F1 news LIVE: Red Bull car launch as Lando Norris extends McLaren contract

02/09/2022

Lewis Hamilton is back, for now, with the seven-time world champion returning to the Mercedes factory ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 season after weeks of uncertainty surrounding a commitment to seek redemption.

An agonising loss to Max Verstappen of Red Bull in the thrilling 2021 title race in Abu Dhabi cast doubts over the Briton’s future, with the involvement of race director Michael Masi still a sore point for the Silver Arrows.

But Hamilton appears primed for another roll of the dice, despite new rules potentially opening up the title race to more rivals. The machinery will be unveiled for each team in the coming days, including Red Bull’s car later today.

There is no guarantee Hamilton will race this season, but visiting the Mercedes factory is essentially a box-ticking exercise at the very least to enable him to race, including numerous pre-season tasks. The 37-year-old is putting in the work physically too, but an actual green light on committing to take up one of the Mercedes seats, alongside a new teammate in George Russell, may hinge on the inquiry into last season’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Follow all the live updates from the world of F1, including reaction and analysis to the new season:

Formula 1 schedule 2022

March 20 – Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir. March 27 – Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. April 10 – Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne. April 24 – Imola Grand Prix, Imola, Italy. May 8 – Miami Grand Prix, Miami, Florida. May 22 – Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona. May 29 – Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo. June 12 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku. June 19 – Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal. July 3 – British Grand Prix, Silverstone. July 10 – Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, Austria. July 24 – French Grand Prix, Le Castellet. July 31 – Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest. Aug. 28 – Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps. Sept. 4 – Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort, Netherlands. Sept. 11 – Italian Grand Prix, Monza. Sept. 25 – Russian Grand Prix, Sochi. Oct. 2 – Singapore Grand Prix, Singapore City. Oct. 9 – Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka. Oct. 23 – United States Grand Prix, Austin, Texas. Oct. 30 – Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City. Nov. 13 – Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo. Nov. 20 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Red Bull drop new teaser ahead of 2022 car launch

It’s another teaser from Red Bull, not long now…

Ferrari and Qualcomm team up for tech projects for road, racing cars

Ferrari said on Tuesday it would partner with Qualcomm Technologies to use the San-Diego based group’s premium product, the Snapdragon chipsets, to accelerate the sports carmaker digital transformation.

The deal will involve both its road cars and its Formula One racing team and the first common projects, including the so-called digital cockpit, have been already identified, the Italian group said in a statement.

Ferrari’s new CEO Benedetto Vigna – a technology industry veteran – said in November Ferrari would seek technology partnerships as it moves ahead with transition toward cleaner mobility and in order to pivot technologies that require high investments.

“Innovation requires market leaders working together. Thanks to this agreement … we expand our knowledge in digital technologies and web 3.0, areas with great potential for automotive and motorsport,” Vigna said in the statement.

The Snapdragon logo will make its debut on the F1-75 racing model, the Ferrari single-seater which will be unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Maranello on Feb. 17.

Reuters

McLaren delight at securing Lando Norris' future on road to world championship

McLaren’s Team Principal Andreas Seidl has expressed his delight at securing Lando Norris’ future as they plot a route towards world championship contention.

Seidl said: “The opportunity to extend our relationship with Lando reflects not only our commitment but our belief and confidence in his talent. It is also a strong sign of trust and commitment from Lando in us as a team and our journey to world championship
contention.

“Lando has shown impressive growth as a Formula 1 driver over the past four years and has been an instrumental part of the team’s momentum and performance trajectory.

“We are still on our journey to fight at the front and Lando is a key element of our plan, so to lock him into place, alongside Daniel and our senior leadership, gives us stability and continuity as we build towards our ultimate shared goal of world championships.”

Red Bull ready to unveil RB18 for 2022 F1 season

Red Bull are all set to unveil RB18 for 2022 F1 season and have released a teaser video ahead of taking off their covers.

Alfa Romeo react to speculation of 2022 car being late

Alfa Romeo have moved to allay fears that a post-Barcelona test launch date does not mean problems ahead for their 2022 challenger.

Some talk has suggested this date now means the car is running late ahead of the new era in Formula 1.

Alfa Romeo revealed that the covers will be taken off their C42 on 27 February, two days after the first period in the famed Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from 23-25 February, though a brief statement has put any speculation to bed.

“There will be a test drive before the full debut on Sunday 27th,” the statement read.

Kevin Magnussen rules out a return to ‘unrewarding’ F1

Kevin Magnussen insists he won’t be back in Formula 1 as he only wants to race “with a hope of winning”.

The Dane spent six seasons in F1 with McLaren, Renault and Haas.

“The rest of my career will be only racing with a hope of winning,” the 29-year-old told RACER. “Whatever I do, I won’t go into anything if I know I can’t win, ever again. I’ve been there, done that.

“Sporting-wise, as an athlete, it wasn’t rewarding enough to be in the position I was in. It’s really good to be here (in the US) and have that spark back. You can go into every weekend and you can smell blood, and it just gives an extra sort of energy I haven’t had in a while.”

Lewis Hamilton faces ‘emotional’ test in F1 return ‘to climb back up the mountain’

Lewis Hamilton will find it difficult to continue in Formula One if his Mercedes car is not competitive next season, according to two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen.

Hamilton’s future in the sport remains in doubt following the controversial end to last season which saw the 37-year-old miss out on a record-breaking eighth world championship to Max Verstappen on the final lap of the year.

With Mercedes unveiling their new car this month ahead of the first round of pre-season testing, Hamilton is still to break his silence following the end to last campaign, with his only quotes coming through a team press release.

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.

The story arc of the fourth edition of the documentary is almost certainly going to revolve around the Dutchman’s title race with Lewis Hamilton.

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.

Why Max Verstappen won’t appear in Drive to Survive season 4

Verstappen won’t feature in the latest edition of the hit Netflix series

Lewis Hamilton’s new Mercedes team-mate George Russell has race pace questioned by Red Bull

George Russell’s race pace has been questioned by influential Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko as the British driver prepares for his first season at Mercedes.

The 23-year-old has joined the German team from Williams ahead of the 2022 season, replacing Valtteri Bottas.

Russell is yet to take a Grand Prix win, and has just one podium in Formula 1.

Marko, head of Red Bull’s driver development program, challenged Russell to live up to the confidence shown in him by Mercedes.

New Mercedes driver George Russell has race pace questioned by Red Bull

Helmut Marko wonders if Russell will be able to match potential rivals on race day

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