F1 news LIVE: Mercedes and Red Bull learn results of inquiry amid Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton hint

Pierre Gasly has “no doubts” about AlphaTauri’s potential in 2022 despite new F1 regulations.

The 26-year-old told Formula 1: “It’s a fresh start for all the teams, starting pretty much from zero as we are really looking at a clean sheet of paper scenario. It will be a big challenge for the teams to work out how to build the best car possible to comply with the new regulations. I hope that it works really well for us. I have no doubts about our team’s abilities and, as of now, they are quite pleased with the work they have done.

“Like everyone, they’ve been working on it for many months now, but it’s difficult to have an idea of what we can expect until the car goes out on track in Barcelona for the first time. Then we will get an idea of how the car behaves and how we look compared to the others. I’m sure this season will be full of surprises.

“So, mentally I’ve prepared myself to deal with any possible scenario and personally, I will be pushing the team to always do its best.”

Pierre Gasly is targeting “top five” finishes and beyond in 2022 with AlphaTauri.

A debut win in 2020 was backed up by five top five finishes last season with one podium and the French driver is bullish about his chances with the new AT03 car.

Gasly told Formula 1: “I will be trying to build on the run I had of very good results and to continue to be on top of my game with the car I have. I really hope that this is a year when I can fight at the very front, to finish regularly in the top five and even higher if the car is good enough for that.

“Last year we came very close to fifth place in the constructors’ [championship] and it would be super to achieve that this year. It’s too early to say if that will be possible but I will always give it my best shot and get the most out of our car.”

Sebastian Vettel insists Aston Martin are facing a “true test” of its potential this season.

After the launch of the new AMR22, the Silverstone-based outfit swapped out their team principal Otmar Szafnauer and hired Mike Krack as his replacement.

“If you say the past was lean and mean, I hope that the present is not fat and nice,” Vettel said when discussing the team’s potential. “I think the truth is the team is growing.

“Having a shuffle in management is always a bit of a hiccup or shake up and it will take time to overcome. Hopefully we will manage to pull together and despite growing in size, becoming leaner or more efficient in our processes.

“I think this year will be a true test for us and we will see how good we are because last year, we didn’t show anything because we didn’t focus on bringing any updates.

“Whereas this year it is all about this year’s cars, this year’s generation of cars and we will be able to show what we can produce, and we should be measured based on that.”

Max Verstappen is “the most gifted driver of anyone” according to Jenson Button.

“It’s always difficult when it’s a controversial ending. He’s an exceptional talent,” Button told Sky Sports when discussing the Red Bull star.

“He was always going to be a good driver, can he build on that natural ability? He’s for me the fastest and most gifted driver of anyone. Can he build on that and become somebody like Lewis and the complete package.

“There’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders. You want to win every race, he’ll be a bit more relaxed after last season. I’m sure he’ll want to win another world championship and say, ‘look, it wasn’t down to Michael Masi’”.

Jenson Button insists Lewis Hamilton will return “a recharged man” after his break from Formula 1 following the acrimonious ending in Abu Dhabi last season.

“It’s difficult to understand where he is, it was a fantastic time to get away from the sport,” Button told Sky Sports. “He’ll come back a recharged man.

“We’ll see the best Lewis Hamilton. He’s one of the best to ever drive a F1 car and he’s going up against one of the best to ever drive a F1 car, this doesn’t happen very often. Hopefully we see more in 2022.”

Jenson Button insists talks with race director Michael Masi mid-race are ‘wrong’ and that the F1 stewards should be left to make their own decisions without interference from teams following leaked audio of a conversation between the race direction and Red Bull during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Button told Sky Sports: “When you hear that on its own, you think, ‘that’s bad, it sounds like they’re manipulating the steward’, but it’s very different, every team speaks to Masi.

“They’re always going to get their point across. Maybe that needs to be checked and they shouldn’t have their voices to Masi and he should make a decision on his own. After the race yes, but during the race it’s wrong. So much adrenaline. I think it’s better that the stewards discuss it between themselves.

“It’s tricky when it’s one individual, it should be a decision between all the stewards, the rules are the rules, he can manipulate the rules surrounding the safety car. When we’re told one thing and then hear another, we need it to be clear and be on the same page. Some of the best racing I’ve ever seen in motorsport, we need to think of last year as an exceptional year with a tough ending.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem maintains talks between Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner were cordial at the F1 Commission meeting in London.

After the controversial ending to the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, Ben Sulayem is chairing a meeting to ensure harmony heading into the new campaign.

“They [Wolff and Horner] were in line,” said Ben Sulayem. “I think it’s because of Valentine’s Day.

“They were close to each other and they were in a good mood, so that was good. I expected more entertainment but it was good to see the harmony between them.”

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem insists Formula 1 ‘can only go forward’ after positive talks at the F1 Commission meeting.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner were both present in London for “detailed discussions”.

Ben Sulayem maintains that talks progressed well and that analysis will come soon.

The newly-elected president said: “The analysis is still going on, it will come soon, the integrity of the FIA will always be intact and fair motorsport, that’s my duty.

“It was a very good meeting, we went through a lot of important things for the new season.

“I expect a good Formula 1 season.”

Damon Hill has paid tribute to father Graham Hill on what would be his birthday, labelling the two-time world champion ‘The Man’.

The first father and son pair to win F1 World Championships, with Keke and Nico Rosberg following in 2016, Hill shared some rare footage of his father on Twitter.

The Alpine Academy have confirmed their driver line-up for 2022 with the addition of Formula 3 vice-champion Jack Doohan and F3 race-winner Olli Caldwell, while Victor Martins and Caio Collet will return.

Alpine will reveal their new car for 2022, the A522, on 21 February, and the future looks bright with Australian racer Doohan after his second-place finish to Champion Dennis Hauger in F3 last year.

While Caldwell arrives after a promising campaign in 2021 with PREMA Racing in F3, notching one victory and four podiums to conclude the year in P8.

“We are only measured by our success on track and our goal as an Academy is always to win the Championships our drivers are competing in. Jack is fresh from finishing as runner-up in Formula 3 showing his raw speed in the Championship and again in his debut in Formula 2 last year,” said Alpine Academy Director Mia Sharizman.

“While Olli comes into the Academy after a solid year in F3 where he managed four podium finishes and a race win. We accept it might take a few races for the two of them to adjust to their new surroundings, but we’re confident they will hit the ground running towards the second half of the season.

“For Victor and Caio, they know it’s time to deliver and fight for the F3 title this season after a strong first year in the series. They’ve been part of the Academy for four years and have shown strong development in every season. Victor won his first race last year and Caio scored some strong results. We are excited for both seasons to start next month.”