F1 driver George Russell’s message to Williams after Mercedes move
The 2022 F1 season awaits us with car launches and practice in the weeks to come following an exhilarating season between world champion Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
The Briton is yet to confirm his status for the upcoming season with Mercedes, as George Russell is set to team up with the seven-time world champion after taking over from Valtteri Bottas, who left the Silver Arrows after five seasons to join Alfa Romeo.
Under the radar, Verstappen’s long-term future is high on Red Bull’s to-do list, with the Belgian-Dutch driver’s salary demands likely to skyrocket after winning his maiden world title.
But there is also uncertainty over the future of race director Michael Masi, whose decisions in Abu Dhabi will be debated for many years to come, and his status in the sport could influence Hamilton’s decision to return. Opinions are split, with Karun Chandhok saying Masi was ‘screwed’: “I think what happened was Latifi crashed and Masi had a choice, at that point you make a safety car or a red flag. He looked at the incident and thought, ‘this should be relatively quick to sort out.’ I think where he got it a bit wrong was that the brakes went caught fire on the car as they tried to run it off the track.
Here’s the latest news as the new season prepares for opening weekend in Bahrain on March 20. Follow all the F1 news updates below:
Resta declares the creation of the Haas VF-22 a “great success”
“This is probably the most complex project the Uralkali Haas F1 team has dealt with to date for many reasons,” said Haas Technical Director Simone Resta.
“It’s a brand new rulebook and this season we’ve recruited a new team to manage the creation of VF-22. Not everyone is new, but a good number have joined in a revised structure now in place.
“I consider this a great success in the process. We are still at the start of the project and going through a transition season of working together on a car for a full year, but if we look back to where we started, this team is already a success.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 3:54 p.m.
Felipe Massa “not surprised” by Ferrari’s fall in Formula 1
Ferrari had their worst season for 40 years in 2020, but they improved on that in the 2021 campaign with drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. But Massa says Ferrari’s problems are with the car, not the drivers.
“It didn’t surprise me,” he told Spanish daily AS. “Ferrari’s best years were with [Michael] Schumacher, then 2006, 2007, 2008.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 3:30 p.m.
Why Max Verstappen Won’t Appear in Drive to Survive Season 4
The new season of Drive to Survive will be released soon but Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will not be part of it.
Netflix bosses will focus on the pair who headed into the final race of the season on equal points to set up a thrilling end to the campaign in Abu Dhabi.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 3:15 p.m.
George Russell enjoys ‘revealing’ first trip to Mercedes after F1 switch
George Russell has described his visit to the Mercedes Formula 1 factory as an “eye-opening” experience as he prepares for his first season with the team.
The British driver has joined German constructors Williams, replacing Valtteri Bottas.
With three weeks to go before the first round of testing in Barcelona, Russell visited Mercedes’ F1 manufacturing center at Brixworth in Northamptonshire, as well as the team’s headquarters in Brackley.
And the 23-year-old was delighted to see the inner workings of the team that helped Mercedes win eight consecutive constructors’ championships.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 3:00 p.m.
Lewis Hamilton faces ’emotional’ test in F1 return ‘to climb the mountain’
Lewis Hamilton will struggle to continue in Formula 1 if his Mercedes car is uncompetitive next season, according to double world champion Mika Hakkinen.
Hamilton’s future in the sport remains uncertain after the controversial end to last season which saw the 37-year-old miss out on a record eighth world championship to Max Verstappen in the final round of the year.
As Mercedes unveils its new car this month ahead of the first round of pre-season testing, Hamilton has yet to break its silence after the end of the last campaign, its only quotes coming from a press release from the team.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 2:45 p.m.
2022 F1 car release dates – full list
The 2022 Formula 1 season is fast approaching with the first race scheduled for March 20 in Bahrain.
It was a pretty remarkable conclusion to a year that had it all – excitement, overtaking, drama, controversy and incredible performances.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 2:30 p.m.
F1 sprint races could be scrapped amid row with teams over money
Formula 1 sprint races could be dropped from the calendar this year amid a row over money.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and motorsport boss Ross Brawn wanted to double the number of rounds in the shortened format – first introduced at last year’s British Grand Prix – from three to six in 2022.
But F1 is in conflict with a number of front-runners on the grid, including Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, who want to see the cost cap set this year at US$140m (£103m ) – actually increased to cover on additional runs.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 2:15 p.m.
Max Verstappen pushed Red Bull car ‘over the limit’, says team boss
Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Yas Marina Circuit to seal the Drivers’ Championship in dramatic fashion after race director Michael Masi intervened.
Marko has overseen Red Bull’s driver development program since 1999 and helped guide Verstappen to Formula 1.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 2:00 p.m.
Lewis Hamilton’s retirement would be ‘very damaging’
Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok insists it would be “very detrimental” if Lewis Hamilton retires following the controversy at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“At the end of the day, only he knows what’s going on in his head,” Chandhok told the Express.
“In my opinion, I think it would be very, very damaging to the sport if he walked away.
“Essentially he would walk away because he didn’t think the sport was fair or credibly run.
“It would be extremely damaging to the reputation of the sport and the FIA.
“For the sake of the sport, I hope he doesn’t leave at this stage.”
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 1:45 p.m.
Red Bull teases ‘a launch like no other’ for 2022 F1 season
Red Bull has teased the prospect of a launch like no other for its car for the 2022 F1 season.
“Red Bull Racing has always sought to break the mold and this year we continue to push the boundaries by disrupting the traditional car launch,” read a team statement.
“This season, Red Bull Racing will let its fans curate and host the 2022 season launch story, on their own social media channels.
“In a season of change, we are giving the wheel to the people who matter. Red Bull Racing puts fans at the heart of the virtual unveiling of the RB18.
“With Christian [Horner]Max, Checo [Perez] and the extended team, up to 5,000 fans, will stream the launch on Wednesday, February 9.
“Through ‘The Paddock’, Red Bull Racing’s digital loyalty platform, fans were given the opportunity to host the launch of the 2022 season on their social media channels, to provide a multi-channel fan-focused experience.
“Red Bull Racing has always been at the forefront of on-track technological innovation, now the team brings the same philosophy to its marketing approach off the track, as we become the first Formula 1 team to launch a car in this new generation.
Jack RathbornFebruary 4, 2022 1:30 p.m.
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