”

“The second move breaches the regulation which prohibits more than one change of direction to defend a position.”

‘Stroll Rule Breach’;

https://formula1news.co.uk/i-dont-think-thats-how-you-should-race-bottas-slams-aston-martin-driver/

2022 Australian Grand Prix - Sunday
April 10th, 2022
Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN

Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN claimed four important points at the Australian Grand Prix, as Valtteri Bottas finished eighth at the end of a thrilling race. Team-mate, Zhou Guanyu, went close to making it a double-points finish as he pulled off a remarkable comeback to finish P11, just over two seconds away from the top ten.

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal: “Bringing home four points with another top ten finish is really good, especially to bounce back after the off-race in Jeddah. The team did a good job in difficult circumstances today: the timing of the first Safety Car wasn’t ideal and it cost us track position, especially with Zhou; we also got stuck in a couple of DRS trains that made progress hard, so we had to earn our place the difficult way. That we did, and we went so close to having two cars in the points again, is proof that we are going in the right direction. The whole team did well today, now we can focus on the race in Imola to continue our battle for a good position in the constructors’ championship.”

‘Bringing Home Four Points’;

https://www.sauber-group.com/motorsport/f1-news/2022-australian-grand-prix-sunday/

Fortitude

13th April 2022, 19:45

Gasly went through 'all the emotions' to conquer points in Melbourne.
Pierre Gasly earned both his AlphaTauri wage and his points in the Australian Grand Prix as he overcame an ill-timed safety car and won a fierce on-track battle with Lance Stroll.
12/04/2022 at 16:52
Michael Delaney

"I had a really good start, managed to pass two cars in the first lap, was running in a good position in P9, boxed and then we got slapped by the Safety Car like in Saudi," Gasly explained.
"Pretty upset – we dropped to P14 – but yes, we stayed focused and managed to finish in P9. Clearly, we had to fight hard for it, especially with Lance," he recounted.

"I must say I enjoyed the battle, it was the most entertaining moment of the race. I went through all the emotions. It was pretty intense on a track like this, but in the end, I got the best of him."

‘Conquering All Emotions’;

https://f1i.com/news/438311-gasly-went-through-all-the-emotions-to-conquer-points-in-melbourne.html

Gasly hanging Imola hopes on AlphaTauri updates
Date published: April 11 2022 - Henry Valantine

Having appeared less competitive in 2022 so far, Pierre Gasly is looking to AlphaTauri’s planned upgrades at Imola to kick-start their season.

AlphaTauri only have 10 points to their name after three races this season, which leaves them down in P8 in the Constructors’ Championship – a far cry from Gasly’s 2021 performances that saw him regularly battling at the head of the midfield.

“It’s a positive start to the season, but we will continue to develop the car over the next few weeks,” Gasly told reporters after the race, quoted by Motorsport.com Germany. “I’m really looking forward to the update at Imola. Hopefully it will bring us the performance we expect from it.”

‘Updates For Improvement’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre-gasly-alphatauri-imola-updates/

Gasly pleased with points after getting 'pretty mad' during race
22/04/2022, ‎09‎:‎30
Author Anna Francis

The AlphaTauri driver started from 11th on the grid, and managed to gain places in the opening laps. However, the timing of his pit-stop did not coincide well with a Safety Car period, resulting in him losing places.

Gasly was left angry by this, but kept his focus in order to work his way back up into the points-paying position of ninth. "I'll take those two points today!" the Frenchman said after the event.

"It's been quite an unfortunate race for me. I managed to pass two cars at the start, but then I got unlucky pitting right before the Safety Car and dropped to P14.

‘Two Points? That Will Do Nicely!’;

https://racingnews365.com/gasly-pleased-with-points-after-getting-pretty-mad-during-race

Gasly invites FIA to check genitals amidst underwear clampdown.
AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly has invited the FIA to check his genitals in reaction to the furore surrounding the governing body's clampdown on non-fireproof underwear.
Ewan Gale
Saturday 9 April 2022

On the same weekend a reminder was given about drivers wearing jewellery, race director Niels Wittich has raised the concerns surrounding the safety of underwear that is not fire retardant.

But addressing how the FIA would police the matter, an unhappy Gasly said: "I won't comment on that.

"If they want to check my arse, feel free, I've got nothing to hide. My cock, everything. If that makes them happy, feel free."

“Feel Free’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/79882/gasly-invites-fia-to-check-genitals-amidst-underwear-clampdown/

Gasly jokes FIA can check ‘everything’ in light of underwear rule
Date published: April 10 2022 - Michelle Foster

Pierre Gasly has joked, at least we hope, about the FIA checking his “everything” at race weekends after the drivers were reminded that they need to wear fire retardant underwear.

“It’s been the rule forever, since I’ve been here it’s been the rule, so nothing new. I’m just going to come with more jewellery next week,” said Hamilton. “Well I’ve got certain piercings that I really just can’t take out, that not many people know of… Nah I’m kidding!” Verstappen replied: “I would be too heavy if I wore jewellery, so it’s not possible.”

Racing at home this weekend, Daniel Riccardo said, “This was the first time I’d heard about the fireproof underwear. Obviously we wear the leggings if you want to call it that, but we don’t have actual underwear-underwear that’s fireproof, so that was just more of a surprise. I’d never heard of it.”

‘Check Everything!’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre-gasly-fia-can-check-his-everything/

Fortitude

13th April 2022, 20:20

Villeneuve reminds Stroll that F1 team isn't 'a clothing brand'.
Jacques Villeneuve says fellow Canadian and Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll is learning the hard way that running an F1 outfit isn't like managing "a clothing brand".
12/04/2022 at 15:33
Michael Delaney

"Running a team takes more than just money as Lawrence Stroll is now finding out with Aston Martin," Villeneuve told Formule1.nl.

"It is not a clothing chain or a watch brand, because it is much more complicated, especially if you’re running a team for your son. Finding solutions becomes all the more complicated."

"Looking at this weekend you saw that Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll kept getting into trouble," said the 1997 F1 world champion. "Stroll’s incident with Latifi in qualifying was just embarrassing. He also once blamed the track for the crash, which was perhaps the strangest explanation for a crash ever. And in the race we saw that Stroll really does use his mirrors given his weaving tactics."

‘Aston Martin Complicated Solutions’;

https://f1i.com/news/438305-villeneuve-reminds-stroll-that-f1-team-isnt-a-clothing-brand.html

Aston Martin becoming F1’s biggest disaster since McLaren Honda.
Lawrence Stroll described bringing Aston Martin back to F1 as a dream come true, but their return is quickly becoming a nightmare.
Date published: April 13 2022 - Finley Crebolder

Lawrence Stroll described bringing Aston Martin back to F1 as a dream come true, but their return is quickly becoming a nightmare.

The Canadian has invested in a huge brand in Aston Martin to bring them to the grid, has signed one of the biggest names – and highest earners – in the sport in Sebastian Vettel, has vastly increased the number of staff, and has forked out £200million on a new factory.

There’s little doubt that, when it comes to spending power and facilities, he has moved them firmly towards the top of the pack. And so far, what does he have to show it? Well, nothing. Quite literally.

‘Nightmare Comes True Instead’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/aston-martin-f1-return-becoming-disaster/

Villeneuve slams Aston Martin's disastrous 2022
11th April 2022, 09:26
By GMM F1

Aston Martin's 2022 season so far has been disastrous in almost every way imaginable. From Sebastian Vettel's covid to the new Aston Martin safety car being called a "turtle" by world champion Max Verstappen, team owner Lawrence Stroll is "finding out that Formula 1 takes more than just money".

Even before Australia, however, some were speculating that the dire situation could push Vettel into early retirement. "It was so bad here that you almost feel sorry for him," fellow German Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.

Villeneuve, meanwhile, told the Dutch publication Formule 1: "Stroll's incident with Latifi in qualifying was just embarrassing, but I think Vettel would rather be at home. He also made mistakes at Ferrari, but his mistakes this weekend were something else. They were not big hits, but sponsors don't like that. It also costs money because of the lost points let alone the damage," he said.

‘From Disaster to Disaster, Goes Aston Martin F1’;

https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/formula-1/mercedes/news/villeneuve-slams-aston-martins-disastrous-2022_483013.html?newsnow

Aston Martin repairs may take up F1 development capacity
13/04/2022, 10:11
By Scott Mitchell and Edd Straw

Aston Martin’s development progress could be impaired by the need to manufacture new Formula 1 components to replace the ones that were lost in the four crashes it suffered during the Australian Grand Prix weekend.

While the design and development work itself won’t be impacted, Aston Martin will need to focus more of its short-term manufacturing capacity than anticipated on producing the parts. This means production of any new-specification components in the pipeline could be delayed.

“Now we need to really collect all the bits that we have,” said (Mike) Krack when asked if development could be affected by the need to rebuild its stock of parts. “We start to run low on spares. So it’s something that we need to address. I am quite sure you have counted the amount of incidents and the amount of wings and front suspensions that we have damaged. So you can calculate quickly how many we will need to go to Imola.”

Repairs, More Repairs, Further Repairs’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/aston-martin-repairs-may-take-up-f1-development-capacity/

Villeneuve: Stroll learning it takes more than money to run an F1 team
Jad Mallak
11 April, 2022

After a miserable Australian Grand Prix weekend for Aston Martin, ex-Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve has questioned Lawrence Stroll’s credentials to run a team at the pinnacle of the sport.

The reality is that the Canadian billionaire is finding out the hard and very expensive way that running and F1 team is not quite the same as a massive clothing chain or watch brand. Referring to the massive success Stroll achieved in the fashion business that has made him worth $3-billion according to Forbes, Villeneuve warned that it won’t be the same in F1. And it hasn’t so far.

No one smiling as the Aston Martin factory. “The question now is, what does the big boss Lawrence Stroll do? If he deals with his drivers the way he does business, these are not nice conversations,” he predicted. “The atmosphere in the factory must also be to die for, there you are currently not welcomed with a smile.”

‘Credentials Questioned’;

https://www.grandprix247.com/2022/04/11/villeneuve-lawrence-stroll-learning-it-takes-more-than-money-to-run-an-f1-team/