Formula One News — December 2021

There’s no doubt McLaren had its most positive season since 2012, winning one Grand Prix on merit, scoring the first pole position in nine years and being, regularly, the most competitive team behind Red Bull and Mercedes, but a drop in form on the last part of the season saw Ferrari get the better of the British team and secure third place in the Constructors’ Championship.

When rumours refuse to go away and even the interested party don’t shut them down quickly, it’s clear there’s something going on, more than just speculation.

Robert Shwartzman will not just be sitting by the sidelines in 2022, having decided to quit Formula 2 after being runner-up in two consecutive seasons, first to Mick Schumacher and now to Oscar Piastri. The young Russian will take part in two FP1 sessions with Ferrari next year, as all teams will have to twice put a rookie in their cars for one practice session from 2022, but is also hoping to get another two FP1 sessions with Haas, after testing for the American team in Abu Dhabi, impressing everyone with his pace and consistency.

It has now become a tradition that every team, Pirelli, the FIA and the Formula One Group get their entire crews together for an end of the season photo, all done with Formula One precision, under the orders of their respective official photographer and under the direction of the team’s Head of Communications, telling who sits where, distributing chairs with names on it, so everyone knows their place and all done to the schedule. On Sunday morning you had to be careful walking the Yas Marina Circuit paddock, because most teams were carrying dozens of chairs from their hospitality areas, through the garages into the pit lane, for their end of the season photos.

Mercedes is hoping to get one step ahead of the competition in the pit stops next year if the development of a new cordless wheel gun goes to plan.

Mercedes' driver lineup change for 2022 may actually make it easier for Max Verstappen to win back-to-back titles.

Mick Schumacher is still in the running for a future in red - even as early as 2022.

Rumours that Carlos Sainz is poised to add two more seasons to his existing Ferrari contract are continuing to harden.

F1's CEO is "sure" Lewis Hamilton will return to his Mercedes cockpit in 2022.

Audi is edging ever closer to announcing that the Volkswagen-owned German luxury carmaker will enter Formula 1 in 2026.

Jean Todt admits he will do "something new" now that he has been succeeded as long-time FIA president.

Mick Schumacher racked up the highest repair bill for his team than any other driver on the 2021 grid.

The first act of the newly-elected FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, is to warn that Lewis Hamilton faces sanction for boycotting the end-of-season FIA prize gala last week.

A popular Formula 1 commentator admits he is "very afraid" as the sport enters its all-new era in 2022.

Ralf Schumacher thinks it is clear that Nikita Mazepin does not belong in Formula 1.

German racing legend Walter Rohrl has slammed Formula 1, the FIA, new world champion Max Verstappen and even Nicholas Latifi in the wake of the controversial 2021 title finale.

Jean Todt has joined Mattia Binotto in refusing to rule out the prospect of an advisory role for the famous Frenchman at Ferrari.

Sergio Perez is not the 'number 2' at Red Bull, according to his teammate and new world champion Max Verstappen.

Jean Todt rolled his eyes at those calling for Lewis Hamilton to be fined for snubbing Thursday's official FIA prize-giving gala event in Paris.

Mercedes is lucky to escape penalty for the way the German team aimed fire at the governing FIA following the controversial end to the 2021 title battle.

Max Verstappen says 2021 title rival Lewis Hamilton should keep racing next year.

Charles Leclerc's long contract at Ferrari includes key break clauses, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

Max Verstappen would not be interested in a shock move to Mercedes, according to Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko.

New world champion Max Verstappen has advised Nicholas Latifi to "turn off his phone".

Mercedes is on the cusp of accepting defeat in the 2021 world championship by dropping its intention to appeal the outcome of the Abu Dhabi finale.