F1 news LIVE: Lewis Hamilton latest, Red Bull ‘hangover’ ruled out, and Mercedes’ 2022 car launch date

The Formula 1 off season rumbles on with the aftermath of Abu Dhabi still an intense topic in F1 circles, not to mention the link between that and Lewis Hamilton’s future. The seven-time world champion appears to be switching off after the bitter ending to the 2021 season as Max Verstappen stole a maiden world title following a thrilling final lap.

But there is also much to debate and discuss surrounding both new rules for the upcoming season, as well as uncertainty surrounding who will line up on the grid.

Another trend is how Mercedes, Toto Wolff and the FIA mend their relationship ahead of next season, with Michael Masi’s decisions and performance a source of pain for the Silver Arrows.

All will be revealed in two months when the FIA’s inquiry becomes public on the eve of the opening weekend of the 2022 season.

With George Russell in theory joining Hamilton at Mercedes next season, there will be a shuffle elsewhere, with Sergio Perez not certain to return to Red Bull. Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, Fernando Alonso at Alpine, Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda at AlphaTauri, Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin, Nicholas Latifi at Williams, Alex Albon at Williams, Guanyu Zhou at Alfa Romeo and Mick Schumacher at Haas will all need to secure new contracts too. Follow all the latest F1 news below:

F1 News

Toto Wolff’s behaviour at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been branded ‘unacceptable’ by Martin Brundle
George Russell explains why he will not study Lewis Hamilton ahead of 2022 season
Valtteri Bottas pinpoints main difference between himself and Hamilton at Mercedes
Mercedes announce 2022 car launch date
Mick Schumacher: ‘Arrogant’ to suggest anybody can win driving with Mercedes

Maserati open door for potential F1 return

15:45 , Jack Rathborn

Maserati has not ruled out returning to F1 in the future after clarity emerges over the new engine rules.

The Italian manufacturer confirmed its long-overdue return to single-seater competition following over 60 years away with their involvement in Formula E next year.

And with a rich history in the sport, after Juan Manuel Fangio’s drivers’ title in 1957, CEO Davide Grasso responded to questions over their long-term plans: “You mean the other championship led by my friend Stefano Domenicali? Time will tell.

“But Formula 1 is the premier class, the most important championship for racing cars, a great competition. “Maserati was there, winning the world championship with Juan Manuel Fangio. So the question is not out of place, but also not relevant at the moment. Formula E should be our first step.”

Lawrence Stroll excited for 2022 and beyond after Aston Martin moves

15:30 , Jack Rathborn

Lawrence Stroll has hailed the arrival of Mike Krack as team principal after replacing Otmar Szafnauer with the team owner adamant they remain on course in their five-year plan to win the world title by 2025.

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

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

“We are about to embark on year two of our five-year plan, the objective of which is to win Formula One World Championships. All the ingredients we require are coming together.

“Mike will play a central and leading role, reporting to Martin Whitmarsh and leading our technical and operational functions, our collective aim being to fulfil those lofty ambitions. We are on our way.”

Prost claims boss Rossi drained the fun from Alpine

15:15 , Jack Rathborn

Alain Prost claims Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi drained the fun from the F1 team and wanted “all the light”.

The four-time champion made a high-profile exit following seven years with the Enstone-based outfit, walking away from his role as an advisor.

“Laurent Rossi’s desire is to be alone, not to be polluted by anyone,” Prost told L’Equipe. “He told me himself he no longer needed to be advised. It was in Qatar but he still offered me a contract in Abu Dhabi, which I refused.

“It must be said it was a project in which I believed, and I still believe, an ambitious project which has restored incredible motivation within the group.

“But now, there is a real desire to put a lot of people on the sidelines. Laurent Rossi wants all the light.

“Me, what interests me is the challenge of being in a team and being listened to and involved in certain decisions.

“I was deliberately very isolated, but I still influenced a lot in a discreet way despite all the disagreements that I kept to myself.

“When the team boss doesn’t even say hello to you when you arrive at the circuit, it’s because there’s no more fun. There isn’t even any respect anymore. And then it can’t work anymore.”

Mick Schumacher: It’s ‘arrogant’ to suggest anybody driving a Mercedes can win

15:00 , Jack Rathborn

Mick Schumacher maintains it is “arrogant” to suggest anybody driving a Mercedes can win.

Max Verstappen snapped a streak of dominance for the Silver Arrows over seven years.

“Everyone deserves their place in Formula 1 and anyone can drive here,” Schumacher told Corriere dello Sport.

“But you can only say you can win a race with Mercedes if you sit in it.

“Conversely, it’s an arrogant consideration.”

George Russell’s style is ‘between Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button’

14:45 , Jack Rathborn

George Russell’s style has been described by Williams’ Dave Robson as “between Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button”.

“A good question. I think Jenson and Lewis were quite different and in terms of driving style, George is also different,” Robson told Motorsport.com.

“He’s kind of in between the two. To a certain extent it’s about using the tyres and they’ve changed, so I don’t know what Lewis’ style is like these days.

“The most important thing is that George is able to adapt. He drives quite instinctively and I think he continues to improve. He has the talent.”

Valtteri Bottas claims Lewis Hamilton dominance a hindrance at Mercedes

14:30 , Jack Rathborn

Valtteri Bottas claims Lewis Hamilton’s dominance was a hindrance to him at Mercedes.

The Finn was praised for his role in helping Mercedes land all five constructors’ titles during his tenure with his impressive teamwork and performances.

But Bottas has now revealed what he learned with the Silver Arrows ahead of a lead role at Alfa Romeo.

“I’ve been in a position that I’ve got to know Lewis pretty well as a human being as well, not just as a Formula 1 champion, and learned that he fully deserves everything he’s achieved,” he told GPFans. “He’s got the talent, but then he puts that into good use and he works really hard.

“Obviously, his lifestyle is also different in a way that, he might be in New York just a day before the race weekend, whatever, doing other things. But when he is in his working mode and in this Formula 1 mode, he’s never leaving any stone unturned and he’s always pushing the team a lot.

“I feel like in the last few years, he’s been more in a lead role, and for me, it’s been quite difficult to try and take a lead role, because he’s been, obviously, here before and he’s pretty dominant in the way he works with a team. Also, setting up the car for sure, I’ve learned a few things, but also many [other] things.”

Johnny Herbert maintains Michael Masi has ‘done too much damage to F1’

14:15 , Jack Rathborn

Ex-F1 racer Johnny Herbert maintains race director Michael Masi has ‘done too much damage’ to the series to remain in his role for 2022.

“In many respects…and in all respects, no,” Herbert told Sky Sports when discussing if he could survive the controversy in Abu Dhabi. “Because I think he has done too much damage to Formula 1 and I think because of the position that he’s in, we have got to have trust.

“And I think that trust has completely and utterly evaporated. “The problem is, is who do you replace him with? Because obviously experience is going to be very, very important for the man who slots into that position,” said Herbert.

“Michael was very fortunate, he was sort of underneath Charlie Whiting [former F1 race director] when Charlie was the head of it and he learnt a lot of good things from that point of view.

“Is there anybody that sort of stands out for me at the moment to replace him? No. And that is the conundrum.”

Michael Masi got it the right in ‘heart-pumping’ finale, claims Romain Grosjean

14:00 , Jack Rathborn

Michael Masi has been backed by former F1 driver Romain Grosjean, who maintains the FIA race director got it right in what was a “heart-pumping” finale in Abu Dhabi.

“I loved it. It was exciting. My heart was going, it was pumping like hell,” Grosjean said at an IndyCar media day. “There are a few ways of seeing it.

“It would have been very strange to not unlap those cars and have Lewis first and then Max four cars behind over one lap for the world championship.

“And, on the other hand, for Lewis it was definitely not a great call. But as a TV fan, as a spectator, and for the sport, I think Michael Masi made the right decision.

“I don’t think it would have been nice for the championship to finish under the safety car.

“It would not have been nice to finish with the guys first and second being separated by a few cars.”

Alain Prost makes ‘jealousy’ accusation after bitter split with Alpine

13:45 , Jack Rathborn

Alain Prost claims he was marginalised by Alpine over decision-making following a bitter split from the F1 team.

“The 2021 season was very disruptive for me in that I felt that the old ones [staff within the team] had to go,” said Prost.

“I accept change because you don’t have to always do F1 the same way. You can do it differently, and that’s what was done throughout last year.

“But for me, it became too complicated. I was no longer involved in the decisions, sometimes they weren’t even shared with me at all, but I had to continue to convey the official word.

“Even as a member of the board of directors, I discovered certain decisions at the last minute. You may not be listened to, but at least be warned in time.

“It’s a question of respect. Relations became more and more complicated, I felt that there was a lot of jealousy.”

Valtteri Bottas pinpoints main difference between himself and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

13:30 , Jack Rathborn

Valtteri Bottas believes Lewis Hamilton’s “race pace and tyre management” are the biggest differences between their success at Mercedes.

“Many times he had to copy my setup for the qualifying last minute,” Valtteri Bottas told GPFans.

“Driving style-wise, tyre management is one of his big strengths, and in any condition and circumstances, he always finds a way, how to be able to extend a stint or the best way to efficiently keep the tyres in a good condition.

“That race pace and tyre management part has probably been the biggest difference between me and Lewis and consistency is what he’s had with those things.”

Toto Wolff’s behaviour at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has been branded ‘unacceptable’ by Martin Brundle

13:15 , Jack Rathborn

Martin Brundle has called Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s actions “unacceptable” after the controversial season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Wolff was furious after Lewis Hamilton was beaten by Max Verstappen after a late safety car period, with Brundle adamant the team-to-FIA radio has to stop next season.

When asked if that form of communication nust end in the sport, he told the Sky Sports F1 Show: “One hundred per cent.

“In the first safety car incident [in Abu Dhabi] when [Antonio] Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo broke down some way from a service road, we had Toto on the radio to Masi saying ‘Hey Michael, no safety car’, trying to influence a safety decision.

“[It is] completely unacceptable and Toto knows that. We can’t have that.

“What used to happen in the Herbie [Blash] and Charlie [Whiting] days is they would get on the radio to Charlie and Herbie would go ‘He [Whiting] is busy at the moment. He will get back to you’.

“Of course, he didn’t because Charlie was busy sorting out the mess that was on track and working to understand when the race could be restarted.”

George Russell explains why he will not study Lewis Hamilton ahead of 2022 season

13:00 , Jack Rathborn

George Russell has explained he will not study Lewis Hamilton ahead of 2022 season as he admires the seven-time world champion’s ability to adapt too much.

“No, there won’t be any studying of Lewis,” Russell said.

“That’s because the reason that makes him so great is because of his adapting to situations.

“We’ve got a brand-new car. Nobody knows what the best way to drive that car [will be].

“I’m sure a Mercedes 2022 car will be different to a Mercedes 2021 car and compared to a Red Bull as well, and a Ferrari and a McLaren.

“They’re all going to have their little quirks about them.”

Lewis Hamilton’s Extreme E team wins Sustainability Award

12:30 , Jack Rathborn

Lewis Hamilton’s Extreme E team has won the inaugural Extreme E Sustainability Award.

The all-electric off-road series begun last year with five rounds in Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Greenland, Italy and England.

And with the focus of raising awareness of environmental issues, the ‘Count Us In Challenge’ was launched to encourage fans to do their bit.

The initiative has a range of steps which range in difficulty from talking to a colleague about issues concerning the environment, to actively reducing your carbon footprint with less flights.

And Hamilton’s X44 team earned the most steps, producing 792 out of a total 3,906 steps pledged by fans from all teams.

In total, the official website claims the initiative has already saved 1,506,207kg of carbon dioxide.

Kimi Raikkonen opens up on working with Sebastian Vettel

12:15 , Jack Rathborn

Kimi Raikkonen says former Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel has a “very particular way of working”.

The pair combined with the Scuderia from 2015-18, and have since maintained their friendship.

“Obviously [he’s] a great guy,” said Raikkonen of Vettel on the Beyond the Grid podcast.

“We had a good relationship always, and [he had] a very particular way of working!”

Lewis Hamilton’s ‘motivation’ will not allow Michael Masi future to dictate 2022 return

12:00 , Jack Rathborn

Martin Brundle maintains Lewis Hamilton cannot give Mercedes ultimatums over Michael Masi’s future in the sport as it would contradict his motivation and desire to race.

“I’m a little bit uncomfortable, let’s just put this issue to one side, of a team and a driver starting to determine who’s doing what in race control, or in any other role in Formula 1 to an extent. That’s the tail wagging the dog,” Brundle said.

“If my driver came to me, if I was a Formula 1 boss, and said ‘Look, I don’t think I want to race any more if that guy’s still around’, I would immediately stop thinking about race control and start thinking ‘Hang on, has my driver lost his motivation?’, which, of course, he hasn’t.

“Lewis will be back and be pressing the throttle ever harder.”

Aston Martin have appointed new team principal

11:45 , Jack Rathborn

Aston Martin has confirmed former BMW motorsport boss Mike Krack is its new team principal.

After Otmar Szafnauer’s departure was confirmed this week, Krack steps in to lead the team in 2022.

“It is a thrill and an honour to have been appointed to the position of team principal of Aston Martin, and I am very grateful to Lawrence [Stroll] and Martin [Whitmarsh] for giving me such a fantastic opportunity,” Krack said.

“Aston Martin is one of the greatest automotive brands in the world, and to have been asked to play a leading role in delivering the on-track Formula 1 success that such an illustrious name so richly deserves is a challenge that I plan to embrace with energy and enthusiasm.

“I have been working in motorsport for over 20 years, and worked in Formula 1 with Seb Vettel in 2006 and 2007 when I was a BMW-Sauber engineer and he was the team’s test driver.

“I have huge respect for his speed and ability, and it will be fantastic to be reunited with him. Lance Stroll is a seriously fast and talented driver, too, with 100 grands prix starts to his name, and I am very much looking forward to working closely with him.

“Team Silverstone has always impressed me. It is full of talented people and real racers. That racer’s culture and values are what is required to succeed in motorsport.

“I know that and my new colleagues at Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One™ Team know it, too. We will work incredibly hard. We want to win. Together, we will.”

Maserati open door for potential F1 return

11:30 , Jack Rathborn

Maserati has not ruled out returning to F1 in the future after clarity emerges over the new engine rules.

The Italian manufacturer confirmed its long-overdue return to single-seater competition following over 60 years away with their involvement in Formula E next year.

Lawrence Stroll excited for 2022 and beyond after Aston Martin moves

11:15 , Jack Rathborn

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

“We are about to embark on year two of our five-year plan, the objective of which is to win Formula One World Championships. All the ingredients we require are coming together.

Mercedes announce 2022 car launch date

11:05 , Jack Rathborn

Mercedes have confirmed their 2022 F1 car launch date for the 18 February.

The W13 will be unveiled on Friday 18 as the Silver Arrows attempt to bounce back from a crushing end to the 2021 season.

George Russell will be on board, but Lewis Hamilton’s future remains unclear.

The full name of the car is Mercedes-AMG F1 W13 E Performance, with the primary goal of a ninth consecutive Constructors’ title.

After a black colourway for two seasons, speculation suggests a return to the traditional silver livery for a new era in F1.

Toto Wolff claims Lewis Hamilton quitting would be ‘indictment’ for F1

11:00 , Jack Rathborn

Toto Wolff insists should Lewis Hamilton quit Formula 1 then it would be an “indictment” on the sport.

Speculation remains over the seven-time world champion’s future after the controversial Abu Dhabi Grand Prix snatched his hopes of an eighth world title to break a tie for the record with Michael Schumacher.

But Wolff appears in the dark as to which was Hamilton is leaning and hopes Hamilton returns for the sake of the sport.

“I really hope we will see him again. He is the most important part of our sport,” said Wolff in an interview with Krone.

“It would be an indictment for the whole of Formula 1 if the best driver decided to quit because of outrageous decisions.”

George Russell’s style is ‘between Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button’

10:45 , Jack Rathborn

George Russell’s style has been described by Williams’ Dave Robson as “between Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button”.

“A good question. I think Jenson and Lewis were quite different and in terms of driving style, George is also different,” Robson told Motorsport.com.

“He’s kind of in between the two. To a certain extent it’s about using the tyres and they’ve changed, so I don’t know what Lewis’ style is like these days.

“The most important thing is that George is able to adapt. He drives quite instinctively and I think he continues to improve. He has the talent.”

Valtteri Bottas claims Lewis Hamilton dominance a hindrance at Mercedes

10:30 , Jack Rathborn

Valtteri Bottas claims Lewis Hamilton’s dominance was a hindrance to him at Mercedes.

The Finn was praised for his role in helping Mercedes land all five constructors’ titles during his tenure with his impressive teamwork and performances.

But Bottas has now revealed what he learned with the Silver Arrows ahead of a lead role at Alfa Romeo.

Johnny Herbert maintains Michael Masi has ‘done too much damage to F1’

10:15 , Jack Rathborn

Ex-F1 racer Johnny Herbert maintains race director Michael Masi has ‘done too much damage’ to the series to remain in his role for 2022.

“Michael was very fortunate, he was sort of underneath Charlie Whiting [former F1 race director] when Charlie was the head of it and he learnt a lot of good things from that point of view.

“Is there anybody that sort of stands out for me at the moment to replace him? No. And that is the conundrum.”

Martin Brundle warns ‘be careful what you wish for’ over Michael Masi future

10:00 , Jack Rathborn

Ex-F1 racer and pundit Martin Brundle claims there is no obvious successor to Michael Masi currently as the pressure mounts on the race director.

Brundle even warned Mercedes and Toto Wolff, who were furious after his intervention in Abu Dhabi, “to be careful what you wish for”.

“Who would you replace him with? Be careful what you wish for I would say in this,” Brundle said.

“And what I absolutely know for sure is that changing Michael Masi will not fix the problem.”

Aston Martin announce car launch date for 2022 season

09:45 , Jack Rathborn

Aston Martin have announced their car launch date for the 2022 F1 season.

The Silverstone-based outfit will reveal all on 10 February at its road car factory in Gaydon, where they produce their Aston Martin Lagonda.

The event to showcase the AMR22 will see Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll attend.

Aston Martin will hope for a much-improved season and begin testing on 23 February at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya before the season-opener in Bahrain on 20 March.