F1

Ferrari has called for a clampdown on Formula 1's mirror design regulations, amid fears that Mercedes' new concept could trigger wild 'spaceship' designs.

They serve as an interesting aerodynamic function that many of the teams have picked up on since and have reworked into their 2022 designs. F1 teams pushed their luck again in 2018 when they decided to mount their wing mirrors on the side of the halo. On the legality overall, I don't think that we can have any 'doubt’. “I think that the way that they have designed their car, certainly there is a significant aero purpose in the mirrors itself. “Good concept, quite different to the one we got. “I find them quite surprising, and it is something that we are not expecting.

Formula 1 has terminated its television contract with Russian broadcaster Match TV as sports series across the world continue to cut ties following the ...

The promoter of the Russian Grand Prix, Rosgonki, initially claimed there was a chance this year’s race could still go ahead. Match TV signed its latest deal in 2020, which ran to the end of the 2023 season. In the immediate aftermath of the escalation of military action by Russia and the start of the invasion at the end of February, F1 called off the Sochi race before ultimately terminating its contract.

Join us as we delve into the new and interesting details on show during the first day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain, courtesy of Giorgio Piola and Sutton ...

Also note the triangular shaped edge wing that’s detached from the floor. This side-on view of the Mercedes W13 shows how large the SIS fairing is, as it forms a manta ray-like wing profile. It’s clear to see how mounting some of their coolers in the saddle position above the power unit has helped narrow the sidepod bodywork. Photo by: Giorgio Piola Photo by: Giorgio Piola Note the flow conditioning vanes housed in the panel behind the radiators. Photo by: Giorgio Piola Also note the pitot tubes that have been placed around the leading edge of the rear wing to help collect flow field information that can be studied later. Photo by: Giorgio Piola Photo by: Giorgio Piola It’s also a great way of seeing just how wide the upper side impact spar (SIS) fairing is when compared with the main sidepod bodywork. Photo by: Giorgio Piola

Kevin Magnussen says that he made peace with the thought of never returning to Formula 1 after he departed Haas at the end of the 2020 season.

I felt really excited when he called me and asked if I wanted to come back. “I had some thoughts about what if we’re going to run it back again, if it’s going to be fun or not, but with this regulation change there’s some opportunity that things will be a little better. “So I thought that it was still not going to be a possibility, then Gunther called me, and it was a big surprise.

Ross Brawn admits F1 didn't expect Mercedes' 'very extreme' sidepod design on their new W13 car as he warns of protests from rival teams - with title rivals Red ...

That does not correspond to the spirit of the regulations. Mercedes have gone for a radical approach of having the SIS completely detached from the sidepod. That doesn't correspond to the spirit of the regulations. 'From our point of view, Mercedes went a step too far. Horner, in comments later disputed and retracted, was reported to have said: 'From our point of view, Mercedes went a step too far. Brawn told Sky Sports: 'There's no doubt the Mercedes concept we didn't anticipate.

Pierre Gasly set the fastest time on the opening day of 2022's final pre-season test in Bahrain, but it was Ferrari who caught the eye with their pace and ...

C3 (medium) Haas, meanwhile, missed the morning session due to travel disruption, but Pietro Fittipaldi got out on track in the afternoon. C3 (medium) 13) Esteban Ocon C2 (hard) 6) Lando Norris C4 (soft) 5) Alex Albon 2) Carlos Sainz C5 (softest) 1) Pierre Gasly Perez completed more laps than anyone on Thursday - 138 - though finished the day in the gravel after a clumsy spin, which led to a red flag and an early finish to proceedings.

Haas Formula 1 team boss Gunther Steiner insists that Kevin Magnussen was the only driver he spoke to as a potential replacement for Nikita Mazepin.

And that's what we did." Maybe in the back of your head you think, let's go the safe route, and that's what we did. It's like I know what he wants, I know what we want, and it's the same thing. And that was Kevin, because we know him, he worked with us. “But then you just keep on working on it and solve the difficulties, and find solutions. We are here to get better again, and we need him to help us to do that, like he did last time."

The new season does not start until next week but Mercedes are already at the centre of an explosive row over the legality of their car, with rival teams ...

Reckon this has caught them - and the rest of the teams - off guard. "I really have to say thank you to both Peugeot and Chip Ganassi Racing for releasing me promptly - both are great organisations. Most laps so far is Perez at 44 and fewest is Norris with 21. They managed just 160 laps at the first test, the fewest of any and nearly 200 short of Williams. He had fairly limited running in the morning with just 21 laps so makes sense to get cracking early on this afternoon. He is now in fourth and the third man within a second of Leclerc's earlier time. "On the mirrors, it was surprising - we were not expecting that. Still only 13 laps for Alonso and I am not sure if he will be running again. Perez 131 and might well beat Verstappen's 147 from day one of the first day of test one. "No doubt it is a great car - that should not be a surprise to us," Binotto said. Only a few more than Haas and they missed the entirety of the morning session. It immediately acquired a new nickname - the “no sidepod” car - because of the way their engineers have managed to shrink the bodywork beside the driver around the car's cooling requirements.

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn says the “extreme” Mercedes sidepod solution unveiled at the Bahrain test was not anticipated when the 2022 ...

“It's impossible to anticipate the creative scope of the teams. “So some of the solutions quite honestly, we never anticipated. So I'm sure there's going to be a lot of discussion about it. And however hard you try to close off all the options, and believe me, we closed off hundreds of them, as I say the innovation in F1, it's always extreme. From the teams’ perspective, they want to be sure that no one's taken an interpretation that they don't feel is correct. “And I think inevitably, there's going be a lot of debate about their interpretation.

On Day 1 testing in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton drove the latest version of the W13, which has an extremely minimal sidepod treatment broke cover. It was ...

This has been a massive tear-up.” But this wasn’t a little rearrangement. – you’d be worried where that’s going to cool,” Elliott joked.

Mercedes raised some eyebrows on the opening day of the second pre-season Formula 1 test when it rolled out its radical new sidepod solution on the W13.

There’s still some geometrical tricks being played with the floor edge here in order to entice the airflow. In that respect, there have been changes for 2022. Photo by: Giorgio Piola Photo by: Giorgio Piola Photo by: Giorgio Piola This was originally done as a cost cutting measure and also served to curtail some of the more exotic designs that were being produced at the time.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he is confident his team's new car complies with F1's regulations and has urged the sport's bosses to handle any complaints ...

"Looking at the Mercedes car, there's no doubt it's a great car," Binotto said. Horner was claimed to have told Auto Motor und Sport on Thursday morning: "The new Mercedes violates the spirit of the regulations. We were keen on not running alone with it, but being in touch with the FIA also, and that's why I think it will be ok." "We can only focus on ourselves, I said this so many times last year and that's what we've got to do again this year. "The process is very clear," Wolff said. That's why that was expected."

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn says the “extreme” Mercedes sidepod solution unveiled at the Bahrain test was not anticipated when the 2022 ...

“It's impossible to anticipate the creative scope of the teams. “So some of the solutions quite honestly, we never anticipated. So I'm sure there's going to be a lot of discussion about it. And however hard you try to close off all the options, and believe me, we closed off hundreds of them, as I say the innovation in F1, it's always extreme. From the teams’ perspective, they want to be sure that no one's taken an interpretation that they don't feel is correct. “And I think inevitably, there's going be a lot of debate about their interpretation.

The F1 managing director has discussed the Silver Arrows' new innovation, which was unveiled on Day 1 of testing in Bahrain.

With 80 per team majority, if something has slipped by, that could happen during the season.” Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Spirit is a grey area.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has no fears about his team's sidepod design becoming the subject of a legality dispute in Formula 1.

We were keen in not running alone with that, but being in touch with the FIA, that's why I think it will be okay." "That's why that was expected. "My opinion is that I would have preferred to stay with the old system, and if a team comes up with an innovation, possibly you can't take it off the car if it's compliant with the regulations.

Formula 1 is officially back! See how the first day of F1 Testing unfolded at the Bahrain International Circuit.

0945: Not for the first time, and probably not for the last, Mercedes are the talk of the paddock just ahead of lights out. 0955: Daniel Ricciardo was supposed to be in the McLaren to begin with today, but he is unfortunately unwell. 1210: Pace-setter Charles Leclerc has suffered a lock-up at Turn 1 but he is able to avoid running straight into the barriers and continues on his merry way. 1240: There is quite the mess unfolding in the paddock. Some of the Alfa Romeo team are getting an extra work-out as they run up to collect their car. Mercedes caused quite the stir when they unveiled a W13 with no sidepods and there was confusion over who said what to whom from the Red Bull camp. 1500: Hello and welcome back to Bahrain for the afternoon session. 1818: After a frantic few weeks, Haas will be happy to see their car on the track and the focus back on driving. A pretty low-key start to proceedings on the track but off the track, there has been some classic F1 drama. 1542: Appears to be something wrong with Stroll’s car and it’s the aero rake which has got caught up in both rear wheels. Lewis Hamilton, who drove this morning set the 11th quickest time of the day while his new team-mate George Russell is in 10th. Pierre Gasly ends the day top of the timesheet while the Ferraris are close behind.

McLaren and Haas have both debuted tweaked Formula 1 car liveries on the opening day of the second pre-season test in Bahrain.

While retaining some of the elements of the previous livery, the design reverts to the white, red and black colours that were used by Haas in its first few years on the grid. A first step by Haas was taken on the final day of the opening pre-season test in Barcelona when it removed all Uralkali branding from the car. The tweaks have been made after McLaren reviewed how the car looked on-track during its first official running in the opening pre-season test in Barcelona last month.

Kevin Magnussen spoke about his reaction to learning he would return to Formula 1, and why he said 'yes' to Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner as soon as ...

I don’t know, I ran out of motivation to be running around the back. F1 TV Pro subscribers can watch Bahrain pre-season testing live and on demand, access exclusive live timing, as well as Tech Talk debriefs. “When Guenther called me, I said ‘yes’ immediately.

Haas has opted for a red and white look for its Formula One car this season as it moves on from its tenure with Nikita Mazepin and Uralkali.

Magnussen and teammate Mick Schumacher will both have a chance to drive on Friday and Saturday. The car is white with traces of red across the car, with the Haas name written across the front wing. The following day, after a delayed start to the second F1 test of preseason, the Haas car rolled out of the garage in its new look.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both drove a Mercedes with a 'no sidepod' design which created plenty of paddock chatter.

It is always dangerous to read too much into testing times, tempting though it is. All teams are required to share some of their designs with the FIA, who govern F1, before taking them out on track, so that they can advise whether they are legal or not. But we need to see the times.” Mercedes new boy Russell said: “It looks interesting… - George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:35.9 (C3, 60) Any quotes being attributed to him this morning are incorrect.”

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time on the opening morning of the second test in Bahrain as Ferrari continued its strong preseason form.

At one stage, Hamilton's car was trailed by showers of sparks on the pit straight and he struggled to get the W13 slowed down in the braking zones at Turn 1 and Turn 10. However, ESPN understands Haas will get four hours of running back as the freight delay was a result of a delay from one of Formula One's cargo planes. Despite the radical design, Lewis Hamilton seemed to struggle for much of the morning with the car porpoising on the straights. Haas was the only team that did not take part in the morning session. It also features two sets of louvres cut into each sidepod to help with cooling. Porpoising was a problem for all teams at the opening test in Barcelona and results in the car bouncing up and down on its suspension at high speed due to the intermittent stalling of the car's underfloor aerodynamics.

Mercedes raised some eyebrows on the opening day of the second pre-season Formula 1 test when it rolled out its radical new sidepod solution on the W13.

There’s still some geometrical tricks being played with the floor edge here in order to entice the airflow. This move to a more centreline dominant cooling package is nothing new though, as teams have been pushing in this direction for some time now. Photo by: Giorgio Piola In that respect, there have been changes for 2022. Photo by: Giorgio Piola This was originally done as a cost cutting measure and also served to curtail some of the more exotic designs that were being produced at the time.

The second and final test ahead of the new Formula One season continues in Bahrain today, with plenty of debate already stirred up by the events of day one ...

An hour for lunch will break up the morning and afternoon sessions. Where to watch the F1 Bahrain test How to watch the F1 Bahrain test 2022: TV channel and live stream for pre-season event today

The first racing controversy of the new Formula 1 season is here after the Mercedes team managed to shrink their sidepods to a remarkable degree.

"The risk in the future is all teams will start designing mirrors that look like space ships. Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto later offered: "Looking at the Mercedes car, no doubt it is a great car. It's obviously a fairly different concept, but that's for the aero guys and the designers to get into.

With the second Formula 1 test of 2022 underway in Bahrain, the rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes has once again been reignited. Matt Kew looks at the ...

But DRS enhanced the duel between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, showing the drag reduction system still has a place in F1 But as reviews for Netflix's F1 docuseries begin to fall, keeping hold of US interest could result in a return to a once-used artificial means of keeping the title race open It should be a moment of celebration and recognition for the championship’s supporters