2022 - A Look Ahead

[Fortitude]

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/for...n-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/mc...ar-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/2022/02/0...e-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-...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/...race-director/

[Fortitude]

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...or-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/75...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, [been] given the all-clear, although a presentation date is still pending,” said correspondent Bianca Garloff.

Further details;

https://formula1news.co.uk/red-bull-...gation-report/


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-vers...acular-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/...-car-launches/

[Fortitude]

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...-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/...ery-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/2...2-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/74...all-the-races/

[Fortitude]

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...-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-...int-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/a...-my-big-break#


Steiner: Mick can emulate Russell with Ferrari
Editor 29 January, 2022

Speaking to RacingNews365.com, Steiner said: “When Mattia [Binotto, Team Principal at Ferrari] 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...-with-ferrari/


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-s...effectiveness/

[Fortitude]

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/a...-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-...-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-2...r-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/a...WV5QtPg9k.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/form...mistic-expect/

[Fortitude]

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-launc...d-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...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/podca...s-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...r-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-...ign-explained/

[Fortitude]

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-con...-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-v...t-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...n-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/h...1-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/p...-haas/7881799/

[Fortitude]

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=P6mg...ature=emb_logo

https://thejudge13.com/2022/02/06/me...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/...-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/75...-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-a...teiner-F1-news

[Fortitude]

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-eve...-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-l...mula-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...-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-fittipal...he-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/fi...lay-unhelpful/

[Fortitude]

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-rb...l-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/ma...cedes-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-a...stappen-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-a...hances-F1-news