In the round-up: McLaren’s technical director James Key downplays the team’s position in the pecking order after George Russell named them and Ferrari as the pace-setters in the opening test.
In letter
Key: “We can’t read anything into what we’re seeing at the moment”
Speaking on the final day of the opening test, Key said it was too soon to judge whether Russell’s assessment was correct.
“It’s nice to hear that from Mercedes of all people, obviously, but I honestly think we can’t read anything into what we’re seeing at the moment,” said Key. “I think there’s a whole plethora of different types of tests going on.
“These are launch spec cars and the development rates are going to be very high at this time of year. So no doubt we’re going to see developments coming along anyway for the next test, the next race.”
Key said the test had “gone okay” for McLaren. “The important thing for us is it’s been a productive test so far. We’ve got through a lot of test items and programs, have measurements, they’re the sort of things you need to do with something fresh and new to us.
“But the pecking order, I think, is extremely difficult to establish right now,” he reinforced. “And to be honest, we haven’t really been looking at that. It’s more a case, I think everyone should be focused on themselves and that certainly as a team what we’re doing.”
One Formula 3 seat left unconfirmed before first day of testing
Following the signing of Nazim Azman to Hitech and Enzo Trulli to Carlin, only one space remains open on the 2022 Formula 3 grid for 2022. Pre-season testing for the championship starts in Bahrain today, running until Friday.
| team | drivers | drivers | drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| premium | Oliver Bearman | Arthur Leclerc | Jak Crawford |
| trident | Johnny Edgar | Zane Maloney | Roman Stanek |
| ART | Gregory Saucy | Juan Manuel Correa | Victor Martins |
| Hitech | Isack Hadjar | Kaylen Frederick | Nazim Azman |
| Van Amersfoort | Reece Ushijima | Rafael Villagomez | Franco Colapino |
| MP | Alexander Smolyar | Caio Collet | Kush Maini |
| Campos | Pepe Marti | Hunter Yeany | David Vidales |
| Carlin | Zak O’Sullivan | Brad Benevides | Enzo Trulli |
| jenzer | Ido Cohen | William Alatalo | TBA |
| Charouz | Laszlo Toth | Francesco Pizzi | Ayrton Simmons |
Uralkali branding removed from Hitech GP Formula 2 cars
Following Haas’ decision to remove Uralkali branding from its livery for the final day of Barcelona testing, images posted to social media by Hitech GP’s Formula 2 driver Marcus Armstrong showed the same logos missing from his car’s livery, despite other branding being in place.
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social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
I stand with Ukraine, whatever your differences are, to attack another with war is not the answer. Disgusted by the actions of the Russian regime and sad for the terrible human losses on both sides.
— Tom Dillmann (@TomDillmann) March 1, 2022
Left
Motor racing links of interest:
Interview with Stoffel Vandoorne: ‘it’s difficult to know if I will return to Formula 1’ (Pitlane Motor – Spanish)
Vandoorne: ‘I still don’t have anything certain for next season. Obviously there are a lot of negotiations going on, but right now it’s too early to know what exactly I’m going to do next year or what my situation will be. Despite this, the truth is that I am confident that I will have something good.’
What to expect from Chasing The Dream Season 3 (Formula 2: lead protagonists, dune buggy racing and a trip to Paris)
‘By giving one person more time and dedication, you get to know them better,’ says producer and director Rory Child. ‘If you try and tell too many stories, then the impact is diluted, so by focusing on that driver a little bit longer, you really get to know them better and for me, that is a positive.’
F3 returns to action at pre-season testing in Bahrain (Formula 3)
Teams will be testing on Pirelli’s hard compound tyres, the same compound that will be used during the opening round of the season at the Bahrain International Circuit, which takes place 18-20 March. Each car will be allocated four sets of tires for the duration of the test.
Bristol Street Motors launches click2drive W Series race team (Bristol Street Motors)
Click2Drive Bristol Street Motors Racing will participate in the W Series 2022 season and has already signed its first driver, Alice Powell. Considered a female pioneer in motorsport, Alice was the first woman to win a Formula Renault championship in 2010 and, two years later, became the first woman to score points in the GP3 Series.
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On this day in motorsport
- Born today in 1962: Gabriele Tarquini