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#1079 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

2022-03-02 00:00

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#1079 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is held across the weekend of the 18–20 November 2022. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix represents the twenty-second and final round

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Yuki Tsunoda ha finished P11 and comments:

 

"I did the best I could out there today, so I have to be pleased with that. Unfortunately, the tyre just dropped off at the end and I couldn’t keep up the pace and make it into the points. It’s been a tough year for the team, but on a positive side I’ve learnt a lot, especially from Pierre. It’s been a pleasure to work with him over the last two years and I want to say thanks to him for everything he’s done for both me and the team".

 

Pierre Gasly, P14, talks about his last race with AlphaTauri and what he experienced this year:

 

"I don’t have many things to say about the race, we tried something different today, but it didn’t seem to work. It was my last with Scuderia AlphaTauri, and sadly tonight didn’t reflect our time together. I will remember everything I have experienced over the years with the team, my first race in Formula 1, first podium and first win. I know that I am a better driver today because of them and I am so grateful for all these achievements. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone I’ve worked with, they’ve all done a tremendous job. We’ve had three amazing podiums and now it’s time to celebrate these unforgettable memories together".

 

Jody Egginton, AlphaTauri’s Technical Director, talks about the strategy in the race:

 

"Yuki put in a solid and consistent race today, fighting for the final points positions. Unfortunately, the timing of the last stop from Albon forced us onto the soft tyre a bit earlier than planned. This compound did not quite have enough left in it to keep the pressure up on Vettel and Ricciardo for a top 10 finish. Starting Pierre on the soft tyre was aggressive, but given he qualified out of position, we felt we had to take a risk to try and move forward quickly. This tyre actually performed reasonably well, meaning he was boxing in phase with the cars around him. Whilst Pierre was outside the points, we extended the middle stint to see if any opportunity to take on the new tyre late would come around, however this was not the case and although we got him ahead of the Haas cars, we could not move him further forward towards the points. It’s been a long season and unfortunately, we have not been able to deliver the level of performance of the previous two years in 2022, but the entire team is totally focused on addressing this for next year. Finally, on behalf of the team I would like to thank Pierre for his hard work and dedication, he has been an important part of our success in recent seasons, and we wish him well in 2023".

 

Zhou Guanyu, P12, says he is proud of his team and talks about his first Formula1 season:

 

"I am so proud of this team, not just for tonight but for the whole season. We gave everything in the race and, despite not scoring points, we achieved our target, which was finishing P6 in the Championship. We had to sacrifice my strategy to hold on through the last laps, and I think we did a good job with that. We truly gave it all out there, it was an amazing fight on track and I think also the best overtake I’ve done all season. We got what we deserved after such a long season. It’s been an amazing rookie season, we started high and it’s good to see we finished on a high as well. Of course, it hasn’t always gone as we hoped for, we had quite a few reliability issues, but I’m positive we’ll get it all fixed over the winter and have a much better season next year. Overall, I really enjoyed my first Formula One season, with all the support from my team, my teammate Valtteri, and all the fans. I am grateful for all this and I can’t wait for next season".

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Valtteri Bottas, P15, is happy about his team:

 

"I am really pleased for the team, it’s an important result and you can see what it means for everyone of us. It was close, very close in our battle for sixth in the championship, but we did it and I am proud of everyone tonight. The only thing that mattered to us today was the standings results and the strategy we chose was quite defensive, trying to hold position and slow down our rivals when we found ourselves in front of them. It worked, but it was a tense few moments in the final lap: waiting to hear if we had made it gave me a bit of a sense of déjà vu – although tonight we had a much more positive ending than last time around. I am proud of how the team came a long way since winter testing: we scored a lot of points at the beginning of the year and those results made all the difference at the end of the season. The spirit in the team is excellent, we can be proud of our work and this will help us continue our progression next year. There’s plenty to look forward to next year".

 

Frederic Vasseur is satisfied with the Alfa Romeo Team’s work:

 

"Tonight is the crowning of an incredible job by everyone in the team, both trackside and in Hinwil. Finishing in P6 in the championship surpasses our expectations and the targets we had set at the beginning of the season, so we can thoroughly say that this season was a success: I am proud of what we have achieved, but this is just another starting point on which we want to build. Tonight’s race was just about the championship result: we knew that, starting from far back, scoring points on our own would have been hard, but we could work as a team and make strategic decisions to make the fight for P6 lean in our direction. In the end, it turned out a bit more tense than we would have hoped after Hamilton’s retirement, and the last few laps were a nail-biting affair! But we brought it home, this is what matters, and you can see what it really means to all of us".

 

Alex Albon finished P13 but is happy about the race and the team’s work over the year:

 

"I'm really happy with my race today and I think with such a strong start, getting passed four or five cars in those first laps, it was great. There were moments in the race where we kept hitting a degradation point and would get to 15 laps and then suffer a loss of performance, so we were forced to pit quite early. We did fall short at the end finishing on warn tyres, but I think starting P19 and finishing P13 is a good job, so I'm really happy. This year has been a massive team effort and we've done our best in maximising the car. We haven't had the easiest car to drive which is no secret but I'm really proud of everyone. We know our weaknesses and we've maximised our opportunities when we were struggling, and when the car was in a decent window, that's when we scored points. This puts us in a good place for when we have a better car next year. All in all, thanks to everyone at the team for all their efforts this year".

 

Nicholas Latifi talks about his last race in Formula1:

 

"The incident with Mick [Schumacher] really put us out and then we suffered an electrical issue that forced us to retire. It's not how I wanted to end my last one, but it is what it is. I'm very grateful for the three years I've had with Williams in Formula 1. I'm leaving the sport feeling like I wanted to achieve and accomplish more however it doesn't always work out like that in motorsports. Along the way there's been highs and lows with many strong bonds and friendships that I'll cherish".

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Jost Capito comments about the progress for 2023 and thanks Latifi for his years with the team:

 

"I'd like to say a huge thank you to every member of the team both at track and back at the factory. It's been an intense, challenging year and each person put in maximum effort. We can be proud of the progress we made during the year and the points scoring results we achieved on pace and merit. Of course, tenth is never where we want to be in the championship and our focus is fully on progressing in 2023. We go straight onto the young driver's test here in Abu Dhabi so there is no rest for the team quite yet, and we look forward to having a productive day on Tuesday. Finally, I'd like to say a huge thanks to Nicholas for his three years racing with the team. He's a much-loved member of the team and will always remain a member of the Williams family - we wish him all the very best of luck for his future".

 

Dave Robson, Williams’ Head of Vehicle Performance, observes:

 

"From the back of the grid, this was a very good race by the team. The tyres required careful management and knowing when to push and when to manage was not always obvious, but Alex did an excellent job, helped by advice from his engineers. Losing a place right at the end was a shame but at least showed that we pushed things to the limit in pursuit of the best possible result. It was another example of an aggressive but disciplined drive by Alex, which bodes well for the future. Nicholas was very unfortunate that an electrical issue ended his final race with the team a few laps early. We are still looking at the problem, but it was clear that the power to the dash was intermittent and completing the race was not possible. He had suffered contact earlier in the race, which caused some damage to the rear of his car that both hurt his pace and led to a long pit stop whilst we inspected the car. We have a few loose ends to tie up this evening and then we will turn our attention to the test on Tuesday. We go into the test with both Alex and Logan getting experience of the new 2023 Pirelli tyres. It is a rare opportunity to have both cars on the track at the same time, and one that will not be repeated until FP1 at the first race next year. With only three days of pre-season testing next year, this single day of running is very important, especially with a new driver in the car".

 

Mick Schumacher finished P16 with a five seconds penalty. The German driver comments:

 

"We didn’t quite have the pace today, one lap pace was there yesterday, but we knew it would be tough to stay in position. We were hoping for a bit more but at the end we kept eighth in the Constructors’ Championship and that was the focus. I’m happy for the team as it means a totally different budget and I’m sure they’ll be able to use it".

 

Kevin Magnussen, P17, comments:

 

"P8 was the most important thing of course, we didn’t really have a great chance to do much today but at least eighth stuck and that’s a good thing for developing over the winter and just a nice step to take forward from the last two years that Haas has had. It’s a nice place to build from and I’m looking forward to next year".

 

Guenther Steiner talks about P8 in the Constructors’ Championship:

 

"We finished the Constructors’ Championship in P8 which this morning was the objective. That’s what we did, we battled all year long through a rollercoaster of ups and downs but in the end, we ended up going forward in the championship which is important and the aim for next year is to make the next step. The race today was not what we wanted but finishing eighth overshadowed everything".

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Mario Isola talks about the tyres and the strategies in Abu Dhabi GP:

 

"Abu Dhabi provided a worthy finale to this exceptional Formula 1 season. The finishing order at Yas Marina was determined by the choice of different tyre strategies; a further demonstration of how Pirelli's work has contributed to making this year's championship so compelling and competitive. As we expected, we saw both one-stop and two-stop strategies today. Generally speaking, degradation was lower than it had been on Friday, which allowed for longer stints. The compound of the race was undoubtedly the hard, which took most of the drivers to the chequered flag. Tuesday will be Pirelli day, with the teams all staying on to test the 2023 tyres for the first time. Even though the cars won't be the same as those used next year and the set-up not optimised for the new specification of tyre, the teams will still obtain important feedback on the three softest compounds - which are best suited to the characteristics of the Yas Marina track - and the new C1".

 

An announcement is made after the race. Williams Racing is pleased to confirm that Logan Sargeant will race for the team in the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship after securing sufficient points following the final Formula 2 race in Abu Dhabi to qualify for a Super Licence. Logan was crowned rookie of the year after finishing his Formula 2 season fourth in the championship with 148 points, taking two Feature race wins and two podiums in the process. The Williams Academy driver completes the team's line-up for the 2023 season alongside Alex Albon and will become the first American to compete in Formula 1 since 2015. On this incredible opportunity Logan Sargeant comments:

 

"It's a huge honour and a dream come true to be given this opportunity to compete in Formula 1 with Williams Racing. A massive thank you to every person at Williams Racing and Dorilton Motor Sports for the support they've given me since the day I first joined the team at the 2021 United States Grand Prix. Being a part of the Williams Driver Academy for the past year has given me an important platform to develop as a driver and prepare me for this next chapter. I'm ready and excited to be a part of this journey as the team looks to progress up the grid".

 

Jost Capito comments:

 

"We're delighted to officially announce Logan as our driver for next year after qualifying for a super licence following the final F2 event of the season in Abu Dhabi. Logan completes our exciting driver line-up for 2023 alongside Alex. Since joining our Driver Academy at the end of 2021, Logan has been able to fully integrate with the team at Grove while on the simulator and more recently at track during the four Free Practice sessions he's participated in. He's had a strong rookie season in Formula 2, and we are excited to watch him make the step up in Formula 1. We are here to support that journey with him".

 

Sven Smeets, Williams Racing Sporting Director, adds:

 

"To be able to give Logan the opportunity to compete in Formula 1 for Williams Racing next year after being an integral part of our Driver Academy is a proud moment for the team. Seeing a driver from the Academy getting in our F1 seat is a motivation for all the other Academy drivers and demonstrates legitimacy of the programme and the platform it provides. We are not only preparing him on track, but will be working hard over the winter off track to ensure he's in the best possible position to start 2023".

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Formula 1 2022 is not finished yet. There is another event that in fact represents the first step towards the 2023 season: the Abu Dhabi tests. Among the most awaited performances, there is surely that of Fernando Alonso with Aston Martin. The Spaniard gets on track with an AMR22 without sponsors, with a black suit and a particular helmet. All eyes are also on Oscar Piastri: the Australian driver, 2021 Formula 2 Champion, debuts with McLaren after a discussed breaking with Alpine. The new arrived in the team from Woking also triggers a red flag, for having stopped on track at Turn 7.  Logan Sargeant, new Williams driver for 2023, is on the wheel of the FW44. This day also marks the debut of Nico Hulkenberg with Haas: after two seasons in the shadow, in fact the German driver is again on track with a team; despite all, his adventure does not start very well, as after few laps he is forced to park his VF-22 due to a technical issue. The vehicle is taken to the boxes without the need of a red flag. Nyck De Vries will drive for AlphaTauri, after the free practices with Mercedes and Aston Martin, and the race in Monza with Williams. During the first three hours of test there is an intense activity on track, with Sergio Perez who has run 66 laps. Charles Leclerc, who in the afternoon will give the car to Carlos Sainz, opens the day in the lead of the ranking, followed by Robert Shwartzman on the other F1-75. At Yas Marina there are also some young drivers who have the opportunity to show their talent on the wheel of a F1 car. Among them, there is Frederik Vesti, on a Mercedes. After three hours, is best time is 1'28"446, after running 50 laps. In the Mercedes’ boxes there is also George Russell, who in the afternoon will give his place to Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Drugovich, Formula 2 Champion, will be the reserve and development driver of Aston Martin. After his debut on the AMR22 during last weekend’s FP1, today completes 37 laps in three hours, gaining the eighth position with a best time of 1'27"053. After the issues he had, Nico Hulkenberg is back on the Haas: he has only run 24 laps. Among the young drivers, there is also Theo Pourchaire, vice-champion in Formula 2. The French driver is on the wheel of Alfa Romeo. After the first four hours, is still Charles Leclerc to lead the ranking with a time of 1'25"383, followed by Robert Shwartzman. Fernando Alonso on the Aston Martin is third, ahead of Sergio Perez (who has run 88 laps with his Red Bull).

 

At 1:00 p.m., the ranking is still the same for what concerns the first ten positions. The session is then interrupted for the second time, because there are some cuttings on track that need to be removed. Ferrari dictated the pace with Charles Leclerc ahead of Robert Shwartzman. The debut of Fernando Alonso on the wheel of an Aston Martin was very intense: after the 2:00 p.m., he had completed 97 laps. Ferrari communicate on their social media that today’s program for Charles Leclerc has ended. 56 are the laps completed by him, and he is the leader of the ranking with a best time of 1'25"383. Robert Shwartzman will run with the single-seater reserved to the Young Driver Test. Carlos Sainz gets on track and completes his first 5 laps with the F1-75, but his times are high, with a 1'29"282. then, he manages to do better, going seventh with 1'26"884. Also Nico Hulkenberg improves, wunning a lot of laps: now he is at 67 laps done and so he has completed more km than his team mate Pietro Fittipaldi. Carlos Sainz goes under to 1'26"516. and is now fifth, ahead of Gasly, while Robert Shwartzman has done 90 laps with the F1-75. All the drivers have got on track, with the arrival of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso has concluded his experience with AM with 97 laps, with a best time of 1'26"312, in third position, a second behind Charles Leclerc. Three drivers have run 100 laps today: Valtteri Bottas and Nyck De Vries, who completed 105 laps respectively for Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri. 100 laps for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. In the lead the is always a Ferrari, but is that of Carlos Sainz, with 1'25"245., a tenth ahead of the Monegasque. In the top ten there is also Lewis Hamilton, ninth with his Mercedes in 1'27"043. and 20 laps. Lance Stroll is fourth in 1'26"263. Max Verstappen with his Red Bull goes third in 1'25"845. A lot of drivers now have completed 100 laps, with Alex Albon, Robert Shwartzman, Pierre Gasly, Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda, Frederik Vesti, Jack Doohan and Theo Pourchaire. One hour to the end and the ranking sees Alex Albon in fourth place with a time of 1'25"959. Logan Sargeant gets ninth in 1'26"537. with 79 laps. Day ended for Lando Norris, with more than 100 laps, but his 1'26"890. keeps him out of the top ten:

 

"Useful day. It was good to get some time with these tyres to help Pirelli's development of them into 2023 and to gather important data on how they operate. It was a productive day to round out the season. Big thanks to Pirelli and the team for their hard work. We'll now head into the winter focused on preparing for the 2023 season and doing everything we can to start next year on the front foot".

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Also Oscar Piastri ends his first day with McLaren, with more than 120 laps and a best time of 1.26.340:

 

"A good first day with McLaren, I think we learnt a lot. It was great to finally join up with the team, and thanks to them for a good day of running. We did a lot of laps and experimented a lot which is exactly what today is all about. I've got a good idea where to improve for next year. I really enjoyed it, it's nice to be back out on track finally and experience the 2022 cars. I'm looking forward to next year now, I'll be in the factory next week to meet the whole team, after that I'll take a short break before getting back to work with McLaren to prepare for next year".

 

Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Executive Director, analyses this day of tests:

 

"It's been a productive day of testing here in Abu Dhabi at the post-season test, where we've managed to complete a lot of important work. Firstly, it's been great to get Oscar into the MCL36 and start his integration into the team. The main objective for him today has been to get as much mileage under his belt as possible, and to start to get him used to working with the team. On Lando's side, it was useful to gather information on these Pirelli tyres ahead of next year. Our thanks go to Pirelli for their support during this test. Having completed 123 laps with Oscar and 115 with Lando, my thanks go to the team, both here at track and at MTC, and to the drivers for their hard work today. After a long season of Formula 1, the race team will now head back to MTC and take the time for a well-deserved rest and reset before putting all our efforts into the 2023 season".

 

Ferrari is in the lead, with Robert Shwartzman going third in 1'25"400. Good performance from the young driver: 

 

"We finished a very positive test day here in Abu Dhabi with 116 laps and a solid amount of work. The testing programme was quite comprehensive with performance runs, race simulations, tests and practice starts. I feel I made a good improvement from Friday’s FP1 and for most of the sessions I was fairly close to Charles and Carlos pace wise which is also very positive for me. There are always things to improve but I think the potential we showed was very good. In general I am also very happy with the work we did this year with the team back in Maranello on the simulator as the car feels very similar. It was great having the chance to drive for the team again and I really enjoyed today".

 

Pierre Gasly takes the Alpine in fourth position in 1'25"689:

 

"Firstly, thanks to the entire team for making me feel so welcome over the last two days and I'm feeling ready to begin this next chapter in my career. It was a fantastic feeling to drive the A522 for the first time, and, I must say, it's an impressive car. The objectives for me today were all about getting used to my new surroundings, working closely with the engineers and, generally, building up my learning in the car and getting an understanding for its characteristics. We completed many laps - as per our plan - and I'm already very excited to fully embed myself in the team. I'm looking forward to visiting everyone at Viry and Enstone, debriefing on this test, before working towards our objectives alongside Esteban for the 2023 season".

 

Jack Doohan enjoyed his experience with Alpine:

 

"It's been another good experience driving a Formula 1 car today and I'm very grateful to Alpine for this opportunity. It's been a busy day, plenty of laps, and a lot of new things to take on board, and I'm pretty pleased with how it's progressed. Last weekend in Free Practice 1 was only one hour long, so to have a full day in the car is extremely useful as you can get a lot done in a less pressured environment. Thanks to Alpine for a brilliant year and I'm excited for the hard work to continue next season. Now my focus turns back to Formula 2 again where I'm back in the car for three days of testing in Abu Dhabi before the off-season".

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Alan Permane, Alpine’s Sporting Director, concludes:

 

"It was great to have Pierre in the car for the first time today as it's very important for him to get up to speed quickly in order to hit the ground running in 2023. We have just three days of pre-season testing next season, so today's test is particularly useful for us to complete some of the small but important tasks on any new driver checklist. Pierre's day mainly consisted of familiarisation work and getting him used to the car and our systems as well as gaining a further understanding on Pirelli's 2023 tyres. We know Pierre is a top-level driver and he did a very good job today to embed himself within the team. Jack was on the other side of the garage in the Young Driver Test and he again - like in FP1 last Friday - was faultless in the car as he continues his learning and progress in Formula 1 machinery. The trackside team returns to Viry and Enstone now ahead of the off-season, so thanks to them for a very good year".

 

Nico Hülkenberg is satisfied with his first day back on a F1 car:

 

"It was a good day of work, good running, collected many impressions and a lot of data - which was the target. We successfully went through our program. There’s a lot of things to pick through, digest and analyze now and over the next couple of weeks with the team. Today was about learning the tires for 2023, learning their characteristics and with these test days you have a bit more time to try stuff. I’m satisfied and happy with the day. There was a bit of human degradation towards the end day, but I coped better than expected to be honest - so that’s good. There’s now three months of hard-core preparation to get ready, I have a plan and I know what I have to do".

 

Pietro Fittipaldi is very happy too:

 

"It was an amazing day of testing. We got just under 100 laps of testing in using the new 2023 tires. Again, I felt pretty comfortable in the car and fast off the bat - so that allowed us to kick on with the test program. It was a very positive day from my side. Thanks to the team for the opportunity".

 

Ayao Komatsu, Haas’ Director of Engineering, explains today’s performance:

 

"So, we had a pretty good day today with Nico. We had a bit of PU trouble in the morning, but in the end he completed 110 laps. For a first time back in the car for a while, I’d say he’s done a really good job. We tested quite a lot of stuff which will be useful for next year. Pietro, in the other car, he did 99 laps, and as usual his preparation was good and his feedback excellent. He didn’t put a foot wrong today, it was a really good day with him. We’re very happy with the way the day’s gone overall".


Sergio Perez is pleased with the work done today:

 

"I think we have had a good morning overall and have plenty of information to give to the Team and the engineers, so I am pleased with the work we have done. The new compounds still tend to be quite close, as they were this season, but the front is a little bit stronger than the 2022 versions. We are working with the tyres in very hot conditions here and everything is still early days, so we still have a lot to learn and analyse. It will be interesting to see how they perform in cooler temperatures, which would reflect race temperatures better, when Max is in the car later on".

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Max Verstappen continues:

 

"We completed our programme and got a first, basic understanding for next year, which I think worked out well. It's always nice, when you have the final compound construction, to get a few laps in but at each track the tyres behave differently, so it’s difficult to judge. Having said that, it's always better to have something rather than nothing. Overall, everything behaved quite normally, so it was a good day".

 

Liam Lawson is very excited as this was a great day for him:

 

"Days like today are very important. F1 testing is very limited, so track time is extremely valuable and I'm grateful that I got to drive the and to help the Team with development for next year. But also, for myself, it's really important as well. It’s so different to anything else we drive. Obviously, you go from junior categories to prepare for it, but honestly, nothing can. And today the sessions went really well. After a full day, I definitely feel more comfortable in the car and hopefully I’ll get more opportunities like this in the future".

 

Gianpiero Lambiase, Red Bull’s Head of Race Engineering, concludes:

 

"Everyone within the Team is fully aware that there is no room for complacency, and as such, we headed into the test with a full programme across both cars, which we were able to complete successfully. With the benefit of a thorough understanding of the RB18, the drivers focused their attention on evaluating the 2023 tyres. For Liam, the higher priority was his ongoing familiarisation of the car and Team’s operation trackside, particularly important in respect to correlation to our simulation tools, which he is an integral part of. It has been an extremely valuable day with plenty of data to go back and analyse over the coming days, which we can feed into the development of next year’s car".

 

Dave Robson, Williams’ Head of Vehicle Performance, is satisfied with this day which ended the season:

 

"We've had a very productive day to complete the 2022 season. Both cars ran reliably throughout, which allowed Alex and Logan to run their intended programmes. Alex ran through a series of tyre tests, exploring the 2023 tyres at various track temperatures and fuel loads. Logan got his first experience of a proper day of F1 testing as well as some useful exposure to the 2023 tyres. We were able to do a lot more work with him than is possible during an FP1 session and everything he did will set him up nicely for the crucial pre-season testing that we will do next February. The timesheets don't mean very much today as every driver is completing their own programme. However, it was nice to see both drivers near the top having completed some very good laps on the softer compounds. Logan drove exceptionally well and fully deserved to be so close to Alex. We completed 200 laps of running today across the two cars and almost every one of these was done according to the plan and with a clear purpose. The engineering team put together a very well planned and executed day of testing, which sets us up nicely for the break before we hit the track again early next year".

 

Alex Albon thinks about the next season:

 

"Today at the post-season test we got good mileage in and everything went to plan. We got to test all the different compounds for next year and there will be a lot of data to look at over the winter months to try to understand the differences of the tyre, but inevitably there's not a huge difference, I think it's all small things. The hard work starts now working to make sure that we enter into Bahrain with the best possible car we can and I think today, with all the data that we have learnt, is going to help us do that". 

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Logan Sargeant says there is still a lot of work to do to prepare himself to his first season in F1:

 

"Today went well. Throughout the day we gradually progressed, got through our test plan and completed all the laps we needed to do. By the end of the day I felt super comfortable. It was really nice to get a full day rather than a FP1 to properly get to grips with everything. My season hasn't ended, there's a lot of work to do over the next three months to prepare myself for next season. I'll strictly be in the gym, on the simulator and working with everyone at Grove to ensure no stone is left unturned. I can't wait to be back out on track for winter testing for my first season in Formula 1".

 

On this day, Oracle Red Bull Racing confirms Daniel Ricciardo will return home and re-join the Team as the third driver for 2023. Bringing a wealth of experience and character, Daniel will assist the Team with testing and Sim work, as well as commercial activity. With 29 trophies to his name, there were plenty of high points in an excellent first run with Red Bull Racing. Immediately making an impact in his first year in 2014, finishing 3rd in the Championship and securing wins in Montreal and Budapest. Then onto 2015 and an epic Monaco performance and the fastest lap of the race, taking his maiden pole at the same race a year later. In 2016, he was also the only driver to finish all 21 races. 2017 saw Daniel win a wild Azerbaijan Grand Prix and take eight other podiums, before rolling into the 2018 season with a bang. He won two of the first six races that year, storming through the field in China and then who can forget that win in Monaco or perhaps just as iconic, that dive into the swimming pool? Since Daniel left the Team at the end of 2018, he has spent 2 years respectively at Renault and McLaren. Whilst he hasn’t seen the success he was accustomed to, he remains a phenomenal and highly respected driver who brings another layer of knowledge and expertise to the Team. Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner says:

 

"It is great to bring Daniel back into the Red Bull family. He has enormous talent and such a brilliant character; I know the whole factory is excited to be welcoming him home. In his role as test and third driver, Daniel will give us the chance to diversify, assisting in the development of the car, aiding the Team with his experience and knowledge of what it takes to succeed in F1. We’re very pleased to be working with Daniel again and look forward to everything he will bring to the Team in 2023".

 

Daniel Ricciardo says:

 

"The smile says it all, I’m truly excited to be coming back home to Oracle Red Bull Racing as their Third Driver in 2023. I already have so many fond memories of my time here, but the welcome from Christian, Dr Marko and the entire team is something I’m sincerely appreciative of. For me personally, the ability to contribute to and be surrounded by the best team in F1 is hugely appealing, whilst also giving me some time to recharge and refocus. I can’t wait to be with the team and support with simulator work, testing sessions and commercial activities. Let’s go".


On November 29, 2022, important news come from Maranello. Ferrari announces that it has accepted the resignation of Mattia Binotto who will leave his role as Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal on December 31. Benedetto Vigna comments:

 

"I would like to thank Mattia for his many great contributions over 28 years with Ferrari and particularly for leading the team back to a position of competitiveness during this past year. As a result, we are in a strong position to renew our challenge, above all for our amazing fans around the world, to win the ultimate prize in motorsport. Everyone here at the Scuderia and in the wider Ferrari community wishes Mattia well for the future".

 

Mattia Binotto says:

 

"With the regret that this entails, I have decided to conclude my collaboration with Ferrari. I am leaving a company that I love, which I have been part of for 28 years, with the serenity that comes from the convinction that I have made every effort to achieve the objectives set. I leave a united and growing team. A strong team, ready, I’m sure, to achieve the highest goals, to which I wish all the best for the future. I think it is right to take this step at this time as hard as this decision has been for me. I would like to thank all the people at the Gestione Sportiva who have shared this journey with me, made up of difficulties but also of great satisfaction".

 

The process is underway to identify Scuderia Ferrari’s new Team Principal and is expected to be finalised in the new year. We now have to wait until March 2023 for the first race of the 2023 Formula 1 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix. It will be an interesting event, due to all the changes made in several teams, so all eyes will be on track. It closes with this news this chaotic Formula 1 World Championship. The hope, as far as the 2023 season is concerned, is that we can see more action among the top positions, that Mercedes can return to fight for victory, and that Scuderia Ferrari can regain some serenity after years of great difficulty. Ahead of the 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship season, monday, December 12, 2022 Williams Racing announces that, after two years at the helm of the Grove-based outfit as CEO and Team Principal, Jost Capito is stepping aside. Technical Director FX Demaison will leave his post after joining in 2021. Williams Racing will announce its new Team Principal and Technical Director in due course. Jost Capito says: 

 

"It has been a huge privilege to lead Williams Racing for the last two seasons and to lay the foundations for the turnaround of this great team. I look forward to watching the team as it continues on its path to future success".

 

And Matthew Savage, Chairman, Dorilton Capital, adds: 

 

"We would like to thank Jost for his hard work and dedication as we embarked on a major transformation process to begin the journey of reviving Williams Racing. We’re grateful that Jost postponed his planned retirement to take on this challenge and now he will pass the reins on for the next part of this staged process. We would also like to thank FX for his contribution and wish him all the best for his future as he moves on".

 

The next day, Tuesday, December 13, 2022, Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN Team Principal and Sauber Motorsport CEO, Frédéric Vasseur, will leave the company in January 2023, following six successful seasons at the helm of the team. The announcement marks the final chapter of a personal and professional path of growth for both the team and the man, a journey that culminated in Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN clinching its best result in the Formula One constructors’ standings in a decade with sixth place in the 2022 season. This is a moment that marks the end of an era - a moment in which our team takes stock of the changes that took place under the stewardship of Vasseur. Appointing Fred was one of the first acts of the new shareholder of the team, in 2017: the popular Frenchman joined a team stuck at the back of the grid and struggling to attract talent. Through relentless work, belief in the team’s own potential and shrewd management, things improved under Fred’s watch: points became a regular target; partners started adorning the once-blank bodywork of the car; employee numbers kept ticking up. Progress on and off track was followed by a growing sense of confidence in Hinwil: confidence that this team could once again be at the sharp end of the grid; confidence that things would get better season after season; confidence that top talent would once again flourish in the sole reality of motorsport in the Zürcher Oberland. This all stemmed from Fred’s own sense of confidence: not in himself, but in the project that was presented to him in 2017 - a project in which he was one of the first to believe. Frédéric Vasseur leaves a team bolstered by new partners, a growing workforce and with a bright future as the works team for a manufacturer in the not-too-far distance. He leaves as a friend, a mentor, a boss that could extract the best out of his charges: and, as we enter a new chapter of the history of our team, we will miss the smiles and jokes that would accompany him as he did the rounds in our Hinwil HQ. Merci, Fred, et bonne chance. We’ll be cheering for you wherever you go next. Frédéric Vasseur says:

 

"As I prepare to bring my adventure at Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN to an end, I can look back fondly at these six years together. I owe a debt of gratitude to every single employee of the team, as they are the ones who got this team back on their feet and climbing the ladder of our sport. I am proud of the job we collectively have done as a team and a company, and even more so of the strong foundations we have laid for what’s to come next: but what I am the proudest of is the people that made this all possible, which in time have become friends. This team will always feel like home and I’ll be rooting for it wherever I go. I have learnt so much during my stint as a CEO and Team Principal and I feel each day has equipped me for what is to come. I know Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN will keep going from strength to strength and I’m looking forward to seeing them compete at the business end of the grid in the next few years".

 

Finn Rausing, Sauber Holding AG Chairman of the Board of Directors, adds:

 

"Frédéric gave our team six years of inspiring leadership and hard work, helping rebuild our company and our team. He was able to encourage every one of us into giving our best and the increasingly good results we have enjoyed are testament to the quality of his performance at the helm of the team. He was the first to believe in our project and he leaves a team in a much stronger, healthier position than when he arrived, with a bright future ahead of us, which is all that could have been asked of him. I am sure I echo everyone in the team when I wish Fred every success in his future endeavours".

 

Simultaneously, Scuderia Ferrari today announced that Fred Vasseur will join Scuderia Ferrari on 9 January as Team Principal and General Manager. Commenting on the appointment, Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna said:

 

"We are delighted to welcome Fred Vasseur to Ferrari as our Team Principal. Throughout his career he has successfully combined his technical strengths as a trained engineer with a consistent ability to bring out the best in his drivers and teams. This approach and his leadership are what we need to push Ferrari forward with renewed energy".

 

And Fred Vasseur commented:

 

"I am truly delighted and honoured to take over the leadership of Scuderia Ferrari as Team Principal. As someone who has always held a lifelong passion for motorsport, Ferrari has always represented the very pinnacle of the racing world to me. I look forward to working with the talented and truly passionate team in Maranello to honour the history and heritage of the Scuderia and deliver for our Tifosi around the world".

 

In adds, McLaren Racing announces that Andrea Stella will move from Executive Director, Racing to F1 Team Principal with immediate effect. Andreas Seidl will leave the team and then move on to another challenge. Andrea has a wealth of F1 experience and has proven successful both on and off the track. He has been a key member of the McLaren F1 team since 2015, working as Head of Race Operations, Performance Director and since 2019 as Executive Director, Racing. Andrea began his career with 15-years at Ferrari, including as Performance Engineer for Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen (2002-2008) and then as Race Engineer for Räikkönen and Fernando Alonso (2009-2015). Andrea has a degree in Aerospace Engineering, and subsequently completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said:

 

"I'm delighted that Andrea Stella will step into the Team Principal role and lead our F1 technical and operational programme. Andrea is a highly talented, experienced and respected member of our team with a strong track record of leadership and success in Formula 1. His move into this role is a great example of the strength in depth we have in our team, and I'm excited to be working more closely with him with a joint focus on moving up the grid and winning races. I've really enjoyed working with Andreas. He has provided great leadership for the team and has played a significant part in our F1 performance recovery plan and ongoing journey to return to the front of the grid. I thank him for the transparency throughout the process which gave us time to plan accordingly".

 

Andrea Stella, new F1 Team Principal, McLaren Racing, said:

 

"I feel privileged to take on the Team Principal role as the next stage of being part of the McLaren F1 Team. I am grateful to Zak and the Shareholders for their trust in me and to all my colleagues and those who have supported me throughout my F1 career. We are realistic about the amount of work ahead of us to move back up the grid, but I am excited and encouraged that I am in this journey together with a team full of talent, experience, racing spirit and dedication. I look forward to working closely with each of them, Lando and Oscar, to together achieving great success and enjoying the journey".

 

Andreas Seidl, former F1 Team Principal, McLaren F1 Team, said:

 

"I joined McLaren in 2019 and have really enjoyed working with Zak and the team. We have achieved some good results, and I will always have fond memories, with Monza being a personal and career highlight. The team is on a great trajectory, and I would like to thank everyone for their support, trust and commitment. Thanks to Zak and the shareholders for their understanding of my personal decision to move on to another challenge. I wish Andrea and the team all the best for the future".

 

Finally, Sauber Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Andreas Seidl as its new Chief Executive Officer. Seidl will start in his new role in January 2023 and will be tasked with continuing the growth of the group as a whole as Sauber keeps establishing itself as one of the brightest sporting and industrial entities on the market. Born in Passau, Germany, Andreas Seidl began his motorsport career with BMW’s Formula 1 project, where he also worked as Head of Track Operations at Sauber for some years. As Team Principal at Porsche, Seidl later celebrated several world championships and three overall victories at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans between 2015 and 2017, before moving on to become Team Principal of the McLaren F1 Team in 2019. Seidl will take over the CEO position from predecessor, Frédéric Vasseur; together with the team Seidl will now work on the appointment of its new Team Principal, which will be communicated in due course. Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Group: 

 

"It is great to join the Sauber Group from January: this is a team with a rich history in Formula One and an organisation I know really well from my time working and living in Hinwil for four years. I can’t wait to join the team and work with all the colleagues at the Sauber Group on the ambitious goals we have set together. I want to thank Finn Rausing and everyone at the Sauber Group for their choice: I am looking forward to repaying their trust with my work".

 

Finn Rausing, Sauber Holding AG Chairman of the Board of Directors: 

 

"It is an immense pleasure to welcome Andreas Seidl back to Hinwil as CEO of the Sauber Group. Andreas’s experience is second to none and he brings to Sauber Group a clear understanding of what is required to achieve sustained success. He takes over a company on an upward path and he shares our commitment to keeping our organisation growing: I look forward to many years of success together".

 

Thursday, December 15, 2022, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is delighted to confirm that Mick Schumacher will join the Team in the role of Reserve Driver for 2023. Mick will play an important role in the ongoing development of the W14. He will conduct regular work in the simulator at Brackley throughout the year, as we fight back from a challenging 2022 season. This work will be harnessed trackside as Mick will also attend all Grands Prix in his new role, alongside carrying out marketing duties across the year. Mick joins the Team having spent the last two years racing for the Haas F1 Team. He started 43 races and claimed his maiden points finish at the 2022 British Grand Prix with a strong drive to eighth place. He backed this up the following week to score a career-best result of sixth at the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix. Prior to his graduation to F1, he enjoyed an impressive record in the junior categories. He was 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Champion, secured with a run of nine podium finishes, including five wins, from the final 11 races. After graduating to the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Mick sealed the 2020 title in his sophomore year with two victories and eight podiums. The 23-year-old has impressed with his maturity, technical feedback and work ethic throughout his career; all qualities highly prized in a driver. He now joins the team where his father Michael raced between 2010 and 2012. Mick Schumacher, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Reserve Driver:

 

"I am thrilled to be part of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team as their reserve driver for 2023, and I am committed to give it my all to contribute to their performance in this very competitive and professional environment. I take this as a new start, and I am just excited and grateful to Toto and everybody involved for putting their trust in me. F1 is such a fascinating world, and you never stop learning, so I look forward to absorbing more knowledge and putting in all my efforts for the benefit of the Mercedes team".
 

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team:

 

"Mick is a talented young driver and we're delighted to have him join the Team. He is a hard worker, has a calm and methodical approach and is still hungry to learn and improve as a driver. These are all important qualities, and we're excited for him to help us develop the W14. We also know that with two years of experience racing in Formula One under his belt, he will be ready to step into the car at short notice to replace either Lewis or George, should that need arise".


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