F1 2022 season

[Kytabu]

The 2022 grid is complete, with Zhou confirmed to drive alongside Bottas at Alfa Romeo. Pisatri will be reserve driver for Alpine.

McLaren-Mercedes
3. Daniel Ricciardo
4. Lando Norris

Aston Martin-Mercedes
5. Sebastian Vettel
18. Lance Stroll

Williams-Mercedes
6. Nicholas Latifi
23. Alex Albon

Haas-Ferrari
9. Nikita Mazepin
47. Mick Schumacher

AlphaTauri-Red Bull
10. Pierre Gasly
22. Yuki Tsunoda

Red Bull
11. Sergio Perez
33. Max Verstappen

Alpine-Renault
14. Fernando Alonso
31. Esteban Ocon

Ferrari
16. Charles Leclerc
55. Carlos Sainz

Mercedes
44. Lewis Hamilton
63. George Russell

Alfa Romeo-Ferrari
77. Valtteri Bottas
??. Guanyu Zhou

[mikeamerica84]

How is his name pronounced, Kye?  Guanyu Zhou, or Zhou Guanyu?  I have seen it both ways in the media.

I haven't been watching F2 (no time) so I have no idea. 

I still think Ho Pin Tung was a cooler name.

[skaifeman]

Risky move for Zhou. I certainly wouldn't want to be going up against a reinvigorated Bottas in an Alfa.

Likely to be down the back, and getting hosed by his team mate. Good luck to him!

[Kytabu]

How is his name pronounced, Kye?  Guanyu Zhou, or Zhou Guanyu?  I have seen it both ways in the media.

I haven't been watching F2 (no time) so I have no idea. 

I still think Ho Pin Tung was a cooler name.

The Sky commentary team say Guanyu Zhou.

[mikeamerica84]

How is his name pronounced, Kye?  Guanyu Zhou, or Zhou Guanyu?  I have seen it both ways in the media.

I haven't been watching F2 (no time) so I have no idea. 

I still think Ho Pin Tung was a cooler name.

The Sky commentary team say Guanyu Zhou.

I'll go with THAT then.   

[skaifeman]

What do we all think about this Hamilton not returning chat?

He'll be suited up come Bahrain IMO.

[madbugger]

What do we all think about this Hamilton not returning chat?

He'll be suited up come Bahrain IMO.

I’m not a big fan of Hamilton, but I reckon he was screwed over with how the safety car stuff up panned out.

My guess is he won’t be back

[skaifeman]

Big call madbugger.

Rumour is that Masi will get the sack. At the very least he's lost some responsibility:
https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/102899/will-mercedes-get-its-way-masi-replaced-as-president-single-seaters.html

[madbugger]

It’s a 50/50 call. Either he will or he won’t 

[skaifeman]

Launch dates as follows:

February 4 February 9 February 10 February 11 February 14 February 15 February 17 February 18 February 22 February 27

Haas Red Bull Aston Martin McLaren Alpha Tauri Williams Ferrari Mercedes Alpine Alfa Romeo

[Troy01505]

What do we all think about this Hamilton not returning chat?

He'll be suited up come Bahrain IMO.

I’m not a big fan of Hamilton, but I reckon he was screwed over with how the safety car stuff up panned out.

My guess is he won’t be back

He’ll be back! Lewis is a constant sook that requires constant attention. This crap is no different to a 2 year old throwing a tantrum to get their own way.

[Kytabu]

Launch dates as follows:

February 10 February 11 February 17 February 18 - - - - - -

Aston Martin McLaren Ferrari Mercedes Alfa Romeo Alpha Tauri Alpine Haas Red Bull Williams

Really keen for the car launches this year. I wonder if we'll see any innovations like in 2009.

[stevo qld]

I wonder about the car launches. It is rarely the car as it will be raced, and usually there will be Aero and livery changes.

One recent team launch was just the old car with new warpaint.

The big launch factor is the Drivers as there could be a few changes if the big baby spits the dummy instead of getting fireproof nappies.

[Kytabu]

Haas are doing a launch tonight. The image in their Facebook post says VF-22 car unveil but the caption says "You'll get your first look of our 2022 livery tomorrow!", so some people think it will be a VF-21 with 18-inch wheels or the F1 2022 prototype with the 2022 Haas livery on it.


Here we go, the first release of the new era. The wheelbase looks particularly long from the side view.

[Kytabu]

Red Bull, Aston Martin and McLaren launched this week. Red Bull used an updated version of the F1 demo car so expect big changes for testing.






Next week we have AlphaTauri on the 14th, Williams on the 15th, Ferrari on the 17th and Mercedes on the 18th. The following week is Alpine on the 21st and Alfa Romeo on the 27th, though the Alfa will be at pre-season testing from the 23rd to the 25th.