F1 2022 news: Mexico City Grand Prix updates, Charles Leclerc crashes during practice
The Ferrari team suffered an unwelcome setback at a venue where they have not won since Alain Prost triumphed in 1990.
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George Russell topped the times for Mercedes after Charles Leclerc crashed his Ferrari during the second practice at the Mexico Formula One Grand Prix.
Russell offered a hint of Mercedes’ potential with a strong performance in a session devoted to tyre testing, in changeable conditions, while Leclerc, unhurt, was left to watch from the Ferrari garage.
The 24-year-old Briton took advantage of a chance to shine as one of only a few drivers permitted to run on 2022 tyres and clocked a best lap in one minute and 19.970 seconds on softs.
This lifted him eight-tenths of a second clear of Yuki Tsunoda in his Alpha Tauri and Esteban Ocon of Alpine, both also allowed to use half the session to work on set-up with regular tyres after handing their cars to guest rookies for the opening practice.
Russell’s Mercedes teammate, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, was fourth-quickest in a session interrupted by two red flags.
The first came when Leclerc spun off heavily in his Ferrari and a second in the closing minutes when Zhou Guanyu suffered a hydraulic failure in his Alfa Romeo.
That brought the session to an early end and left Ferrari frustrated after dominating the opening practice when Carlos Sainz topped the times.
Two-time world champion Max Verstappen was sixth, one place behind Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who was given enthusiastic support by his home fans.
Leclerc wound up seventh ahead of Sainz, Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri.
After a morning filled with political debate following the announcement by the FIA of Red Bull’s punishment for last year’s cost-cap breach and Ferrari’s dominance of opening practice, there was an air of welcome calm as the second session began.
In warm but overcast conditions with rain threatening, the 90 minutes were cast to be used as an extensive Pirelli tyre test, concentrating on a range of soft compounds for consideration next year.
This gave the action an air of pre-season testing rather than race preparation, although those drivers who took no part in the earlier session, having given their cars to rookie reserve drivers, were permitted to use half of the session for set-up work this year’s tyres.
The 2023 tyres were all unmarked and unpredictable.
Russell and Ocon were swiftly involved in the action and Perez provided his adoring fans with a reason to cheer on every passing lap, but there was little urgency before Sainz went top for Ferrari.
He was followed by Russell, on mediums, before Verstappen with a set of tester softs and then Perez set the pace until Russell, in 1:19.970, went 1.6 seconds clear after 20 minutes on fresh soft tyres.
Leclerc then crashed, after 33 minutes, spinning backwards into the barriers at turn seven and badly damaging the rear of his Ferrari to prompt a red flag stoppage that lasted 20 minutes.
He was unhurt, but it was a setback to him and the Ferrari team at a venue where they have not won since Alain Prost triumphed in 1990.
As the sky darkened, the track conditions deteriorated. The falling temperatures offered less grip as the cars slithered around ensuring Russell’s lap remained the fastest.
WHY BRAD PITT SNUBBED F1 ICON
Hollywood film star Brad Pitt contacted British television reporter Martin Brundle to explain why he snubbed his request for an interview on the grid at last week’s United States Grand Prix.
Brundle confirmed Pitt had sent him a message to explain why he was not keen to talk ahead of the race — a gesture that the former Formula One driver appreciated.
“Got a note from Brad Pitt explaining what happened with our near miss on the Austin grid. Unnecessary, but nice of him,” Brundle posted on Twitter.
“Absolutely nobody is obliged to talk to me on the grid, but as I endeavour to make 10/12 minutes of live and unscripted sports TV I’m obliged to at least ask.”
Brundle’s grid walks have been his trademark contribution to television coverage of F1 racing since he began the feature at the 1997 British Grand Prix.
In an interview with GQ magazine, he explained: “It happened in 1997. My guys said ‘We’ve had an idea, why don’t you walk down the grid and just say what you see?’ And I was the only one on the grid.
“Obviously we go live and that is unscripted, unrehearsed car crash television. Whatever happens, happens. And I got to wing it. And I can’t throw it back to a studio or have the studio throw it to me.
“When I happen to find somebody, it flows. It’s got to go. And that puts a lovely sense of urgency into it.” Brundle has had many awkward moments and failed interview attempts, but those of Pitt last Sunday and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion last year prompted social media storms.
While Pitt was reluctant and terse, he was not rude.
When his path to Stallion was blocked off physically, with a bodyguard telling Brundle to back off because “you can’t do that”, he replied “I can - because I just did.”
Brundle’s retort went viral and led to celebrity bodyguards being banned from the grid.
HAMILTON HOPING TO RACE ON PAST 40 WITH NEW DEAL
Lewis Hamilton has said he hopes to sign a new multi-year contract with Mercedes and continue racing in Formula One into his forties.
Speaking to reporters ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion revealed he was in talks with the team about another multi-year deal.
Asked about his future, Hamilton, 37, said: “You’re stuck with me for quite a bit longer.
“We are going to do another deal. We are going to sit down and discuss it in these next couple of months.”
Hamilton, who will be 38 on January 5, joined Mercedes in 2013 after starting his F1 career with McLaren in 2007.
He won his first title in 2008 and holds records for most victories (103) and pole positions (103), but this year faces completing a season without winning a single race for the first time.
“I want to keep racing,” he said.
“I love what I do. I’ve been doing it for 30 years and I don’t feel that I should have to stop. I think I am currently still earning my keep. I still want to do better.
“I could stop now — and I have lots of other things in the pipeline that I will be super-focused and super-busy with — (but) I’m here for the sheer love of working in the organisation that I’m in.
“Mercedes-Benz have stuck with me through thick and thin. They stuck with me through being expelled at school.
“They stuck with me through everything that was going on through 2020. They’ve stuck with me through my mistakes and through the ups and downs.”
He declined to consider if he could be described as Formula One’s ‘greatest of all time’ driver.
When asked by American television host Jimmy Kimmel, he replied: “I know what I am. I know how good I am, but I don’t really like to talk about it.
“I like to just do the talking on the track.
“That’s what my dad always said. When I was a kid when we were racing, we were on the receiving end of a lot of discrimination because we were the only people of colour on the racetrack.
“My dad said just do my talking on the track. So, even today I don’t feel like I need to say anything. I just let my what I’m doing on the circuit, what I’m doing off the circuit, kind of talk.”
After a disappointing start to the season, when his Mercedes car suffered chronic ‘porpoising’ and bouncing problems, Hamilton has gradually clawed his way back to form and led last week’s United States Grand Prix before finishing second behind world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff said: “Lewis drove an outstanding race to finish second — we need to keep this momentum going. While we didn’t quite have the pace to win, it was great to be in the mix at the front and leading the race.” He added that Mercedes felt cautiously optimistic about this Sunday’s race although Hamilton suggested a race win this year was unlikely.
Hamilton also made clear that he had no interest in being handed the 2021 title by the International Motoring Federation (FIA) if it was as a result of Red Bull’s breach of last year’s budget cap, an offence for which no punishment has been agreed or announced.
“When I heard about this cost thing, for sure, it brings up a little bit of emotion because you kind of bury it and move on and then it comes back up - and it’s like another kick,” he said.
“But I’ve moved on from it. I refuse to live in the past.”
MEXICO EXTENDS CONTRACT BY THREE YEARS
The Mexico City Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar until 2025 after agreeing a three-year contract extension, Formula One chief Stefano Domenicali confirmed on Thursday.
The end-of-season race has drawn big and passionate crowds and is popular with drivers and teams who enjoy the atmosphere they generate.
“Every year the race attracts a large number of passionate fans and the atmosphere is incredible and I know everyone will be excited by this news,” said Domenicali.
“I want to thank Claudia Sheinbaum, the Head of Government for Mexico City, and Alejandro Soberón and his team for their ongoing commitment to F1 and the continued success of the event.” The event was previously called the Mexican Grand Prix, but this changed in 2020 when the federal government withdrew its support.
Next year’s calendar is scheduled to be a record 24-race marathon starting in Bahrain on March 5 and concluding on November 26 in Abu Dhabi, including ‘returning’ races in China and Qatar and a new event in Las Vegas.str/lp
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