In the round-up: Nico Hulkenberg admitted to “a bit of human degradation” after a long day in the cockpit during Formula 1’s post-season test at Yas Marina Circuit.
In brief
Haas’s Hulkenberg’s has “human degradation” on return to F1 cockpit
Yesterday’s nine-hour test marked the first time Hulkenberg had driven an F1 car since August as he prepares to return to the championship with Haas next year. Although he lost over an hour of running due to power unit problems, he completed 110 laps, slightly less than twice the distance of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.“It was a good day of work, good running, collected many impressions and a lot of data – which was the target. We successfully went through our programme,” said the 35-year-old, who has started 181 races. “Today was about learning the tyres for 2023, learning their characteristics. With these test days you have a bit more time to try stuff. I’m satisfied and happy with the day.”
Hulkenberg admitted he was tiring towards the end of the day. “There was a bit of human degradation towards the end of the day but I coped better than expected to be honest, so that’s good. There’s now three months of hardcore preparation to get ready.”
Gasly impressed by first taste of Alpine’s F1 car
“It was a fantastic feeling to drive the A522 for the first time, and, I must say, it’s an impressive car,” Gasly said.
“The objectives for me today were all about getting used to my new surroundings, working closely with the engineers and, generally, building up my learning in the car and getting an understanding for its characteristics. We completed many laps – as per our plan – and I’m already very excited to fully embed myself in the team.”
More feedback from drivers on Pirelli’s 2023 prototypes
Sergio Perez said Pirelli’s new tyres for 2023 have delivered on the manufacturer’s goal of improving front-end grip.
“The new compounds still tend to be quite close, as they were this season, but the front is a little bit stronger than the 2022 versions,” he said after a morning spent driving with the tyres.
“We are working with the tyres in very hot conditions here and everything is still early days, so we still have a lot to learn and analyse. It will be interesting to see how they perform in cooler temperatures, which would reflect race temperatures better.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
F1: Chinese GP to be cancelled because of the country's Covid policies (BBC)
'China's return to the F1 schedule will be cancelled next year as a result of the country's Covid policies, BBC Sport has learned. F1 has not visited China since 2019, but was due to return for the fourth race in 2023 on 16 April. China's zero-Covid policy has led F1 to conclude the race cannot go ahead.'
SF Lights test report from Okayama (SF Lights)
'rom November 21st to 22nd, the Super Formula Light test was held at Okayama International Circuit. This test was conducted in a long exclusive session of eight hours a day, 16 hours in total over the two days. Only six cars from two teams participated.'
Formula 2 prepares for post-season testing at Yas Marina (F2)
'Following the final round of the 2022 FIA F2 season, the field remains at Yas Marina Circuit for post-season testing. The test event will last three days from 23-25 November and include plenty of changes from the grid that took the start on Sunday.'
Blending his background: William Alatalo on his F3 helmet design (F3)
'William Alatalo has taken a unique approach to his 2022 helmet design. The Finnish youngster has only had a few designs since he started racing in Finland but the Jenzer Motorsport driver says he has found a refined design he loves. Alatalo details to us what the meaning behind the design is and how the colours, camo and plans for a future special edition.'
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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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Hello, Fernando. pic.twitter.com/Mfwi66ID5J
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) November 22, 2022
Catching up with Jack after a day's testing 👊#Alpine pic.twitter.com/NmQulrIsmj
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) November 22, 2022
So wholesome 🥹
Before @Charles_Leclerc left the track today, he came and thanked the team for their hard work throughout this season 👏#essereFerrari 🔴 pic.twitter.com/VE1aouGu8A
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) November 22, 2022
"never forget me" 😂 @yukitsunoda07 @PierreGASLY pic.twitter.com/iVrQQIs7Ts
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) November 22, 2022
"Hopefully it’s the start of a lot of good days!" 😁@OscarPiastri's message for all of you after his first day in the car. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/BTgCNtIf3z
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 22, 2022
|@nyckdevries was the busiest driver in #F1 testing today covering 151 laps.
Around @ymcofficial, that's 797.4km.
That's over two-and-a-half grand prix distances.
And more than half the total race distance he covered across all 16 @FIAFormulaE races this year.#F1 #FE pic.twitter.com/rUdNghGOM2
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) November 22, 2022
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
It has been reported that Gasly’s trainer Pyry Salmela will remain at AlphaTauri for 2023 rather than follow his driver to Alpine. That’s been a surprise to some.
I thought Pyry Salmela would move to Alpine with Gasly, but apparently, he’ll continue at AlphaTauri and become Nyck de Vries’ trainer instead. Trainers generally stay with the same drivers through their team changes, so unusual.
Jere
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Nina Wood and Karthikeyan!
Turch17 (@turch17)
23rd November 2022, 0:35
About China, I would be very surprised if they will have the GP, unless they do a bubble like in the rest of the world in 2021.
I am currently in China, once you enter the Country you have a mandatory 8 days hotel quarantine. In Beijing you need to be tested everyday or your QR code, that you need to enter in any building, will turn yellow and you won’t be able to go anywhere. All shopping malls, restaurants and public places are closed. Many cities are in lockdown.
If you visit Shanghai from any other city of China you can’t go in shopping malls, restaurants and other public places for 5 days.
I hope it will get better, but April in not far
BasCB (@bascb)
23rd November 2022, 11:26
Yeah, I think there is little chance that they will open up enough to be able to host the F1 race by April @turch17
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
23rd November 2022, 13:47
Fascinating insight.
Looks like China is prepping for a zombie virus or something as such.
Turch17 (@turch17)
24th November 2022, 3:37
No, nothing to do with the virus, it’s just about controlling everyone’s movement. You are constantly scanning you phone to to enter a building, so they keep track of where you go.
Beijing, a city of 20+ million people, has 1500 cases a day and they shut down the city. And mind you, they test everyone everyday, so a 1500 cases is nothing.
superman
25th November 2022, 6:25
Seems an utterly absurd overreaction to something that ranges from at best a non-issue in many people, a cold in most people and a bad flu for a tiny minority. And that was two years ago, it’s even milder now!
Wonder if its more down to China feeling ultra responsible and going above and beyond and/or international sanctions putting pressure on them to overly monitor their country.
DTShangers
23rd November 2022, 3:22
Good luck mate, I spent 25 years full-time living in China, went to HK in 2017, finally came home in May. As long has Winnie the Pooh is in power the COVID rules will stay and run the country in to the ground. Get out while you can.
Turch17 (@turch17)
24th November 2022, 3:40
Thank you! I live in HK too. I am here on a business trip, I really needed to come here but I have never felt less enthusiastic about a business trip. I can’t imagine what it can be to live here with all this situation .
Jere (@jerejj)
23rd November 2022, 11:31
Yet another Chinese GP cancellation has been an open secret since the race calendar release.
Trying to hold the event in April was a mistake from the get-go.
Very impressive by De Vries.
I didn’t expect COTD & I haven’t seen any reports, but still surprising & unusual.
I wonder who’ll become Gasly’s new trainer.