IN two weeks’ time, the 2022 Formula 1 season will start at Bahrain’s Sakhir international circuit. Before then, there is still the matter of a three-day test, during which all teams will look to find the car and setup with which they will start the season.
It is expected that several teams will bring several upgrade pieces to testing. Not least of these are Mercedes, who are rumoured to be readying a significantly upgraded package, compared to what was run in Spain.
There is also the matter of weight. The new-for-2022 cars have proved to be a serious design challenge. Part of this challenge was to design and build a car within the weight limit.
Most teams have exceeded this limit though some more than others. To help the teams, the minimum weight has been increased by 5kg.
However, Red Bull are believed to have requested a 15kg increase while others wanted 10kg. Alfa Romeo is the only team on the grid who built a car to the original weight specifications.
The atrocious turmoil, inflicted by Russia, that has dominated headlines worldwide has had its impact on Formula 1 too. Not least of this is the immediate cancellation of Haas F1’s title sponsor, Uralkali. It has also been made official that Nikita Mazepin has been shown the door at Haas. The Russian driver parachuted into F1 because of Russian-backed sponsors. To say he did not excel in the sport would be doing this driver a kindness he hasn’t earned and definitely does not deserve.
Sometimes whole seconds off teammate Mick Schumacher in qualifying and earning the nickname of Maze-spin, this driver is unlikely to be missed by anyone. Those that had vociferously called for his firing, after an alleged sexual assault, won’t be disappointed to see the back of him either. Although Pietro Fittipaldi looks most likely to occupy the vacant seat there is a host of exciting prospects including GP2 stars Oscar Piastri, Calum Illot, and Jehan Daruvula and ex-F1 drivers Antonio Giovinazzi and Nico Hulkenberg.
Russia’s woes don’t end there either. The FIA and F1 has announced the outright cancellation of the contract with the Russian Grand Prix organisers.
Again, the circuit never captured the imagination of drivers nor fans and won’t be regarded as a loss to the calendar.
While a replacement for the Russian Grand Prix hasn’t been announced yet, the rumours of which track could fill the gap have started to swirl. One of the most likely is a return to Turkey’s Istanbul Park, with the Nurburgring also featuring as a strong possibility. There are suggestions too that Malaysia could find itself F1 again after last running a race in 2017.
This return of the popular Sepang circuit seems a real possibility too. What is highly unlikely but desperately welcome is a race at South Africa’s famed Kyalami circuit.
Logistically and financially though, it might prove to be, unfortunately, unachievable at short notice.
