In the round-up: Kevin Magnussen admitted he did not realise how much he had missed driving Formula 1 cars until he got behind the wheel of his Haas VF-22 on Friday.
In brief
Magnussen ‘didn’t realise how much I missed driving an F1 car’
Magnussen drove an F1 car for the first time since the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the afternoon session in Bahrain on Friday. During the extra hour of track time allowed for Haas following the conclusion of the session, he set the overall fastest time of the day“It was so good to be back,” Magnussen said. “Driving a Formula 1 car is always fun. I didn’t know I’d missed it that much, it was really fun.
“Got a good amount of laps in that half a day of driving and picking up where we left off tomorrow morning, hopefully get a few more laps. My neck is a little sore, but I will deal with that. I’m just happy to be back”
Guanyu focused on learning car procedures off by heart
Zhou Guanyu says he is investing a lot of time and effort into learning all of the car settings and procedures he will need to know during races during the second test in Bahrain.
Due to the many electronic settings available on modern Formula 1 cars and restrictions on the assistance teams can give drivers, Guanyu says he understands how important it is that he knows everything he would need to do before in a race before his grand prix debut next week.
“The procedures, as a rookie, is not just about getting confident with the car, it’s about all these switches, procedures you have to do,” he said.
“Of course in Formula 1, when you start the formation lap, the biggest difference compared to F2 is that there’s no radio until the lights go green. So you have to really remember everything off by heart. And that’s what we’re focusing on right now this time, rather than in Barcelona where we just got the car together.”
Hildebrand to run IndyCar oval races for AJ Foyt
IndyCar veteran JR Hildebrand will return to the series to race the five oval rounds this season for AJ Foyt.
Hildebrand will drive the number 11 car at all the oval races this year, taking over the car from Tatiana Calderon, who will compete in all other rounds.
Aside from the Indianapolis 500 in May, Hildebrand will race at the Texas race later this month, the two races at Iowa in July and the race at Gateway in August.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
A strong first day back for K-Mag 💪
60 laps completed plus the fastest lap of the day! The 1:33.207 was set on the C4 tires.#HaasF1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/i2JNadquJC
— Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 11, 2022
I agree but all those races you Won in F1 must have helped you build confidence to be competitive in Indycar? 😉 https://t.co/fGTvjWsG3W
— Jenson Button (@JensonButton) March 11, 2022
Better this week than next…
Unfortunate to miss the test, but I’m starting to feel better. I’ll stay isolated and just focus on next weekend.
Big thanks to Lando & McLaren for the heavy lifting, I owe you some beers (milk for Lando).
Appreciate the well wishes from everyone.— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) March 11, 2022
Spoken with three smart people in the last 48 hours who've told me they've heard Audi has scrapped its LMDh plans and will put the budget and personnel resources behind the oft-rumored #F1 program. Discuss!
— Marshall Pruett (@marshallpruett) March 11, 2022
The first of our challengers is here! Get behind the wheel of the BMW M2 CS Racing and hit the track on March 23rd on PC. #beACC #505Games pic.twitter.com/irWKzt2TlV
— Assetto Corsa (@AC_assettocorsa) March 11, 2022
- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Links
Motor racing links of interest:
I Just Want to Race - Jamie Chadwick (Players' Tribune)
"For the sport, I think it's important that we see a female driver break through now. In my opinion — and I don’t think it’s a controversial one — motorsport shouldn’t be this kind of funnel where only rich men can make it. There are outliers of course, but we need more diversity."
Ranking every F1 track in the 2022 season (Telegraph)
"We rank all the circuits scheduled to feature in the 2022 F1 season from worst to best — and then some more, to boot."
FIA Sport and Mobility member clubs join forces to support Ukraine (FIA)
"In reaction to the humanitarian and refugee crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several FIA Member Organisations in both Sport and Mobility have mobilised to provide support and assistance to the Ukrainian people in these difficult times."
The Nigel Mansell Collection - 1991 Williams FW14 (RM Sotheby's)
Nigel Mansell's 1991 Williams FW14 chassis no. 5 with which he won five races will be going under auction in Monaco in May. As well as winning the French, German, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix, the car was the one famously used to carry Ayrton Senna back to the pits after Mansell won the British Grand Prix.
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it in via the contact form.
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Comment of the day
Who should Red Bull have to partner Max Verstappen over the many seasons to come? It will take mental fortitude as much as driving skill, says @neilosjames
The most mentally strong driver they can find.
Anyone going into that seat knows two rather depressing facts – that they’re in the team as the defacto (if not contractual) number two. Second, and probably the worst thing, they know that even if they do the best lap, or best race, of their life, Verstappen could still beat them.
There are plenty of drivers capable of driving an F1 car quickly, but (personal view) once the mental side kicks in it can take away so much of a driver’s performance. Bottas (to some extent), Gasly, Vandoorne, Massa, Albon, Kovalainen (going back to 2009)… all undoubtedly talented but none of them could really hack finding themselves in the role of #2 to an established, elite superstar. And Perez was awful last year as well, so maybe he can’t manage it either.
So the ideal team-mate from a Red Bull perspective is someone with the mental strength to deal with knowing they’ll never be as quick as Verstappen, who’ll slot in nicely and play the team role, while maintaining a high enough level of performance. Kind of like Bottas did from time to time at Mercedes, or an early Barrichello at Ferrari. No idea who, from the current field, fits that bill, but I doubt they drive for Alpha Tauri.
@neilosjames
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Daniel, Garf, Michael Griffin, Monkzie, Nitin24, Obi-Spa Kenobi, Dodge5847, Gerulf Dosinger and Juan!
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
12th March 2022, 4:09
I reckon Kimi would fit the cotd description. Too bad…
Jere (@jerejj)
12th March 2022, 7:18
Learning formation lap procedures in testing is a good thing.
Nice for K-Mag & Haas, even if meaningless since being fastest in testing is unrewarding.
I like the sarcasm between JB & Ericsson.
I share COTD’s view in principle.
amian
12th March 2022, 11:30
Magnussen being fastest on a testing day in F1 is meaningless. But the fact he was slowest in IndyCar testing – where everyone has the same and equally developed car – does point to something.