20 October 2022
❖ What F1 drivers are confirmed for 2023? All teams, bar Williams and Haas, have confirmed their 2023 F1 driver line-ups. Most teams have stayed the same. However, Oscar Piastri has replaced Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren. Nicholas Latifi has been axed from Williams, Pierre Gasly has joined Alpine, Fernando Alonso has moved to Aston Martin, Nyck de Vries joins Yuki Tsunoda at Alpha Tauri, and Mick Schumacher has left Haas.
❖ Theo Pourchaire will make his FP1 debut next weekend at the US Grand Prix, driving for Alfa Romeo. It will be the second time that Pourchaire will drive an F1 car after he took part in a private test at the Hungaroring last year with Alfa Romeo.
❖ Toto Wolff revealed that he did not want to announce George Russell as a 2022 Mercedes Formula 1 driver until Valtteri Bottas’ future was secured.
❖ Toto Wolff has no doubt future F1 engine manufacturer Audi will poach personnel from Mercedes High Performance Powertrains just like Red Bull Powertrains did in the past.
❖ Sauber, currently racing as Alfa Romeo, could rescue Mick Schumacher’s Formula 1 career – but the young German may need to take a sabbatical in 2023
