Table of Contents
Follow all the latest updates as practice gets underway on Friday ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Mercedes will desperately be hoping to see an improvement in their car this week after severely lacking pace compared to Ferrari and Red Bull in Bahrain. Team principal Toto Wolff claimed his engineers would “take a chainsaw” to the rear wings of their cars as Lewis Hamilton hopes to avoid losing early ground in the championship. The seven-time world champion avoided that fate somewhat fortuitously in Bahrain as Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were both forced to retire with less than two laps remaining due to an issue with Red Bull’s fueling systems.
After the glory of a one-two finish, Ferrari will be hoping to maintain the form that saw Charles Leclerc win the opening race of the season. Haas, who lagged at the back of the grid for so long last year, will be looking to prove Kevin Magnussen’s fifth-place finish was no fluke, while McLaren will pray their frantic search for a solution to their cars’ downforce issue bears fruit. To what degree all the teams’ tinkering has been a success will start to be revealed over the course of two practice sessions today, although it still remains to be seen if Sebastian Vettel will take part after missing the Bahrain GP due to Covid.
Follow all the F1 news and updates from practice ahead of the Saudi GP below:
F1 news and updates from Saudi Arabian Grand Prix practice
-
Sebastian Vettel ruled out of race with Covid
-
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc edges Max Verstappen in both practice sessions
-
Second practice delayed by nearby fire after ‘attack’ on oil depot
No media sessions tonight
18:35 , Michael Jones
It is being reported that the Formula 1 drivers won’t face the media this evening after an explosion in Jeddah earlier today threatened to put an early end to the Grand Prix.
The FIA have decided to go ahead with the weekend but haven’t made the drivers available for comment.
Max Verstappen aims to strike back as Lewis Hamilton struggles to match Saudi Arabian Grand Prix changes
18:31 , Michael Jones
Mercedes aren’t expecting quick fixes as Formula One returns to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, leaving the most significant alterations at the fastest street circuit on the racing calendar to the track itself and setting up a potential battle of nerves between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit has undergone some significant changes from last season’s inaugural race after listening to driver feedback. The track attracted plenty of attention, with its blind corners and narrow walls leaving little margin for error, but it proved to be a hit with those in the cockpit. It was a challenge, a circuit that needed to be tamed.
Last season, Verstappen was set for one of the most impressive qualifying laps of the season after finding what was close to the perfect racing line, only to overcook it at the final corner and crash into the wall.
Max Verstappen aims to strike back as Lewis Hamilton struggles to match track changes
Leclerc fastest, Verstappen second in FP2
18:28 , Michael Jones
Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen look set to go wheel-to-wheel again in Jeddah after posting the two fastest times in both practice sessions on Friday.
Here’s the full result of FP2:
Leclerc fastest in FP2!
18:21 , Michael Jones
No changes between the top four with Mercedes making their move to finish P5 and P6. Full results to come.
An early end to the session for Ferrari
18:17 , Michael Jones
After both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz hit the walls Ferrari have decided to call an early end to their practice session. Leclerc still has the fastest lap though.
Mercedes recovery
18:10 , Michael Jones
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are place P5 and P6 now. They’ve upped the pace on the soft tyres with Hamilton on (+0.439) away from Charles Leclerc’s fastest lap.
Update on explosion in Jeddah
18:06 , Michael Jones
F1 practice session 2
17:59 , Michael Jones
Leclerc in trouble
17:56 , Michael Jones
Charles Leclerc hits the wall and radios back to the Ferrari team to tell them his car is broken. He’s crept back to the pits and it looks as though that might be the end of his practice session.
Latest updates
17:50 , Michael Jones
It’s so close between the four cars:
-
Charles Leclerc 1:30.074
-
Max Verstappen +0.140
-
Carlos Sainz +0.246
-
Sergio Perez +0.286
Lewis Hamilton (+0.439) is now up to fifth after a solid lap on the soft tyres but there are more problems for Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.
Russell up to fifth
17:42 , Michael Jones
Mercedes’ George Russell puts in his best lap of the day and moves into fifth place (+0.450) off the leader Max Verstappen.
Verstappen goes fastest!
17:36 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen takes the top time away from Charles Leclerc, by the smallest of margins after a lap of 1:30.214. It’s 0.002s faster than the Ferrari.
Meanwhile, the other Red Bull or Sergio Perez has improved to leave the top four separated by just 0.146s. It’s very tight at the top.
Just under 40 minutes to go.
Changes for Hamilton
17:31 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton has pulled into the pits and his seat is being swapped out. The Mercedes cars are currently P11 and P12 as they look to solve a few of their bigger issues including ‘porpoising’.
Sergio Perez (+0.901) is now up to P4. Both Red Bulls trail the two Ferrari cars.
Verstappen up to third
17:27 , Michael Jones
All the cars are out ther now and Max Verstappen (+1.074) has moved into third behind both Ferraris.
Ferrari and Mercedes appear to be suffering severe porpoising problems but Red Bull are making their way up the straights with considerably less bouncing.
“They have figured something out with that car that allows them to run low,” says Anthony Davidson on commentary,
No sign of Red Bull
17:22 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are the only two drivers not on the track. Charles Leclerc has already beaten his time from earlier in the day with a 1:30.216.
His teammate Carlos Sainz (+1.166) is going well too. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (+2.028) is complaining about the bounce in his car. He’s currently in sixth place.
We’re underway!
17:17 , Michael Jones
Another hour of practice to go in Jeddah then. Charles Leclerc put in the fastest lap of the first practice session. Will the Ferrari driver do the same this evening?
The drivers’ meeting
17:14 , Michael Jones
The meeting between the drivers and team principals saw F1 president Stefano Domenicali give a brief overview on the situation regarding the nearby fire.
Some journalists in the paddock are reporting that several drivers have been left unsure over continuing with the race weekend and it remains to be seen if they will all take to the track for P2.
Magnussen back on track
17:07 , Michael Jones
Kevin Magnussen only managed two laps during FP1 after his car had issues with its hydraulics. He is the one of the drivers who did not to take part in this race last season and needs time behind the wheel to learn the track and his car.
It’s a big hour coming up for him.
FP2 delayed
17:03 , Michael Jones
There’s been a delay of 15 minutes to make time for the meeting between the drivers and team principals about the explosion at the oil refinery.
There are no new updates as to what has happened there but the at the circuit free practice 2 starts at 5:15pm.
F1 practice: Session two
16:59 , Michael Jones
This is how things finished in the earlier practice sessions. The drivers meeting has finished and FP2 will get underway shortly.
-
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)1:30.772
-
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.116
-
Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) +0.312
-
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.367
-
Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) +0.545
-
Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) +0.733
-
Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.791
-
Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +1.254
-
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.592
-
Fernando Alonso (Alpine) +1.609
-
Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) +1.734
-
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +1.810
-
Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.822
-
Guanyu Zhou (Alf Romeo) +1.836
-
George Russell (Mercedes) +2.067
-
Nico Hulkenberg (Aston Martin) +2.262
-
Alexander Albon (Williams) +2.315
-
Nicholas Latifi (Williams)+2.757
-
Mick Schumacher (Haas) +3.657
-
Kevin Magnussen (Haas) No time
FP2 to go ahead
16:55 , Michael Jones
The second free practice session is still going ahead at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The fire that broke out at the oil refinery is estimated to be about 12 miles away from the track and business has continued as normal inside the paddock.
Night has fallen in Jeddah and the floodlights have been turned on. The temperature has dropped and the wind is persistent. These conditions should be close to what it’ll be like for qualifying tomorrow and then the actual race on Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton could walk away if Mercedes remain third fastest, says Martin Brundle
16:50 , Michael Jones
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.
“As long as [Hamilton] still has the motivation to get in the gym and to get on a plane… the hours of debriefing afterwards and the hours of media, talking to the likes of me – that’s what the drivers hate, basically. They just want to drive racing cars,” the commentator told foxsports.com.au.
“As long as he’s still enjoying the bits around F1 or he can tolerate those bits around F1 and balance it out with just loving driving the car, [he’ll stay]. [But] if he goes through the whole year and Mercedes are third fastest and others are catching them up, then I suspect he’ll take a different view and my enjoyment analogy will play out in that he won’t be enjoying it anymore.”
Lewis Hamilton could walk away if Mercedes are third fastest, Martin Brundle claims
Carlos Sainz reveals Ferrari team orders plan for Formula 1 championship fight
16:43 , Michael Jones
Carlos Sainz has been revealed Ferrari’s plan for possible team orders if one of the team’s drivers is competing for the Formula 1 world championship later in the season.
The Spaniard and team-mate Charles Leclerc are driving what seems to be the fastest car on the grid at this early stage of the campaign, and the Monegasque took victory with Sainz in second at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.
Former McLaren driver Sainz says either team-mate will be happy to help the other if one is competing for the title, but that the ideal is for both to be battling one another for glory.
Carlos Sainz reveals Ferrari team orders plan for Formula 1 championship fight
Fire breaks out 12 miles from Saudi Arabian Grand Prix circuit in Jeddah
16:37 , Michael Jones
Formula One is awaiting news from the Saudi Arabian authorities after a blaze broke out 12 miles from the Jeddah circuit.
Smoke billowed across the track, reportedly from an oil depot, as Lewis Hamilton and his fellow F1 drivers took part in the opening running of the weekend.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but it comes only days after an attack on an oil depot in Jeddah.
World champion Max Verstappen reported to his Red Bull team over the radio that he could detect the smoke.
Fire breaks out 12 miles from Saudi Arabian Grand Prix circuit in Jeddah
More to come from Red Bull
16:29 , Michael Jones
Former Formula 1 world champion, Jensen Button, says that there is more to come from Red Bull after Max Verstappen claimed second place in the first practice session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen had set the quickest lap on hard tyres but was knocked down to P2 by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who was running of soft.
Button believes there is more to come this weekend from Verstappen after he “backed out” of what could have been his fastest lap when on the soft tyres himself.
“We haven’t seen the full potential of the Red Bull yet” he said on Sky Sports F1 adding that he felt Verstappen could have recorded the fastest lap time on soft tyres but backed off during FP1.
Fire breaks out at Jeddah oil depot ahead of Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
16:18 , Michael Jones
A fire has erupted at an oil depot in Jeddah ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend scheduled to take place in the Saudi Arabian city.
Yemen’s Houthis rebels said they had launched a series of attacks on the kingdom but Saudi Arabia did not immediately acknowledge the blaze, though it appeared to be centered on the same fuel depot that the Houthis attacked in recent days.
A large black smoke cloud could be seen from the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Formula 1 released a in a statement saying: “The position at the moment is that we are waiting for further information from the authorities on what has happened.”
Free practice 2 is expected to go ahead as scheduled later today.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix track changes revealed after driver criticism
16:17 , Michael Jones
The FIA have revealed the changes made to the controversial high-speed speed circuit at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix ahead of this weekend’s race following criticism from drivers over the safety of the track.
Last season’s inaugural race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit saw two red flags and a number of high-speed crashes, with drivers highlighting the danger of blind corners and the narrowness of the barriers.
While the track was a hit with many drivers due to its speed and difficulty, George Russell, the representative of the F1 drivers union, said the circuit was “lacking a lot from a safety perspective”.
Formula One returns to Jeddah this weekend for the second race of the season, after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix moved up the 2022 calendar, and Niels Wittich, the FIA’s race director, has confirmed the changes that have been made.
Race organisers said minor tweaks had been made at several corners, including Turns 2, 3, 14 and 21, to improve visibility with the barriers moved back by around 1.5 metres to reveal more of the corner upon entry.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix track changes revealed after driver criticism
Charles Leclerc tops first practice in Saudi Arabia as Lewis Hamilton struggles
16:06 , Michael Jones
Charles Leclerc continued where he left off in Bahrain by posting the fastest time in first practice for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Five days after winning Formula One’s season opener, Leclerc was back on track and back at the top of the time charts.
Leclerc pipped world champion Max Verstappen by 0.116 seconds, with Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas third. Lewis Hamilton was only ninth in his Mercedes.
Jeddah, 870 miles south west of Bahrain, will play host to the second round of the new campaign.
Charles Leclerc tops first practice in Saudi Arabia as Lewis Hamilton struggles
Max Verstappen may have to re-think Charles Leclerc battles, says Anthony Davidson
15:57 , Michael Jones
Sky F1 pundit Anthony Davidson says that Max Verstappen may have to alter his approach to battling Charles Leclerc if the pair end up contesting the world drivers’ championship.
The Red Bull driver squabbled for the lead with the Ferrari man at Sakhir last Sunday in a thrilling tussle after the first round of pitstops, successfully making the overtake twice into Turn 1 before being re-passed on entry to Turn 4.
Now, former BAR Honda driver Davidson says that the Dutchman may need an alternative approach.
“Max is going to have to rethink how he races him, I think, going forward from here – it is going to be interesting,” Davidson said. “I think Charles, every time he is with Max now, treats him differently -than when they first battled for race wins in 2019], and that’s what I immediately saw come into play in Bahrain.”
‘We enjoy our battles’: Max Verstappen discusses rivalry with Charles Leclerc
15:50 , Michael Jones
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says he is enjoying his on-track battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc this season.
In the first race of the season they exchanged the lead five times before Verstappen had to retire with car trouble. That saw Leclerc claim the win, giving Ferrari their first victory since 2019 and putting himself at the top of the driver standings for the first time.
Verstappen has spoken highly about his rival for the 2022 title, saying via the Express: “I never speak about these things with other drivers. 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 One and he will win many more races. I think we are just good competitors and we like racing, I think you saw that when we were battling hard and it was all good.”
‘We enjoy our battles’: Max Verstappen discusses rivalry with Charles Leclerc
Mercedes reveal ‘million-dollar question’ in search of fix to catch Formula 1 rivals
15:42 , Michael Jones
Mercedes chief technical officer James Allison concedes their car was not up to standard for the Bahrain Grand Prix and they are still asking the “million-dollar question” as to why.
The car wasn’t fast for practice or qualifying with issues particularly for Lewis Hamilton’s as his DRS failed. The drivers did manage to qualify fifth and seventh and during the race they climbed spots to end third and fourth.
Despite the good finish both Hamilton and George Russell complained about the difficulty of driving that car and Allison has given insight into how the team are trying to fix it.
“You might ask: Why were we running the biggest wing and if we were running the biggest wing, why didn’t we have the performance in our car that we might have hoped for? Well, that, of course, is the million-dollar question,” he said, per GP Fans.
Mercedes reveal ‘million-dollar question’ in search of fix to catch F1 rivals
More to come from these teams in FP2?
15:33 , Michael Jones
What will FP2 look like in an hour and a half’s time. It’s quite dusty out on the track and the wind is picking up, blowing in from the sea.
Will there be improvements from the likes of Mercedes, McLaren and Haas?
FP1 full times and result
15:28 , Michael Jones
-
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)1:30.772
-
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.116
-
Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) +0.312
-
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.367
-
Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) +0.545
-
Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) +0.733
-
Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.791
-
Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +1.254
-
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.592
-
Fernando Alonso (Alpine) +1.609
-
Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) +1.734
-
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +1.810
-
Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.822
-
Guanyu Zhou (Alf Romeo) +1.836
-
George Russell (Mercedes) +2.067
-
Nico Hulkenberg (Aston Martin) +2.262
-
Alexander Albon (Williams) +2.315
-
Nicholas Latifi (Williams)+2.757
-
Mick Schumacher (Haas) +3.657
-
Kevin Magnussen (Haas) No time
Lewis Hamilton calls on Mercedes to improve 2022 car ‘as soon as possible’
15:25 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton wants Mercedes to fix their 2022 car “as soon as possible” after the team’s early struggles with performance and race pace.
It was a Ferrari one-two at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc having the edge over team-mate Carlos Sainz, after both Red Bull cares retiring due to reliability issues.
Mercedes lasted the entire race, leading to Hamilton taking a surprise podium position, but both he and George Russell admitted afterwards that the car was difficult to drive.
“I don’t currently feel too stressed but I want to get in the fight as soon as possible,” Hamilton told RaceFans ahead of this weekend’s Saudi-Arabian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton calls on Mercedes to improve 2022 car ‘as soon as possible’
Leclerc fastest in FP1
15:18 , Michael Jones
Mercedes and McLaren continue to struggle
15:14 , Michael Jones
Red Bull were arguably the pick of the session thanks to Max Verstappen setting his time on the hard compound tyre but Ferrari took that session easy,they headed out late and still came in with the fastest lap time from Charles Leclerc on soft tyres.
Mercedes encountered more ‘porpoising’ problems with Lewis Hamilton managing to sneak into the top 10. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris finished P11 and P13 so there’s room for improvement in the second session later today.
Leclerc leads the way after FP1
15:08 , Michael Jones
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc tops the leaderboard after the first practice session in Jeddah with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen just behind him.
Lewis Hamilton sneaks into the top 10 for Mercedes but Haas’ Kevin Magnussen wasn’t able to set a lap time after issues with his car’s hydraulics.
Here are the top 10 lap times:
1) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:30.772
2) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.116
3) Valterri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) +0.312
4) Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.367
5) Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) +0.545
6) Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) +0.733
7) Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.791
8) Esteban Ocon (Alpine_ +1.254
9) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.592
10) Fernando Alonso (Alpine) +1.609
Leclerc faster than Verstappen
15:01 , Michael Jones
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has moved to the top of the leaderboard with a quickest lap of 1:30.772 beating the previous best from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Leclerc’s going a lot quicker on the soft tyres. He’s got one lap left before the session comes to a close.
Sainz struggling with bouncing
14:57 , Michael Jones
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz has just complained about his car bouncing around on the radio. He’s up to P6 as it stands, while teammate Charles Leclerc improves to second on his first soft tyre-shod lap.
Saudi Arabia GP free practice 1
14:52 , Michael Jones
F1 practice: Still no Magnussen
14:48 , Michael Jones
There biggest blow of this practice sesssion came to Haas’ Kevin Magnussen who hasn’t returned to the track following the earlier hyrdaulics issues in just his second lap.
This is valuable time lost for Magnussen who didn’t race here last season unlike the majority of the field, and needs to learn the track along with the car.
F1 practice: Verstappen fastest on soft tyres
14:46 , Michael Jones
There’s been movement across the leaderboard but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (1:30.88) continues to lead the way with the fastes lap on soft tyres. Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly (+0.429) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (+0.582) are going nicely too.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (+1.476) is down to seventh.
Leclerc shooting up the leaderboard
14:41 , Michael Jones
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has just driver a lap five tenths of a second slower than Max Verstappen’s quickest effort to move him up to second place.
Almost immediately he’s overtaken by AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1:31.417) who’s having a good run out there.
Top 10 lap times
14:37 , Michael Jones
25 minutes of the session to go so here’s a look at the current top 10 lap times.
1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) -130.888
2) Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) +0.22
3) Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) +0.830
4) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.476
5) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +1.566
6) Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +1.801
7) Esteban Ocon (Alpine_ +2.109
8) Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) +2.149
9) Fernando Alonso (Alpine) +2.157
10) Alexander Albon (Williams) +2.199
Saudi Arabia GP free practice 1
14:30 , Michael Jones
Both Ferrari’s are out onto the track but haven’t yet set a lap time. Neither has Mercedes’ George Russell nor Haas’ Kevin Magnussen.
Magnussen’s car is still in the garage after his earlier hydraulic problems.
Green light! 🟢
14:28 , Michael Jones
The debris has been cleared off the track and the session is back underway in Jeddah.
Back in the pits
14:26 , Michael Jones
Verstappen quickest in practice before red flag
14:22 , Michael Jones
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in free practice 1 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Red flag! 🛑
14:19 , Michael Jones
A distance marker board has come loose and shattered on the track and needs to be cleaned up. The session has been red flagged with 42 minutes to go.
As is stands Max Verstappen leads the way with a time of 1:30.888, followed by AlphaTauri’s Ykui Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly. Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton round out the top five.
Magnussen encounters problems
14:15 , Michael Jones
Haas’ Kevin Magnussen had a brilliant return to Formula 1 last weekend, finishing P5 in Bahrain and would have been hoping to emulate that form this weekend.
He’s had to pull back into the pits early doors here though with a problem to his breaks. There’s a lot of activity in the Haas garage trying to get the car fixed.
It seems to be a hydraulic issue.
Saudi Arabia GP free practice 1
14:08 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen leads the field in these early laps with a quickest lap time of 1:34.167 on hard tyres. Lewis Hamilton is out on track too and has just put in a lap time of 1:35.711.
Saudi Arabia GP free practice 1
14:05 , Michael Jones
Saudi Arabia GP practice 1
14:02 , Michael Jones
Here we go then. The start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend. Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon come out onto the track first up with Zhou Guanyu also heading out for Alpha Romeo.
Lewis Hamilton remains uncomfortable as F1 season lands in Saudi Arabia
13:57 , Michael Jones
Lewis Hamilton has reiterated his stance that he feels uncomfortable racing in Saudi Arabia.
Formula One is back in Jeddah this weekend for the second round of the new campaign following the country’s debut appearance in December.
Speaking ahead of last year’s race, seven-time world champion Hamilton said: “Do I feel comfortable here? I wouldn’t say I do.”
On Friday, human rights’ group, Reprieve, said a further 16 people have been killed since the mass execution of 81 men on March 12.
The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, claimed more than half of the 81 were killed for taking part in pro-democracy protests.
“My position is still the same as last year”, said Hamilton, 37. “It is obviously mind-blowing to hear the stories.”
Lewis Hamilton remains uncomfortable as F1 season lands in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix practice starts today
13:50 , Michael Jones
The second grand prix weekend of the Formula 1 season starts today with two rounds of practice at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. Here’s what’s in store today:
Free Practice 1: 2-3pm
Free Practice 2: 5-6pm
Toto Wolff ranks top three Formula 1 drivers with George Russell preferred to Max Verstappen
13:45 , Michael Jones
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has listed the top three current drivers on the grid and it sees him prefer George Russell to Max Verstappen.
Russell came aboard the Mercedes team this season and recorded a fourth-place finish in Bahrain last weekend at his first grand prix under Wolff. When asked by Sport Bild who the most talented current drivers are, the boss replied: “[Lewis] Hamilton, George Russell and Max Verstappen. In that order.”
He was then questioned about who he thought were the best F1 drivers of all time. “Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Ayrton Senna. Each in his own time,” he said.
Toto Wolff ranks top three F1 drivers with George Russell preferred to Max Verstappen
‘It went absolutely crazy’: The F1 photographer who captured Max Verstappen’s dramatic world title win
13:36 , Michael Jones
As the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix meandered towards a seemingly anticlimactic finish, photographer Mark Thompson watched on from a deflated Red Bull garage anticipating an early night. “With 15 minutes to go I was in the garage thinking ‘we’re not going to win this’,” he remembers. “You’re almost in neutral, you’re thinking this is an early night, that’s the way it goes. Then, bang! All of a sudden we were winning and everything went mental. It went absolutely crazy.”
Thompson is no stranger to the chaos of F1 having photographed every grand prix for 24 years (“which is either really cool or really sad,” he says, “whichever way you look at it”) before Covid ended his streak. A colourful career for Getty Images has entailed uncompromising drivers, blagging his way on to hotel balconies in Monaco for the perfect shot and partying for two days straight when Red Bull won their first championship. But even for someone who has seen F1 from every angle in every light, in all hours of the day in all corners of the globe, this race through the eyes of this team was utterly, uniquely breathtaking.
‘It went crazy’: The photographer who captured Max Verstappen’s title win
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix track changes revealed after driver criticism
13:23 , Michael Jones
The FIA have revealed the changes made to the controversial high-speed speed circuit at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix ahead of this weekend’s race following criticism from drivers over the safety of the track.
Last season’s inaugural race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit saw two red flags and a number of high-speed crashes, with drivers highlighting the danger of blind corners and the narrowness of the barriers.
While the track was a hit with many drivers due to its speed and difficulty, George Russell, the representative of the F1 drivers union, said the circuit was “lacking a lot from a safety perspective”.
Formula One returns to Jeddah this weekend for the second race of the season, after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix moved up the 2022 calendar, and Niels Wittich, the FIA’s race director, has confirmed the changes that have been made.
Race organisers said minor tweaks had been made at several corners, including Turns 2, 3, 14 and 21, to improve visibility with the barriers moved back by around 1.5 metres to reveal more of the corner upon entry.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix track changes revealed after driver criticism
Max Verstappen details difficulty in Bahrain after Red Bull mistake
13:11 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen has explained the difficulty he experienced in Bahrain after his second pit stop saw his Red Bull mechanics drop the RB18 car to the ground too quickly, causing a track rod to bend.
“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.
“You can lose power steering and it is just heavy but this was almost stuck in places so it was really difficult to drive.
“Of course, the big problem was what happened afterwards where it looked like there was no fuel coming to the engine and basically everything just turned off so I rolled back into the pit lane.”
What time is Saudi Arabia Grand Prix practice and how can I watch it?
13:00 , Michael Jones
Formula One is back in Saudi Arabia after last season’s dramatic duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
In what was the penultimate race of the thrilling 2021 campaign, Hamilton moved level on points with Verstappen but only after he accused his title rival of “brake-testing” as they clashed on the track.
It also came after Verstappen crashed in qualifying as he closed in on pole position, so there are set to be plenty more twists and turns as Formula One returns to the fastest street circuit on the calendar.
Ferrari are the team to beat after last week’s sensational one-two at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and Mercedes will be aiming to see an improvement in their performance following their early struggles.
We should get some early clues as the opening practice sessions take place in Jeddah today ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know:
What time is Saudi Arabia Grand Prix practice and how can I watch it?
Constructor championship standings
12:48 , Michael Jones
1) Ferrari – 44 points
2) Mercedes – 27
3) Haas – 10
4) Alpha Romeo – 9
5) Alpine – 8
6) AlphaTauri – 4
7) Aston Martin – 0
8) Williams – 0
9) McLaren – 0
10) Red Bull – 0
Driver standings after Bahrain GP
12:44 , Michael Jones
There’s just under an hour and a half until the first practice session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix gets started so here’s a look at how things stand after the opening race of the season in Bahrain:
Driver standings
1) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 26 points
2) Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – 18
3) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 15
4) George Russell (Mercedes) – 12
5) Kevin Magnussen (Haas) – 10
6) Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) – 8
7) Esteban Ocon (Alpine) – 6
8) Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) – 4
9) Fernando Alonso (Alpine) – 2
10) Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo) – 1
Sebastian Vettel ruled out of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Covid
12:39 , Michael Jones
Sebastian Vettel has been ruled out of Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to Covid, it has been confirmed.
The four-time world champion missed the season opener in Bahrain with the virus, and has failed to recover in time for this weekend’s race.
Vettel will again be replaced by Aston Martin’s reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg.
The British team expect 34-year-old Vettel to be fit for the third round of the new Formula One campaign in Australia on April 10.
Sebastian Vettel ruled out of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Covid
Toto Wolff explains Mercedes’ ‘centimetre by centimetre’ plan to close gaps in ‘every area’ on F1 rivals
12:30 , Michael Jones
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed how the Silver Arrows plan to claw back their deficit “centimetre by centimetre” on early F1 pacesetters Red Bull and Ferrari, despite Lewis Hamilton and George Russell delivering P3 and P4 in Bahrain.
“The long game is 10 years and that is why when I even look at the season, with stable regulations until 2026, it is how well you learn and that is why, for me, I would qualify the race as a test,” Wolff said.
“There is more understanding of where the gaps lie, it is in pretty much every area, and now we just need to regain land centimetre by centimetre.”
While Wolff did have sympathy for his rivals Red Bull after Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s late retirements from the race, costing them 30 points.
“I don’t wish anybody that, and it was certainly a brutal race for them,” Wolff concluded.
Toto Wolff reveals how Mercedes will close gap ‘centimetre by centimetre’ on rivals
Hamilton still breaking records
12:21 , Michael Jones
Another record for seven-time Forumla 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as he became the driver with the longest consecutive yearly run of podium finishes, beating Michael Schumacher’s previous record of 15 years.
Red Bull reveal cause of problem forcing cars to retire in Bahrain
12:10 , Michael Jones
Red Bull suffered a ‘brutal’ double DNF in the opening grand prix in Bahrain last weekend after looking set to start the 2022 season with a P2 and a P4 finish.
Both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez suffered retirements with just a handful of laps to go and the team has revealed the cause of those problems ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
A spokesperson fromRed Bull said: “Both cars suffered from a lack of fuel pressure last weekend. The correct amount of fuel was in both cars, but a vacuum prevented the pumps from drawing fuel and delivering it to the engine.
“We’ve taken the necessary steps to correct this issue and we expect no problems this weekend.”
Carlos Sainz reveals Ferrari team orders plan for Formula 1 championship fight
12:02 , Michael Jones
Carlos Sainz has been revealed Ferrari’s plan for possible team orders if one of the team’s drivers is competing for the Formula 1 world championship later in the season.
The Spaniard and team-mate Charles Leclerc are driving what seems to be the fastest car on the grid at this early stage of the campaign, and the Monegasque took victory with Sainz in second at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.
Former McLaren driver Sainz says either team-mate will be happy to help the other if one is competing for the title, but that the ideal is for both to be battling one another for glory.
“The team will allow us to compete and race each other,” Scuderiafans quotes Sainz as having told Spanish radio show The Great Match of COPE.
Carlos Sainz reveals Ferrari team orders plan for Formula 1 championship fight
Max Verstappen explains difficulty driving after Red Bull’s self-inflicted problem in Bahrain
11:54 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen has revealed the extent of Red Bull’s self-inflicted problems during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Dutchman’s defence of his maiden F1 world title got off to a disastrous start, with both Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez failing to finish at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The 24-year-old had appeared set to take second behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, but an issue with his car’s fuelling system meant he could not continue and took no points after a retirement.
Also, after his second pit-stop, the Red Bull mechanics dropped Verstappen’s car too quickly, bending a track rod connecting to one of his wheels and making the car “really difficult to drive”.
Max Verstappen explains difficulty driving after Red Bull’s problem in Bahrain
Max Verstappen doubles down on opposition to Drive to Survive
11:43 , Michael Jones
Max Verstappen won’t be appearing in Netflix’s F1 documentary Drive to Survive any time soon after doubling down on his opposition to the show.
Verstappen has previously explained he doesn’t want to be involved as the drama created by Netflix isn’t an accurate depiction. That meant his title-winning season went without a one-on-one interview with Verstappen on the show.
He has now reiterated his opinion and said it isn’t going to change. ‘’You as a person, you are trying to build a brand, just by being myself,” he told the Associated Press.
“But then a series like that can just put you down completely different just because they like it like that and I think that is very wrong and I prefer not to be a part of it.
‘’Not all, but quite a lot of things are wrong. People get the wrong idea about a certain person of how they actually are, they don’t know because they are new to the sport and they just watch the series. My opinion is not going to change.’’
Max Verstappen doubles down on opposition to Drive to Survive
George Russell warns Mercedes issues could last all 2022 season
11:32 , Michael Jones
George Russell has warned that Mercedes’ issues with their new car could last the entire F1 season.
The German team were off the pace for much of preseason testing and their problems continued at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite a solid race finish.
Russell, making his Mercedes debut proper after joining the team from Williams, secured fourth place, one spot back from new teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Yet the new W13 car again appeared to lack the straight-line speed of the team’s rivals Red Bull and Ferrari, and struggled with ‘porpoising’.
Asked when he felt the issues might be resolved, Russell said: “We hope it will be as soon as possible. But there is no reason why it may not continue the whole year.”
George Russell warns Mercedes issues could last all season
‘We enjoy our battles’: Max Verstappen discusses rivalry with Charles Leclerc
11:23 , Michael Jones
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says he is enjoying his on-track battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc this season.
In the first race of the season they exchanged the lead five times before Verstappen had to retire with car trouble. That saw Leclerc claim the win, giving Ferrari their first victory since 2019 and putting himself at the top of the driver standings for the first time.
Verstappen has spoken highly about his rival for the 2022 title, saying via the Express: “I never speak about these things with other drivers. 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 One and he will win many more races. I think we are just good competitors and we like racing, I think you saw that when we were battling hard and it was all good.”
He added: “I would say back in the day it was a little bit more difficult, but also (we) were very young and growing up and you are fighting for the same goal, right?”
‘We enjoy our battles’: Max Verstappen discusses rivalry with Charles Leclerc
Toto Wolff plays down talk of big Mercedes improvement at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
11:15 , Michael Jones
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has dismissed suggestions from his own team that they are set to close the gap on Ferrari and Red Bull with an improved performance at the Saudi Arabinan Grand Prix this weekend.
The defending constructors champions have come into the new season struggling with the aerodynamics on their W13 following the overhaul of regulations, with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell suffering from ‘porpoising’ due to the balance of the car.
It has left Mercedes short of the race pace set by Ferrari and Red Bull and although Hamilton was able to salvage a podium place behind Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, it was clear improvement is required in order to challenge for the title this year.
The short turnaround between the race in Bahrain and this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has left Mercedes with little time to make significant adjustments, but the team’s trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said there are “easy gains” to be made ahead of the return to Jeddah.
Toto Wolff plays down talk of big Mercedes improvement at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Martin Brundle insists Formula 1 moving towards ‘extreme’ 25-race season
11:04 , Michael Jones
Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle says it would be “extreme” to have 25 races in the Formula 1 season but that he has “no doubt” it will happen.
The 2022 campaign will see a record 23 races as the sport looks likely to replace the axed Sochi Grand Prix following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But it looks as though the F1 will look to move to expand the race year again with events in Las Vegas and South Africa the likely candidates.
And though F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said it would be possible to go to 30 a season, Brundle doesn’t think the sport will go that far.
“There’s no doubt we are going to 25 races a season, which is extreme,” he told Sky. “I don’t think we will go to 30. I think the point [Domenicali] was making was: We could go to 30 races as there’s that much interest. Formula 1 is going stratospheric at the moment, so I think he was just making the point: ‘We could easily do 25 – if I want to, I could do 30.’
“The regulations limit it to 24 at the moment, but I’m sure the teams will all agree that if there’s more money to be had and more racing to be had, they will go to 25.”
Martin Brundle insists F1 moving towards ‘extreme’ 25-race season
Mercedes reveal ‘million-dollar question’ in search of fix to catch Formula 1 rivals
10:55 , Michael Jones
Mercedes chief technical officer James Allison concedes their car was not up to standard for the Bahrain Grand Prix and they are still asking the “million-dollar question” as to why.
The car wasn’t fast for practice or qualifying with issues particularly for Lewis Hamilton’s as his DRS failed. The drivers did manage to qualify fifth and seventh and during the race they climbed spots to end third and fourth.
Despite the good finish both Hamilton and George Russell complained about the difficulty of driving that car and Allison has given insight into how the team are trying to fix it.
“You might ask: Why were we running the biggest wing and if we were running the biggest wing, why didn’t we have the performance in our car that we might have hoped for? Well, that, of course, is the million-dollar question,” he said, per GP Fans.
Mercedes reveal ‘million-dollar question’ in search of fix to catch F1 rivals
Toto Wolff identifies fresh Mercedes issue ahead of Saudi Arabia after sluggish F1 start
10:43 , Michael Jones
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team must improve the speed of its pit stops as well as its car if they are to challenge at the front in the 2022 Formula 1 season.
The new campaign began in Bahrain on Sunday and while Lewis Hamilton was able to secure a podium for the team by virtue of finishing in third-place behind Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the pair were way off the pace off the Scuderia and arch rivals Red Bull, whose drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were both forced to retire late in the race after losing engine power.
The W13 car the team has designed for F1’s new era of regulations is slower than Ferrari’s F1-75 ad Red Bull’s RB18, and will require significant development in the coming months if 37-year-old Hamilton is to be able to challenge for a record-breaking eighth world championship.
Toto Wolff identifies fresh Mercedes issue ahead of Saudi Arabia after sluggish start
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix practice starts today
10:35 , Michael Jones
The second grand prix weekend of the Formula 1 season starts today with two rounds of practice at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia. Here’s the schedule for today:
F1 Driver and Media Activity: 10am – 12pm
Free Practice 1: 2-3pm
Free Practice 2: 5-6pm
Pierre Gasly set for early F1 grid penalty after ‘barbecue’ at Bahrain Grand Prix
10:28 , Michael Jones
AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly is likely to have to take a grid penalty early in the 2022 Formula 1 season after his car caught fire at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Frenchman was forced to pull over to the side of the road with less than ten laps of the race to go at Sakhir, with his engine losing power the blaze began at the rear of the car, melting much of the bodywork and damaging various internal components.
Gasly had been set to score strong points for the Italian team after progressing up the field from his starting position of tenth, but ultimately because the first driver to retire in the 2022 campaign.
He was followed shortly afterwards by Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who also run Red Bull Powertrains engines in their Red Bull cars, after the team took over manufacturing from Honda following the Japanese company’s withdrawal from the sport at the end of 2021.
Pierre Gasly set for early F1 grid penalty after ‘barbecue’ at Bahrain Grand Prix
How to does F1 practice and qualifying work?
10:18 , Michael Jones
For newcomers to Formula 1 it can be a little daunting trying to understand the complexities of the sport especially the build-up to raceday where the drivers must complete practice sessions and qualifying at each Grand Prix track.
To start with all drivers must participate in at least one of the three practice sessions to qualify for the race. There are two 90-minute practice sessions on the Friday before a GP and a 60-minute practice session the following Saturday morning.
Qualifying for the Grand Prix – this weekend’s is in Saudi Arabia – happens on Saturday afternoons and also decides the drivers’ starting positions in the race from 1 to 20.
It’s split into three rounds called Q1, Q2 and Q3. In qualifying, drivers are on track at the same time, and are allowed to do as many laps as they want in this time.
All 20 cars take part in Q1 and the slowest five take positions 16-20 in the race. In Q2, 15 cars compete and the slowest five determine positions 11-15, and Q3 features ten cars competing for pole position, with the fastest lap taking first place in the race.
What happened in Saudi Arabia last year?
10:11 , Michael Jones
Saudi Arabia was added to the Formula 1 Grand Prix calender for the first time last season and the race was full of drama.
Lewis Hamilton took an incredible victory in an action-packed inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to draw level with Max Verstappen in the world championship standings heading into next weekend’s final race of the year.
The Mercedes man is aiming for a record eighth drivers’ title and headed to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit eight points adrift of leader Verstappen but with the momentum of winning the previous two races.
Having stormed to pole position on Saturday, Hamilton came out on top in a wild race that was twice halted by red flags and saw him tangle with the Red Bull of Verstappen – whom he labelled “f****** crazy” – as the pair wrestled on the track and bickered over the radio.
Lewis Hamilton beats Max Verstappen to Saudi Arabian GP victory after chaotic race
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix track changes revealed after driver criticism
10:02 , Michael Jones
The FIA have revealed the changes made to the controversial high-speed speed circuit at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix ahead of this weekend’s race following criticism from drivers over the safety of the track.
Last season’s inaugural race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit saw two red flags and a number of high-speed crashes, with drivers highlighting the danger of blind corners and the narrowness of the barriers.
While the track was a hit with many drivers due to its speed and difficulty, George Russell, the representative of the F1 drivers union, said the circuit was “lacking a lot from a safety perspective”.
Formula One returns to Jeddah this weekend for the second race of the season, after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix moved up the 2022 calendar, and Niels Wittich, the FIA’s race director, has confirmed the changes that have been made.
Race organisers said minor tweaks had been made at several corners, including Turns 2, 3, 14 and 21, to improve visibility with the barriers moved back by around 1.5 metres to reveal more of the corner upon entry.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix track changes revealed after driver criticism
What happened in Bahrain?
09:51 , Michael Jones
Formula One is back this weekend after a thrilling opening grand prix in Bahrain. The teams head to Saudi Arabia for the second race of the 2022 season with practice at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit getting underway this afternoon.
Ferrari are back on top of the standings and are the early team to beat after Charles Leclerc won the Italians their first race since 2019 and Carlos Sainz completed a sensational one-two last weekend.
Red Bull are looking to respond after suffering a “brutal” double DNF as both defending champion Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez failed to finish after losing power with less than five laps of the race to go.
That allowed Lewis Hamilton to claim a surprise podium place despite Mercedes’ early struggles with his teammate George Russell following behind in P4.
Now F1 returns for the second Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after last season’s instant classic in Jeddah, as Hamilton edged Verstappen in a frantic race that saw numerous incidents in what is the fastest street circuit on the calendar.
Aston Martin confirm Hulkenberg will sub for Vettel at Jeddah
09:42 , Michael Jones
Reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg will race for Aston Martin in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the second race in succession with Sebastian Vettel absent due to Covid-19.
Vettel missed the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, after testing positive for Covid on the eve of the grand prix and he is yet to record a negative test.
Hulkenberg, who failed to secure a permanent spot on the grid after Renault dropped him at the end of the 2019 season, finished P17 in Bahrain and will hope to move up the leaderboard in Jeddah this week.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin believe the four-time World Champion will be back for the Australian Grand Prix in mid-April.
Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton committed to F1 despite ‘bumpy ride’ with new Mercedes
09:34 , Michael Jones
Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton is fully committed to Formula One despite the potential for a difficult season at Mercedes.
The 37-year-old narrowly missed out on a record eighth world championship last season in a dramatic and controversial final race at Abu Dhabi, where Red Bull rival Max Verstappen snatched his maiden crown.
The early signs this season suggests Hamilton may struggle to be so competitive this time around driving a Mercedes car that is yet to hit the ground running after a new set of regulations which has shaken up the field.
Ferrari appear to be the quickest so far, evinced by their one-two finish in Bahrain, and although Hamilton finished third in reality the Mercedes were well off the pace of the Red Bulls, which suffered from reliability issues and failed to finish.
Sky Sports commentator Brundle believes Hamilton may struggle to enjoy the sport if he is not fighting for race wins, but believes the Briton is still highly motivated and as quick as ever.
Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton committed to F1 despite ‘bumpy ride’ ahead
What time is Saudi Arabia Grand Prix practice and how can I watch it?
09:25 , Michael Jones
Formula One is back in Saudi Arabia after last season’s dramatic duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
In what was the penultimate race of the thrilling 2021 campaign, Hamilton moved level on points with Verstappen but only after he accused his title rival of “brake-testing” as they clashed on the track.
It also came after Verstappen crashed in qualifying as he closed in on pole position, so there are set to be plenty more twists and turns as Formula One returns to the fastest street circuit on the calendar.
Ferrari are the team to beat after last week’s sensational one-two at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and Mercedes will be aiming to see an improvement in their performance following their early struggles.
We should get some early clues as the opening practice sessions take place in Jeddah today ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know:
What time is Saudi Arabia Grand Prix practice and how can I watch it?
Sebastian Vettel ruled out of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Covid
09:18 , Jack Rathborn
Sebastian Vettel has been ruled out of Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to Covid, it has been confirmed.
The four-time world champion missed the season opener in Bahrain with the virus, and has failed to recover in time for this weekend’s race.
Vettel will again be replaced by Aston Martin’s reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg.
The British team expect 34-year-old Vettel to be fit for the third round of the new Formula One campaign in Australia on April 10.
Sebastian Vettel ruled out of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with Covid
Max Verstappen details difficulty in Bahrain after Red Bull mistake
09:11 , Jack Rathborn
Max Verstappen has explained the difficulty he experienced in Bahrain after his second pit stop saw his Red Bull mechanics drop the RB18 car to the ground too quickly, causing a track rod to bend.
“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.
“You can lose power steering and it is just heavy but this was almost stuck in places so it was really difficult to drive.
“Of course, the big problem was what happened afterwards where it looked like there was no fuel coming to the engine and basically everything just turned off so I rolled back into the pit lane.”
Toto Wolff explains Mercedes’ ‘centimetre by centimetre’ plan to close gaps in ‘every area’ on F1 rivals
09:02 , Jack Rathborn
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed how the Silver Arrows plan to claw back their deficit “centimetre by centimetre” on early F1 pacesetters Red Bull and Ferrari, despite Lewis Hamilton and George Russell delivering P3 and P4 in Bahrain.
“The long game is 10 years and that is why when I even look at the season, with stable regulations until 2026, it is how well you learn and that is why, for me, I would qualify the race as a test,” Wolff said.
“There is more understanding of where the gaps lie, it is in pretty much every area, and now we just need to regain land centimetre by centimetre.”
While Wolff did have sympathy for his rivals Red Bull after Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s late retirements from the race, costing them 30 points.
“I don’t wish anybody that, and it was certainly a brutal race for them,” Wolff concluded.
Toto Wolff reveals how Mercedes will close gap ‘centimetre by centimetre’ on rivals
George Russell warns Mercedes issues could last all 2022 season
08:53 , Jack Rathborn
George Russell has warned that Mercedes’ issues with their new car could last the entire F1 season.
The German team were off the pace for much of preseason testing and their problems continued at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite a solid race finish.
Russell, making his Mercedes debut proper after joining the team from Williams, secured fourth place, one spot back from new teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Yet the new W13 car again appeared to lack the straight-line speed of the team’s rivals Red Bull and Ferrari, and struggled with ‘porpoising’.
Asked when he felt the issues might be resolved, Russell said: “We hope it will be as soon as possible. But there is no reason why it may not continue the whole year.”
George Russell warns Mercedes issues could last all season
F1 season could expand to 30 races with Las Vegas and Africa options
08:45 , Jack Rathborn
Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali has confirmed that the sports’ calendar could be expanded to as many 30 races a season.
F1 will hold a record 23 Grands Prix in 2022, but with surging popularity, particularly in previously untapped, large markets, Domenicali believes there is appetite for expansion.
Las Vegas has been widely tipped as a potential future host city and the F1 CEO has confirmed that a visit to Nevada could well be on the cards.
With significant interest in other territories, including on the African continent and in China, Domenicali believes that the sport may need to extend itself beyond the 24 races a season permitted by the Concorde Agreement.
“I think there is potential to go to 24,” Domenicali told Sky Sports. “I would say there is potential to go to 30! In terms of the interest we see all around the world. “It is up to us to try to find the right balance considering what are the venues which would like to be in F1, what are the historical values we need to see on the calendar.
“Not only Las Vegas, there are other cities that are interested in Formula 1. On top of America, on top of China, I think there is a potential also to be in Africa soon. There is a lot of interest there. For sure that’s another area that so far is missing in the geography of our calendar.”
F1 season could expand to 30 races with Las Vegas and Africa options
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali reveals ‘four or five’ requests tabled for new teams
08:34 , Jack Rathborn
Stefano Domenicali has revealed that Formula 1 has “more than four or five requests” from new teams hoping to enter the sport but played down the prospect in the immediate future.
Michael Andretti, the American former racing driver and team owner, has made public his interest in bringing a new team to F1, however, Domenicali insisted the current level of competition on the grid is enticing enough and questioned whether there was space for more than 10 teams.
“There’s not only Michael Andretti,” Domenicali told Sky Sports. “He is maybe the most vocal one, but we have more than four or five requests to consider an extra team to be a part of Formula 1.
“I have to be very honest, today F1 with 10 teams, with the competition on the track, is very, very solid. There are complexities that need to be considered if other teams can be added. Therefore I don’t think it’s the most important element to grow F1, to be honest.”
F1 boss Stefano Domenicali reveals ‘four or five’ requests tabled for new teams
Max Verstappen explains difficulty driving after Red Bull’s self-inflicted problem in Bahrain
08:23 , Jack Rathborn
Max Verstappen has revealed the extent of Red Bull’s self-inflicted problems during the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Dutchman’s defence of his maiden F1 world title got off to a disastrous start, with both Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez failing to finish at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The 24-year-old had appeared set to take second behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, but an issue with his car’s fuelling system meant he could not continue and took no points after a retirement.
Also, after his second pit-stop, the Red Bull mechanics dropped Verstappen’s car too quickly, bending a track rod connecting to one of his wheels and making the car “really difficult to drive”.
Max Verstappen explains difficulty driving after Red Bull’s problem in Bahrain
Formula 1 set for talks with Netflix after claims Drive to Survive ‘faked’ drama
08:17 , Michael Jones
Formula 1 will meet with Netflix to discuss the future of popular documentary Drive to Survive after accusations that the show “faked” drama.
The fourth series premiered ahead of the 2022 F1 season and has again returned apparently strong viewership among subscribers to the streaming platform giants.
Credited with causing an expansion of the sport’s audience, particularly in the US, Drive to Survive has also been criticised for manipulating footage to present certain narratives that may not be true to what happened.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen declined to take part in the latest series and said that the show had “faked a few rivalries which don’t really exist”.
Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of F1, insists that the show is beneficial for the sport, but also believes “a dialogue is needed” to ensure that both Netflix and the drivers are happy.
Carlos Sainz reveals Ferrari team orders plan for Formula 1 championship fight
08:12 , Jack Rathborn
Carlos Sainz has been revealed Ferrari’s plan for possible team orders if one of the team’s drivers is competing for the Formula 1 world championship later in the season.
The Spaniard and team-mate Charles Leclerc are driving what seems to be the fastest car on the grid at this early stage of the campaign, and the Monegasque took victory with Sainz in second at the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.
Former McLaren driver Sainz says either team-mate will be happy to help the other if one is competing for the title, but that the ideal is for both to be battling one another for glory.
“The team will allow us to compete and race each other,” Scuderiafans quotes Sainz as having told Spanish radio show The Great Match of COPE.
Carlos Sainz reveals Ferrari team orders plan for Formula 1 championship fight
Lewis Hamilton opens up on his purpose beyond Formula 1 career
08:00 , Jack Rathborn
Lewis Hamilton has expressed his belief that he must continue to use his “platform” to “apply pressure in an uncomfortable way” and create positive change in Formula 1.
The seven-time world champion has spoken prominently on several social issues, including the need for greater diversity within F1 and – revealing that his perspective has changed as he has gotten older – Hamilton has outlined a need to continue to try and “spark change” from within the sport.
Hamilton told Sky Sports: “My role here, I think, is to continue to hold those conversations, sit with Stefano [Domenicali, F1’s CEO] and say: ‘What are you doing and how can we work together?’
Lewis Hamilton opens up on his purpose beyond F1
Mercedes eyeing ‘easy gains’ to close gap on Ferrari and Red Bull in Saudi Arabia
07:52 , Jack Rathborn
Mercedes have said that there are “easy gains” to be made as the German team target an improved performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Despite winning the last eight constructors’ championships, the outfit have struggled with overhauled regulations ahead of the season, with “porpoising” and a lack of race pace causing particular difficulties.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell overcame the issues to finish third and fourth at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after both Red Bull drivers were forced to retire but Mercedes will now look to close the gap in performance between their new W13 car and their potential title rivals Red Bull and Ferrari.
While recognising that there are significant problems, trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin believes that quick improvements can be made to avoid an extended slow start to the season.
“We just did a de-brief with the drivers and there is a lot of everything [wrong],” Shovlin told the F1 Nation podcast, “There’s bouncing, the balance is poor, there is a lack of low-speed grip, we’re struggling on traction, the drivability could be better, the tyre warm-up is not good enough, the car is a bit on the heavy side.
“There’s a lot to improve which gives us some encouragement. I think we’ll get some easy gains, there’s some low-hanging fruit and what we’re hoping is that we can get those in the next race or two.”
Mercedes eyeing ‘easy gains’ to close gap on Ferrari and Red Bull in Saudi Arabia
Mika Hakkinen predicts ‘sensitive’ Lewis Hamilton could become ‘irritated’ by George Russell
07:50 , Jack Rathborn
Mika Hakkinen has predicted that Lewis Hamilton may become “irritated” by a lack of support from new Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Russell joined the German team from Williams in the off-season to partner his fellow Briton Hamilton on the 2022 F1 grid and Hakkinen believes the partnership may not be as stable as the close teamwork utilised by Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, now of Alfa Romeo, during five seasons alongside one another that brought Mercedes significant sustained success.
Describing his fellow Finn’s teamwork as “perfect”, Hakkinen thinks a “sensitive” Hamilton could suffer due to the change from Bottas to Russell.
“I believe and I know from my experience that Lewis is relatively sensitive,” Hakkinen, the 1998 and 1999 world champion, told the Unibet YouTube channel.
“He is a sensitive person. When Valtteri was Lewis’ teammate, 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.”
Mika Hakkinen predicts Lewis Hamilton could become ‘irritated’ by George Russell
George Russell admits to being a ‘bit of a d***’ after Valtteri Bottas crash at Imola
07:45 , Jack Rathborn
George Russell says he regrets his argument with Valtteri Bottas after the pair’s high-speed crash at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola last season, admitting that the exchange made him look like “a bit of a d***”.
Russell, who was driving for Williams, collided with Bottas after trying to pass the Mercedes on the outside of the long straight in wet conditions at Imola. Russell accused Bottas of pushing him onto the grass verge before losing control of his car and crashing into the Finn, sending both drivers into the wall.
The pair were unharmed after the crash, which caused a 23-minute red flag stoppage, and Russell then confronted Bottas while he remained in his car, slapping his helmet before Bottas replied with a middle finger.
Over this team radio, Russell also fumed: “What the f*** was he doing? Honestly. Is he a f***ing p***k or what?”. The exchange was also captured in the latest season of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, where Russell was also shown calling Bottas a “c***”.
George Russell admits to being a ‘bit of a d***’ after Valtteri Bottas crash at Imola
Alpine women become first to drive F1 cars in Saudi Arabia
07:40 , Jack Rathborn
Alpine have provided two women with the opportunity to drive an F1 car in Saudi Arabia ahead of this weekend’s grand prix in Jeddah.
Saudi driver Aseel Al Hamad and Alpine academy prospect Abbi Pulling took part in a demonstration run around the streets of Jeddah in the team’s E20 car.
Alpine have said Al Hamad and Pulling are the first women to drive a F1 car in the country, where the ban on allowing women to drive was only lifted in 2018.
Al Hamad, who previously drove the Alpine E20 ahead of the French Grand Prix in 2018, is Saudi Arabia’s representative on the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission while Pulling is set to compete in this season’s W-Series.
Alpine women become first to drive F1 cars in Saudi Arabia
07:36 , Jack Rathborn
Toto Wolff plays down talk of big Mercedes improvement at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
07:35 , Jack Rathborn
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has dismissed suggestions from his own team that they are set to close the gap on Ferrari and Red Bull with an improved performance at the Saudi Arabinan Grand Prix this weekend.
The defending constructors champions have come into the new season struggling with the aerodynamics on their W13 following the overhaul of regulations, with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell suffering from ‘porpoising’ due to the balance of the car.
It has left Mercedes short of the race pace set by Ferrari and Red Bull and although Hamilton was able to salvage a podium place behind Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, it was clear improvement is required in order to challenge for the title this year.
The short turnaround between the race in Bahrain and this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has left Mercedes with little time to make significant adjustments, but the team’s trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said there are “easy gains” to be made ahead of the return to Jeddah.
But Wolff, who said earlier this week that Mercedes would have to take a “chainsaw” to the W13 car, was less optimistic when asked about the improvements his team could make ahead of the second race of the campaign this weekend.
Toto Wolff plays down talk of big Mercedes improvement at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website
