F1 news LIVE: 2022 season car launches as Formula One make decision on taking the knee

Red Bull are set to launch their 2022 car on Wednesday amid great anticipation ahead of the new Formula One season. A major overhaul of the rules could cause a serious shake-up of the grid, with a new flooring design for extra downforce, more simple front and rear wings, and larger 18-inch tyres. So far Haas have revealed their new livery, but this week the unveilings really begin with the new cars of Aston Martin and McLaren to launch on Thursday and Friday, before Ferrari and Mercedes next week.

Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton broke his social media silence this weekend as speculation continues over his future in motor racing. The 37-year-old Mercedes driver has been conspicuous by his absence since December’s debacle in the desert, when he was denied a record eighth world title in the controversial conclusion to the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton, who is said to be debating whether to return to the grid in 2022, hinted he is close to making a decision when he announced on Twitter on Saturday evening: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back.” Mercedes announced earlier in January that they would launch the first car of F1’s revamped technical era at Silverstone on February 18, five days before the first winter test in Barcelona.

Here’s the very latest news as the new season prepares for the opening weekend in Bahrain on 20 March. Follow all the F1 news updates below:

Latest F1 news

• Red Bull set to unveil new 2022 car

• Lewis Hamilton breaks his silence: ‘I’m back’

• Verstappen rejects claims F1 title was tarnished

• Mercedes appear to confirm Hamilton return for 2022

• F1 remove pre-race taking of the knee

F1 remove pre-race taking of the knee

12:02 , Ben Burrows

Lewis Hamilton will stop taking a knee at the front of the grid after Formula One bosses revealed they are removing the gesture.

Hamilton - and a number of his fellow drivers - have knelt ahead of every race for the past two seasons in a show of solidarity against racism.

But F1 is set to pull the allocated slot from its pre-race schedule for the new season which starts in Bahrain next month.

The sport has instead vowed to build on the impact of the gesture - announcing on Tuesday that it will extend its funding commitment to the Formula One Engineering Scholarship programme for underrepresented groups until 2025 - and will carry on screening an anti-racism message ahead of every race.

F1’s ‘We Race As One’ branding will also be visible at each round.

“The [knee] gesture was important for the ones that believed that was an important gesture, because we need to respect everyone,” F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told Sky Sports.

“But now is the time to move on and take some other action. The action is the focus on the diversity of our community, and this is the first step.”

New 2022 season closing in

11:51 , Lawrence Ostlere

Formula 1 is set for the biggest season in its 72-year history over 2022 with 23 races planned at top class racing venues around the world.

The series has been on an expansion drive ever since owners Liberty Media purchased it from Bernie Ecclestone back in 2017, with focus placed on key financial territories including the Middle East and North America.

All but one of the tracks scheduled to host a grand prix in 2022 have done so far before. This season brings a brand new race in the United States onto the calendar in May, as the Miami International Autodrome makes its debut as the second US event alongside the Circuit of the Americas in Texas. The Florida venue will see drivers navigate 19 corners around the Hard Rock Stadium, home of NFL team Miami Dolphins.

You can check out the full calendar of races below:

F1 race calendar 2022: Full list of dates for every grand prix in biggest season ever

F1 news: Red Bull prepare to unveil new car

11:31 , Lawrence Ostlere

Red Bull have teased the prospect of a launch like no other for their car for the 2022 F1 season. The new car will be unveiled tomorrow as the team try to finally take back the constructors’ championship from Mercedes.

“Red Bull Racing has always sought to break the mould and this year we continue to push the boundaries by disrupting the traditional car launch,” read a team statement.

“This season Red Bull Racing will let their fans curate and host the story of the 2022 season launch, on their own social channels.

“In a season of change, we are giving the wheel to the people that matter. Red Bull Racing are putting fans at the heart of the virtual RB18 unveiling.

“Together with Christian [Horner], Max, Checo [Perez] and the wider team, up to 5,000 fans will broadcast the launch on Wednesday 9 February.

“Via ‘The Paddock’, Red Bull Racing’s digital loyalty platform, fans were given the opportunity to host the 2022 season launch on their social channels, to deliver a multi-channel fan-first experience.

“Red Bull Racing has always been at the cutting edge of technological innovation on track, now the team are bringing the same ethos to their marketing approach away from the circuit, as we become the first Formula 1 team to launch a car in this new generation.”

F1 news: Hamilton retirement would be ‘damaging'

11:15 , Lawrence Ostlere

Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok insists it would be “very damaging” if Lewis Hamilton retires following the controversy at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“Ultimately only he knows what’s going on in his head,” Chandhok told the Express. “In my opinion, I think it would be very, very damaging for the sport if he walked away.

“Essentially he would be walking away because he didn’t think the sport was fair or credibly run. That would be extremely damaging for the reputation of the sport and the FIA. For the sake of the sport, I hope he doesn’t walk away at this point.”

F1 news: Mercedes appear to confirm Hamilton’s return for 2022

10:58 , Lawrence Ostlere

Mercedes appeared to all but confirm Lewis Hamilton will be racing this season with a tweet yesterday welcoming the seven-time world champion back to action. Hamilton has been quiet since that dramatic final race in Abu Dhabi but recently posted a picture on social media of him at the Grand Canyon.

F1 cars 2022 release dates - full list

10:55 , Lawrence Ostlere

The 2022 Formula 1 season is just around the corner with the first race pencilled in for 20 March in Bahrain.

The end of the 2021 season proved to be one of the most dramatic in the sport’s history as Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to snatch the title away from the seven-time champion.

It was a quite remarkable conclusion to a year which had it all - excitement, overtaking, drama, controversy and incredible performances.

F1 car launch dates for 2022 - full list

F1 news: Verstappen rejects claims f1 title was tarnished

10:30 , Lawrence Ostlere

Max Verstappen insists his maiden F1 world championship is not tarnished by the controversy which surrounded the final race of the season.

Verstappen clinched victory at the decisive Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on a dramatic final lap in which he overtook reigning champion Lewis Hamilton. While the Dutchman’s racing was fair, the circumstances caused much contention, after race director Michael Masi hurried through the restart protocols following a safety car intervention in order to manufacture an entertaining finale.

Verstappen says the outcome of the investigation will not change anything and that his achievements are not tarnished by the uproar. “Not at all,” Vertsappen told the Guardian. “I had a very good season and I think I really deserved it. I have been really unlucky as well. People always remember the last race but, if you look at the whole season, the championship should have been decided way earlier.”

‘I really deserved it’: Max Verstappen rejects claims F1 world title is tarnished

F1 news: Verstappen took Red Bull car 'over the limit’

09:59 , Lawrence Ostlere

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has praised Max Verstappen’s drive to secure his first world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, saying the Dutchman pushed his car “over the limit” to snatch the win.

Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the Yas Marina Circuit to seal the Drivers’ Championship in dramatic fashion after the intervention of race director Michael Masi.

Marko has overseen Red Bull’s driver development programme since 1999, and helped guide Verstappen into Formula 1.

Max Verstappen took Red Bull car ‘over the limit’, team boss claims

F1 news: Verstappen won’t appear in new Netflix series

09:43 , Lawrence Ostlere

The new season of Drive to Survive will be released soon but Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will not be part of it.

The story arc of the fourth edition of the documentary is almost certainly going to revolve around the Dutchman’s title race with Lewis Hamilton.

Netflix bosses will focus on the pair who headed into the final race of the season on equal points to set up a thrilling end to the campaign in Abu Dhabi.

Max Verstappen refuses to take part in ‘fake’ F1 Drive to Survive series

F1 news: Sprint races could be scrapped over money row

09:38 , Lawrence Ostlere

Formula One sprint races could be axed from the calendar this year amid a row over money.

F1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali, and motorsport boss Ross Brawn wanted to double the number of shortened-format rounds – first introduced at last year’s British Grand Prix – from three to six in 2022.

But F1 is locked in dispute with a number of the grid’s front-running teams, understood to be Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari, who want to see the cost cap set this year at 140million US Dollars (£103m) – effectively increased to cover off the additional races.

F1 sprint races could be scrapped amid row with teams over money

F1 news: Hamilton faces test of emotions

09:21 , Lawrence Ostlere

Lewis Hamilton will find it difficult to continue in Formula One if his Mercedes car is not competitive next season, according to two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen.

Hamilton’s future in the sport remains in doubt following the controversial end to last season which saw the 37-year-old miss out on a record-breaking eighth world championship to Max Verstappen on the final lap of the year.

With Mercedes unveiling their new car this month ahead of the first round of pre-season testing, Hamilton is still to break his silence following the end to last campaign, with his only quotes coming through a team press release.

Lewis Hamilton faces ‘emotional’ test in F1 return ‘to climb back up the mountain’

F1 news: Russell says visit to Mercedes was ‘eye-opening'

09:05 , Lawrence Ostlere

George Russell has described his visit to the Mercedes Formula 1 factory as an “eye-opening” experience as he prepares for his first season with the team.

The British driver has joined the German manufacturers from Williams, replacing Valtteri Bottas.

With three weeks to go until the first round of testing in Barcelona, Russell has visited Mercedes’ F1 manufacturing hub at Brixworth in Northamptonshire, along with the outfit’s headquarters in Brackley.

And the 23-year-old was glad to see the inner workings of the team that has helped Mercedes to eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships.

George Russell enjoys ‘eye-opening’ first trip to Mercedes after F1 switch

F1 news: Massa unsurprised by Ferrari slide

08:38 , Lawrence Ostlere

Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa says he isn’t surprised by the team’s decline as their best years came when seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher competed for them.

Ferrari had their worst season for 40 years in 2020 but they improved upon that in the 2021 campaign with drivers Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. But Massa says Ferrari’s problems are down to the car, not the drivers.

“That did not surprise me,” he told Spanish daily AS. “Ferrari’s best years were with [Michael] Schumacher, then 2006, 2007, 2008.

Car launch season about to take off

08:13 , Lawrence Ostlere

The new cars for the 2022 season are about to be launched, with Red Bull leading tomorrow before Aston Martin and McLaren on Thursday and Friday. Here is when the new cars will be revealed:

TeamDate

HaasFebruary 4 (livery)

Red BullFebruary 9

Aston MartinFebruary 10

McLarenFebruary 11

AlphaTauriFebruary 14

FerrariFebruary 17

MercedesFebruary 18

AlpineFebruary 21

Alfa RomeoFebruary 27

WilliamsTBA

Haas unveil new 2022 car livery

08:02 , Lawrence Ostlere

It’s fair to say the reaction to Haas’s unveiling was muted.

Haas unveil new 2022 car livery

07:49 , Lawrence Ostlere

Schumacher and Mazepin, both rookies last year, will be heading into their second Formula One season. The German, who acquitted himself well against Mazepin in 2021, is part of Ferrari’s driver development programme and will double up as the Italian team’s reserve this year.

The VF-22 will hit the track for a pre-season session in Barcelona from February 23-25 before the official pre-season test in Bahrain from March 10-12. The Gulf island kingdom will also host the season-opening race on March 20.

Haas unveil new 2022 car livery

07:42 , Lawrence Ostlere

“We made the decision back in 2020 to really channel time and resources into the VF-22...,” said team owner Gene Haas in a statement. “Hopefully that decision bears fruit and we return to challenging for points and taking something from the weekends.”

Haas, who made their debut in 2016, chalked up a best finish of fifth in the overall standings in 2018.

The VF-22 has been designed to Formula One’s radically new rules, with revised aerodynamics aimed at improving wheel-to-wheel racing and 18-inch wheels. It will continue to sport the Russian-themed livery it carried last year representing title sponsor Uralkali, which is owned by Mazepin’s father.

“This is probably the most complex project the (team) has dealt with to-date for many reasons,” said technical director Simone Resta. “It’s a completely new set of regulations and this season we’ve brought in a new team to manage the creation of the VF-22,” he added.

Haas unveil new 2022 car livery

07:30 , Lawrence Ostlere

US-owned Haas on Friday became the first team to take the wraps off their 2022 car, when they unveiled a digital rendering of their VF-22 challenger that they hope will bring drivers Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin their first Formula One points.

The team finished last overall in 2021 with neither Schumacher, son of seven times world champion Michael, nor Russian team mate Mazepin scoring points in a car that was often adrift of the rest of the field.

But the squad, having forgone development on last year’s challenger to focus on their 2022 car, are pinning their hopes on the sport’s new rules giving them the break they need to make their way back into the points-scoring positions.

That would see Schumacher follow in the footsteps of his father Michael and uncle Ralf to become the third member of his family to score Formula One points.

Hamilton breaks radio silence

07:24 , Lawrence Ostlere

Lewis Hamilton has broken his social media silence as speculation continues over his future in motor racing.

The 37-year-old Mercedes driver has been conspicuous by his absence since December’s debacle in the desert, when he was denied a record eighth world title in the controversial conclusion to the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton, who is said to be debating whether to return to the grid in 2022, hinted he is close to making a decision when he announced on Twitter on Saturday evening: “I’ve been gone. Now I’m back.”

Mercedes announced earlier in January that they would launch the first car of F1’s revamped technical era at Silverstone on February 18, five days before the first winter test in Barcelona.

Hamilton is expected to be on site for the launch, alongside new team-mate and compatriot George Russell. His deal with Mercedes, which earns him in the region of £40million-a-season, is due to expire at the end of next year.

The Abu Dhabi victory by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen leaves Hamilton tied with Michael Schumacher on seven world championships.

Race director Michael Masi received criticism after he was accused of bending the rules to allow a one-lap shootout, and while an FIA inquiry has been launched, it will not be made public until the eve of the 2022 season opener in Bahrain on March 20.