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Mika Hakkinen expects to see Daniel Ricciardo back on a Formula 1 grid in the future - and believes his year off in 2023 is different to his own sabbatical, which later turned into retirement. Ricciardo lost his McLaren seat at the end of the 2022 campaign after poor performances alongside Lando Norris and was not able to rectify the problems. With no other race seats available - or appealing - for 2023, Ricciardo is set for at least one year on the sidelines as third driver at Red Bull - the team he left in 2018. Double World Champion Hakkinen believes that it is just a case of Ricciardo rediscovering his mojo - and that there is one major difference between Ricciardo's situation and when the Finn stepped back in 2001. Hakkinen on Ricciardo "Daniel is a good driver, but after some years in F1 a break can be important," Hakkinen wrote in his usual Unibet column. ...

Oscar Piastri admits that he felt a " noticeable difference " after getting behind the wheel of a 2022 F1 car for the first time at the Abu Dhabi post-season test. The Australian – who will make his debut on the grid in 2023 with McLaren – joined his new team for testing at the Yas Marina Circuit, marking his debut drive in the current year's machinery. Piastri had previously tested for Alpine in their 2021-spec car during the season, and was also given one day's running in one of McLaren's year-old cars. After a year on the racing sidelines following his 2021 Formula 2 championship victory, Piastri shared his thoughts about the experience following his first outing in a 2022 car. Piastri on his testing experience When asked about the difference s between the 2021 and 2022 cars, Piastri told media, including TheFOXposts.Com : "I think there's defini...

Red Bull's Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey has suggested that his team's reduction in permitted wind tunnel testing won't have a significant bearing on the form of their 2023 car. After the Japanese Grand Prix, it was revealed that Red Bull breached F1 's 2021 $145 million budget cap by $1.8m. As a punishment, the team are required to pay a $7 million fine and forfeit 10% of their aerodynamic development allowance. Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has previously said such a sanction could cost the team up to half a second per lap, but Newey says Red Bull simply need to be smarter about how they use their reduced allowance. "The reduction in wind tunnel testing means we can therefore evaluate less different components, less different ideas," said Newey. "If we're really smart and always put on the right things on the model, then of course it doesn't make much difference ." ...

Haas have explained the areas in which they believe that Red Bull are making the difference in comparison to other teams. While the com Pet ition has been close between Aston Martin, Mercedes and Ferrari – as well as the midfield battle amongst much of the rest of the grid – Max Verstappen's team look to have a significant edge over their com Pet itors so far in 2023. Haas are one of those locked into the wide-ranging midfield fight. The American outfit's car is most similar to Ferrari's, but the Scuderia seem to be struggling to squeeze more out of their concept. Asked if the team at Haas have noticed that the Ferrari concept's development ceiling is lower, Juan Molina, Principal Aerodynamicist of the US outfit, pointed out the importance of something completely different. "It's not only the bodywork, but how that works with your floor and your rear wing, and how you have the different parts of the car," Molina told media, including TheFOXpos...

Aston Martin Formula 1 boss Mike Krack believes the cultural difference s between Sebastian Vettel and replacement Fernando Alonso will be a "big challenge" in 2023. Vettel called time on his 16 year F1 career at the end of 2022, having claimed 53 race wins and four world titles, and was replaced by old rival Fernando Alonso who jumped ship from Alpine to partner Lance Stroll. Between them, Vettel and Alonso have 554 Grand Prix starts and although Krack is confident Alonso will seamlessly fit into the Aston operation, did highlight the differences between German Vettel and Spaniard Alonso. Viewed by others: F1 2023 Michael Andretti's 30 years of unfinished F1 business ...