F1 news LIVE: Driver political ban softened as teams arrives in Bahrain for testing
The FIA have clarified a controversial political ban on Formula 1 drivers - insisting the regulation only applies in certain “key moments” such as podiums and national anthems.
F1’s governing body updated its international sporting code in December to state drivers would be in breach of the rulebook if they made “political, religious or personal” statements without prior approval. The move has been met with widespread condemnation from drivers, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell all unimpressed and eager for transparency going forward.
But an update on Friday stated drivers will still be able to “express their views on any political, religious or personal matter” in “their own space”, and outside of a race, via their social media channels or during an interview.
Meanwhile, teams and drivers have started arriving in Bahrain ahead of pre-season testing starting on Thursday and with the first race of the new season less than two weeks away now.
Follow all the latest news from the world of Formula 1 with The Independent
F1 NEWS AND UPDATES
FIA clarifies controversial political ban on F1 drivers speaking out
Honda considering formal return to F1 in 2026 with McLaren interested
Lewis Hamilton reveals fresh helmet design for 2023 Formula 1 season
Drive to Survive: Everything you need to know ahead of season 5 release on Friday
F1 news: Honda considering formal return to F1 in 2026 with McLaren interested
14:40 , Kieran Jackson
Honda are considering a formal return to Formula 1 in 2026 when new engine regulations come into play.
The engine manufacturer left the sport, officially, at the end of the 2021 season when their formal partnership with Red Bull came to an end, though the Constructors’ champions continue to use Honda engines and will do so again this year.
Yet Honda are one of six companies - alongside Mercedes, Red Bull Ford, Ferrari, Alpine, and Audi - that have registered as a power-unit supplier for the period 2026-2030 with the FIA, F1’s governing body.
As such, Honda are considering a return to the sport in three years’ time and the BBC report that McLaren have been one such interested party in teaming up with the Japanese giant.
“For the time being, we would like to keep a close eye on where F1 is going and just see how things go,” Honda president Koji Watanabe said. “We don’t have any concrete decisions on whether we will be going back.
Honda considering formal return to F1 in 2026 with McLaren interested in partnership
F1 news: George Russell takes aim at ‘silly’ FIA political ban
14:32 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell insists Formula 1 drivers will not restrict their views on political and personal matters due to some “silly regulation.”
The FIA, F1’s governing body, has recently updated its international sporting code to prevent drivers from making “political, religious or personal” remarks without prior approval.
Yet numerous drivers have rallied against the rule change in the past few weeks and Russell’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton - who has been among those vocal on issues such as racial inequality and diversity - said on Wednesday nothing would stop him speaking out.
And Russell, speaking at Mercedes’ 2023 car launch at Silverstone, echoed that sentiment, describing the regulation as “totally unnecessary” but added his hope that clarity would be found prior to the first race of the season in Bahrain.
“I am not too sure why the FIA has taken a stance like this,” Russell, a director for the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said.
“It is totally unnecessary in the sport and the world we live in at the moment. We are not going to limit our views, or our thoughts, because of some silly regulation.
George Russell takes aim at ‘silly’ FIA political ban
F1 news: Charles Leclerc sets Ferrari goal for 2023 F1 season
13:58 , Kieran Jackson
Charles Leclerc said it is his goal to end 16 years of Ferrari hurt by winning this season’s Formula One world championship.
Leclerc triumphed at two of last year’s opening three rounds, but added only one more victory from the next 19 races – finishing the season 146 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – as his title challenge faded away through a litany of mechanical and strategic mistakes.
Frederic Vasseur has since replaced Mattia Binotto as team principal with the aim of ending Ferrari’s championship drought which stretches back to Kimi Raikkonen’s triumph in 2007. And Leclerc, who is preparing for his fifth season with Ferrari, is viewed as the man most likely to lead the team’s charge.
Speaking at the Ferrari’s season launch in Fiorano, the 25-year-old Monegasque said: “The goal is clearly to win.
“The feeling of winning is what motivates me, and motivates the team, too, so I am really looking forward to getting back into the car and to hopefully try and win that championship.
“2022 was a good step forward following two difficult years, but we finished second in the drivers’ championship and also in the constructors’ championship.
“We have done a great job trying to address the weaknesses that there were on the car and hopefully it will be better this season.”
Charles Leclerc sets Ferrari goal for 2023 F1 season
13:26 , Kieran Jackson
F1 news: When is Drive to Survive season 5 released?
When will it be released?
The fifth season of Drive to Survive will be released on Netflix on Friday 24 February, 2023.
What time will it be released?
As is custom with Netflix original shows, the series will be released at midnight Pacific Time, meaning 8am (GMT) in the United Kingdom and 3am (ET) in New York.
How many episodes will there be?
There have been 10 episodes in each of the last four seasons and this new season is no different.
F1 news: Lando Norris arrives in Bahrain...
13:12 , Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris is one of the first drivers to arrive in Bahrain ahead of pre-season testing getting underway on Thursday.
The British driver, who is entering his fifth season with McLaren, has a new team-mate this year in rookie Australian Oscar Piastri as the team look to improve following a disappointing 2022 campaign.
F1 news: FIA clarifies controversial political ban on F1 drivers speaking out
12:59 , Kieran Jackson
The FIA have clarified a controversial political ban on Formula 1 drivers - insisting the regulation only applies in certain “key moments” such as podiums and national anthems.
F1’s governing body updated its international sporting code in December to state drivers would be in breach of the rulebook if they made “political, religious or personal” statements without prior approval.
The move has been met with widespread condemnation from drivers, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell all unimpressed and eager for transparency going forward.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton, in particular, has been vocal in speaking out on topics such as racism and minority rights.
The FIA, whose under-fire president Mohammed Ben Sulayem took a step back from day-to-day involvement in F1 last week, have now attempted to provide clarity with a three-page document sent to all 10 teams on Friday.
It states that drivers will still be able to “express their views on any political, religious or personal matter” in “their own space”, and outside of a race, via their social media channels or during an interview.
FIA clarifies controversial political ban on F1 drivers speaking out
F1 news: When is F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain?
12:32 , Kieran Jackson
Pre-season testing takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit from Thursday 23 February - Saturday 25 February.
Running will take place between 7am and 4:30pm (GMT) on each of the three days. There will be an hour’s break midway through each session for lunch.
Each driver will have one-and-a-half days worth of time in the car.
The first race of the 2023 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place at the same circuit a week later, on 3-5 March.
F1 news: Fernando Alonso unhappy with limited testing time in new Aston Martin car
12:16 , Kieran Jackson
Fernando Alonso has voiced his displeasure at the lack of testing time available to drivers ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
The two-time world champion was speaking at the launch of Aston Martinn’s 2023 car at Silverstone on Monday night, with team-mate Lance Stroll also present.
Alonso, who joins Aston from Alpine following Sebastian Vettel’s retirement, does not have long to acclimatise to his new team, with next week’s three day testing window meaning the 41-year-old will have just one day-and-a-half to trial the new car.
The first race of the 2023 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place a week later.
“It is a little bit unfair”, he told a group of journalists on Monday.
“This is the only sport in the world where you do one-and-a-half days practice and then you’re into a World Championship.”
While Alonso insisted he was keeping his “feet on the ground” this season, he did not rule out that his ultimate goal in his final years in the sport were to claim a third World Championship.
Fernando Alonso unhappy with limited testing time in new Aston Martin car
F1 news: George Russell takes aim at ‘silly’ FIA political ban
11:59 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell insists Formula 1 drivers will not restrict their views on political and personal matters due to some “silly regulation.”
The FIA, F1’s governing body, has recently updated its international sporting code to prevent drivers from making “political, religious or personal” remarks without prior approval.
Yet numerous drivers have rallied against the rule change in the past few weeks and Russell’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton - who has been among those vocal on issues such as racial inequality and diversity - said on Wednesday nothing would stop him speaking out.
And Russell, speaking at Mercedes’ 2023 car launch at Silverstone, echoed that sentiment, describing the regulation as “totally unnecessary” but added his hope that clarity would be found prior to the first race of the season in Bahrain.
“I am not too sure why the FIA has taken a stance like this,” Russell, a director for the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, said.
“It is totally unnecessary in the sport and the world we live in at the moment. We are not going to limit our views, or our thoughts, because of some silly regulation.
George Russell takes aim at ‘silly’ FIA political ban
F1 news: Honda considering formal return to F1 in 2026 with McLaren interested
11:40 , Kieran Jackson
Honda are considering a formal return to Formula 1 in 2026 when new engine regulations come into play.
The engine manufacturer left the sport, officially, at the end of the 2021 season when their formal partnership with Red Bull came to an end, though the Constructors’ champions continue to use Honda engines and will do so again this year.
Yet Honda are one of six companies - alongside Mercedes, Red Bull Ford, Ferrari, Alpine, and Audi - that have registered as a power-unit supplier for the period 2026-2030 with the FIA, F1’s governing body.
As such, Honda are considering a return to the sport in three years’ time and the BBC report that McLaren have been one such interested party in teaming up with the Japanese giant.
“For the time being, we would like to keep a close eye on where F1 is going and just see how things go,” Honda president Koji Watanabe said. “We don’t have any concrete decisions on whether we will be going back.
Honda considering formal return to F1 in 2026 with McLaren interested in partnership
F1 news: Lewis Hamilton reveals fresh helmet design for 2023 Formula 1 season
11:27 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton has revealed his helmet design for the 2023 F1 season will be combination of yellow and purple.
The seven-time world champion, who is entering his 11th season with Mercedes, is looking to bounce back this year after a disappointing 2022 when he did not win a single race, the first time he has gone a whole F1 season without a triumph.
That followed a thrilling 2021 title battle where Hamilton was denied a record eighth world title on the final lap of the final race in controversial circumstances in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton wore a purple helmet in 2021 before switching to a yellow design last year, the colour he sported as a junior and in his first years in F1.
And alongside photos of his new helmet on his Instagram page, Hamilton said of his 2023 colour-scheme: “Going with both yellow and purple this year.
“Love how they look together and how sick it looks against the black car. Keeping the rainbow accents too, always.”
Hamilton has previously displayed rainbows on his helmet and car during races in countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Lewis Hamilton reveals fresh helmet design for 2023 F1 season
F1 news: Alpine announce Zinedine Zidane as brand ambassador at glitzy London car launch
10:54 , Kieran Jackson
Zinedine Zidane has been announced as a brand ambassador for Alpine at the team’s 2023 car launch.
The France and Real Madrid legend was in the Alpine garage during last year’s Monaco Grand Prix and will join as a brand ambassador and sponsor of its equality opportunities programmes, including Rac(H)er and the Concours Excellence Mecanique.
British Olympic gold medal winning boxer Nicola Adams was also unveiled as a mentor and will coach the team’s academy drivers based in Enstone.
The French team launched their 2023 challenger, the A523, in east London on Thursday night with drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon both present.
“I am very happy to be here today and happy to be part of the Alpine team. I had the opportunity to meet Laurent (Rossi, Alpine CEO) with the whole team for a Grand Prix,” Zidane said.
“We had a good exchange, and they had a project to give the opportunities to young people, to have their opportunities for all the young talent. I was interested in this project.”
Alpine, who finished fourth in the Constructors’ Championship last season, have an all-French line-up this year with Gasly replacing Fernando Alonso, who has moved to Aston Martin.
Alpine announce Zinedine Zidane as brand ambassador at glitzy London car launch
F1 news: When is Drive to Survive season 5 released?
10:22 , Kieran Jackson
When will it be released?
The fifth season of Drive to Survive will be released on Netflix on Friday 24 February, 2023.
What time will it be released?
As is custom with Netflix original shows, the series will be released at midnight Pacific Time, meaning 8am (GMT) in the United Kingdom and 3am (ET) in New York.
How many episodes will there be?
There have been 10 episodes in each of the last four seasons and this new season is no different.
F1 news: Toto Wolff compares Lewis Hamilton to Tom Brady amid talk of new Mercedes deal
09:58 , Kieran Jackson
Toto Wolff insists Mercedes will “find the right time” to renew Lewis Hamilton’s contract as the team’s CEO compared the seven-time world champion to NFL legend Tom Brady.
Hamilton‘s reported £40m-a-year contract with the Silver Arrows expires at the end of the new season, though both parties have expressed their eagerness to extend beyond 2023.
The 38-year-old, who is entering his 11th season with Mercedes, failed to win a race last year - the first winless season of his career - but is optimistic that his team can challenge Red Bull and Ferrari at the front again after a 2022 plagued with issues.
And Wolff was relaxed when asked at the launch of Mercedes’ W14 car at Silverstone about Hamilton’s contract situation.
“We’ve done a few of these contracts in the past and they change little so it’s not usually complex apart from the obvious terms,” Wolff said.
“We’ve had a first chat but I don’t want to commit to any timeline because it’s not important for him and for us – it runs a full year and we’ll find the right time.
“He appears to me in great form, very positive - maybe the best I’ve seen in those 10 years after the winter.
“He knows what he has with the team, we got it wrong last year. The resources and capability is there, but we just need to continue to develop like last season. I don’t think it plays on Lewis’ mind any doubts that the team will perform. We will... eventually!”
Wolff compares Hamilton to Brady amid talk of new Mercedes deal
F1 news: ‘Everyone wants a title battle’: Max Verstappen challenges F1 rivals to step up
09:39 , Kieran Jackson
Max Verstappen has challenged Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to raise their game and provide him with the championship battle that Formula One needs.
Verstappen ran away with last season’s title, winning 15 of the 22 races, to secure his second championship with four rounds to spare. In contrast, Hamilton, in his under-performing Mercedes, endured the worst year of his career as he failed to win a race and finished 214 points adrift.
But when addressing the prospect of renewing his rivalry with Hamilton at Red Bull’s season launch in New York, Verstappen, 25, said: “In the interest of the sport you always want the teams to be super-close.
“I do think it was close last year, but as a team we executed a lot of things better than the others and that was why the points gap was so big. I never felt, apart from two or three races, that we absolutely dominated. But for the general interest of Formula One, everyone wants a title battle with multiple teams involved.”
‘Everyone wants a title battle’: Max Verstappen challenges F1 rivals to step up
F1 news: When is F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain?
09:17 , Kieran Jackson
Pre-season testing takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit from Thursday 23 February - Saturday 25 February.
Running will take place between 7am and 4:30pm (GMT) on each of the three days. There will be an hour’s break midway through each session for lunch.
Each driver will have one-and-a-half days worth of time in the car.
The first race of the 2023 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place at the same circuit a week later, on 3-5 March.
F1 news: Lando Norris arrives in Bahrain...
09:08 , Kieran Jackson
Lando Norris is one of the first drivers to arrive in Bahrain ahead of pre-season testing getting underway on Thursday.
The British driver, who is entering his fifth season with McLaren, has a new team-mate this year in rookie Australian Oscar Piastri as the team look to improve following a disappointing 2022 campaign.
F1 news: Fernando Alonso unhappy with limited testing time in new Aston Martin car
08:59 , Kieran Jackson
Fernando Alonso has voiced his displeasure at the lack of testing time available to drivers ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
The two-time world champion was speaking at the launch of Aston Martinn’s 2023 car at Silverstone on Monday night, with team-mate Lance Stroll also present.
Alonso, who joins Aston from Alpine following Sebastian Vettel’s retirement, does not have long to acclimatise to his new team, with next week’s three day testing window meaning the 41-year-old will have just one day-and-a-half to trial the new car.
The first race of the 2023 season, the Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place a week later.
“It is a little bit unfair”, he told a group of journalists on Monday.
“This is the only sport in the world where you do one-and-a-half days practice and then you’re into a World Championship.”
While Alonso insisted he was keeping his “feet on the ground” this season, he did not rule out that his ultimate goal in his final years in the sport were to claim a third World Championship.
Fernando Alonso unhappy with limited testing time in new Aston Martin car
F1 news: FIA clarifies controversial political ban on F1 drivers speaking out
08:31 , Kieran Jackson
The FIA have clarified a controversial political ban on Formula 1 drivers - insisting the regulation only applies in certain “key moments” such as podiums and national anthems.
F1’s governing body updated its international sporting code in December to state drivers would be in breach of the rulebook if they made “political, religious or personal” statements without prior approval.
The move has been met with widespread condemnation from drivers, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell all unimpressed and eager for transparency going forward.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton, in particular, has been vocal in speaking out on topics such as racism and minority rights.
The FIA, whose under-fire president Mohammed Ben Sulayem took a step back from day-to-day involvement in F1 last week, have now attempted to provide clarity with a three-page document sent to all 10 teams on Friday.
It states that drivers will still be able to “express their views on any political, religious or personal matter” in “their own space”, and outside of a race, via their social media channels or during an interview.
FIA clarifies controversial political ban on F1 drivers speaking out
