Lando Norris disagrees with Mercedes driver George Russell’s assessment that McLaren and Ferrari are ahead of the Mercedes car following the first pre-season test in Barcelona.

McLaren’s Norris topped the first day of testing with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc quickest on day two having completed 78 laps. However, Mercedes and Red Bull displayed their speed on the final by locking in the top four spots with Lewis Hamilton leading Russell for a Mercedes 1-2 on Friday.

Following day two’s testing Russell implied that McLaren and Ferrari were leading the way in pre-season saying: “Some teams, a red team and an orange team in particular, look very, very competitive, [Mercedes are] certainly not ahead, [I’m] pretty sure of that.”

But, Norris believes Mercedes are stronger than Russell is letting on and reckons that Mercedes and Red Bull are still the teams to beat.

“George obviously topped the timesheets [on Friday morning] so if he thinks we’re strong, we’re going to think he’s strong,” he said

“I think if there’s any team on the grid right now that you expect to be at the front when it matters it’s going to be Mercedes and probably Red Bull.

“I don’t think we’re in an amazing place. I think we’re in a good place. We had a car which as soon as we put it on the track worked well.

“Of course, there’s always some new things and some unexpected issues here and there but it’s been a good start,”

Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix has been cancelled in the wake of the invasion into Ukraine.

A statement read: “The FIA Formula One World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together. We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation.

“On Thursday evening Formula One, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.”

Pre-season testing in Barcelona last week threw up some surprises for F1 teams. One of the biggest was the way their cars suffered extreme bouncing down the straights due to the aero properties of the 2022 challengers.

This occurred the last time ground effect was allowed in F1 back in the early 1980s and is a phenomenon triggered by downforce pushing the car further down to the track at high speed before the airflow suddenly stalls rising the car thanks to the loss in load.

This cycle repeats as the car flies down the straight and is nicknamed ‘porpoising’ for the similar way a porpoise rises in and out of water when swimming.

Formula One has banned the use of sophisticated hydraulic suspension systems – which were previously allowed – and F1 teams are currently at work trying to find solutions to the problem.

George Russell believes that a simple way to improve the new generation of cars would be to re-introduce active suspension. Speaking about ‘porpoising’ after watching a video of Charles Leclerc’s car doing it Russell said:

“We just saw with the Charles video just how bad it was for them, so, I think we will need to find a solution.

“I guess if active suspension was there, it could be solved with a click of your fingers. And the cars would naturally be a hell of a lot faster if we had that.

“I’m sure all the teams are capable of that, so that could be one for the future. But let’s see in Bahrain. I’m sure the teams will come up with some smart ideas around this issue.”

Active suspension was banned in F1 ahead of the 1994 season, as part of a push to cut back on driver aids that were dominating the sport and despite a push to evaluate a return for it, F1 has elected not to allow it to come back yet.

Russell felt that active suspension would be a good fit for the current cars, as it would help drive down lap times as well.

“I think it’s clear if we had active suspension, the cars will be a hell of a lot faster for the same aerodynamic surfaces, because you’d be able to optimise the ride heights for every corner speed and optimise it down the straight for the least amount of drag,” he said.

“So, it’s an easy way to make the cars go faster. And if you think of a safety aspect, then potentially [it’s an improvement]. I’m sure there’s more limitations. I’m not an engineer. But we wouldn’t have this issue down the straight, that’s for sure.”

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, the Ukrainian motorsport federation has called on the FIA to place a ban on Russian licence holders including Formula One drives Nikita Mazepin.

Five days after the invasion began peace talks are underway on the border of Belarus after the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, amongst other Ukrainian cities, was hit with regular missile strikes from the Russian military.

Four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel said he would boycott the Russian Grand Prix this season if it were to go ahead but Formula One announced last week that it would not be racing in the Russia this September. A decision that had the of both drivers and teams.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem offered his ‘full support and the support of the FIA’ to the Automobile Federation of Ukraine (FAU) following the invasion and in response the FAU president Leonid Kostyuchenko said the federation would welcome ‘possible measures of support from the FIA for the postwar period, when all state resources will be directed to recovery.’

The FAU also requested moves against both Russia and Belarus by the FIA that would impact competitors from both nations. This includes a ban on those racing with licences issued by the Russian and Belarus federations in countries outside their home nations.

Haas drive Nikita Mazepin races with a licence from the Russian Automobile Federation and his future is in doubt after Haas removed all branding from Russian title sponsor, Uralkali, from the car for last weekend’s testing in Spain.

Mazepin wrote on Twitter last week that he was “not in control over a lot of what is being said and done” but he was “choosing to focus on what I CAN control by working hard and doing my best” for Haas.

He drove for the team on the final day of testing in Barcelona last week with a white car livery.

Formula 1 have decided not to have a Russian Grand Prix in the wakes of their invasion of Ukraine. Many of the drivers put up to the media were asked about it at the press conference.

Haas driver Mick Schumacher said: “We all heard the horrible news that war started and I think that’s something that affects us all. Personally [it] makes me really sad to see [this].

“In terms of the effect on the team I’m not the right person to ask, but I think we should all hope and pray for Ukraine.”

And Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz added: “I’m happy that everything has been cancelled.

“Innocent people [are] losing their lives, at this time you have to put everything in perspective of what’s going on in the world,” says Stroll. “It’s very scary times and we definitely have to just pray and hope things will be OK. It’s very hard to watch, I think Formula 1 has definitely made the right decision.”

Valtteri Bottas has spoken out about his 2022 move to Alfa Romeo and how he believes it wall allow him to become the ‘best version’ of himself.

Bottas spent five years driving alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and watched the Brit claim four out of five championships and notch wup 50 wins compared to Bottas’ 10 during the same period.

Speaking at the Alfa Romeo team’s unveiling of the 2022 C42 challenger’s colours Bottas said: “I am excited. It’s a new challenge for me, it’s a new project in a way and you need a certain mindset for it. And I’m absolutely ready for that at this stage of my career, where I’ve already gained quite a bit of experience.

“I absolutely feel that I have so much more to do to get better and so much more to give to this sport.

“As a driver, I think you never stop learning, as long as you want to. So of course, I’m always looking at areas that I can be better, and it truly feels like now I can just be the best version of myself instead of trying to be something else and trying too hard.

“But in the end, it’s going to be a team effort and I don’t see me as the only leader of the team. We’re in this together – that’s the feeling.”

Bottas’s start to pre-season running with Alfa Romeo did not go according to plan, as he managed just 54 laps across three days at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as Alfa Romeo struggled with both porpoising and various mechanical faults.

Lewis Hamilton ended three days of pre-season tests at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain on top with the fastest lap time and the 37-year-old spoke about his excitement at getting behind the wheel of the new cars.

He told the media: “Arriving and looking down the pit lane and seeing all the different cars, I think it’s one of the most exciting and interesting seasons that I’ve ever embarked upon.

“It will be interesting to see where everyone comes out and where we stand in the first race.”

“I think every year’s exciting,” he continued, “but of course [in] previous years it was an evolution of the previous year’s car, so in this one, it’s completely brand new. I’ve seen the designs of our car over several months, but now to see everyone’s car out there, you’re trying to get a close eye to see what is different, if there is anything, why certain teams have chosen a certain route in terms of sidepod design, front wing and the floor.

“So, I think it’s the most exciting [year], and again, you have absolutely no idea where you stand.”

The standings at the end of testing saw Hamilton on top on Day 3 with his teammate George Russell second on the timesheets ahead of the Official Pre-Season Test in Bahrain in March.

Michael Andretti is keeping his options open as he awaits the FIA’s decision about setting up a new F1 team for the 2024 season.

If the application is successful Andretti would have to pay a $200 million entry fee that would be split among the current 10 F1 teams and has admitted he does not personally have the funds but has enthusiastic partners backing Andretti Global.

"They want to do this and do it right and be competitive. They’re not in it to just be in it. They’re in sports already and they think Formula One is very attractive at the moment... the popularity in the U.S. growing. The timing is perfect." Andretti said, although he would not reveal his investors.

However, the preference for Andretti Global is to purchase a current team rather than start one from scratch and the company has reached out to Haas owner, Gene Haas, about a possible buyout.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, team Haas removed the logos of its Russian sponsor from its cars during F1’s preseason test in Spain while team principal Guenther Steiner said he was not sure if Russian driver Nikita Mazepin will be able to compete this season.

Steiner also said there had been no recent contact from either Michael or Mario Andretti, but Michael Andretti revealed that if Haas would sell to him, Andretti Global could be on the F1 grid next season.

"He doesn’t want to sell. If he wants to sell, tell him to call me. That makes it a lot easier for us," Andretti said.

"The last conversation I had with him was probably around October or November. He told me he didn’t care if he’s running in the back, says it works for him anyway.”

Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, believes that adding two more cars to the F1 grid would reduce the competition and revenue to teams but Michael Andretti doesn’t share that view saying:

"Toto’s going out there, ‘What do you bring to the table?’ I think we bring a lot, and I think we’ll bring a lot more than what we’ll be diluting.”

Andretti put forward the case of Formula One’s expansion in the United States – there are currently two US races planned this season with a third expected to be added to future calendars – as well as a huge rise in popularity thanks to Netflix docuseries ‘Drive to Survive’ which gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the sport.

“That’s our case. The American market is still untapped, but obviously with the Netflix series, that’s really brought a lot of popularity.” Andretti said.

“I believe we can bring more longevity to the Netflix series to have a real American team with an American driver. I believe with our brand, I think it could keep a lot of interest going for a lot more years."

F1 does not have an American driver, but Andretti hopes to bring in 21-year-old Californian Colton Herta should his plans for a new team progress to the next stage.

Andretti attempted to buy the Sauber team last year and would have put Herta in one of the cars had the deal not collapsed, prompting him to file the application with FIA in December.

1978 F1 champion, Mario Andretti, took to Twitter last week to outline his son’s plans for an expansion team revealing that Andretti Global had applied to the FIA to set up a new team in time for the 2024 season and was awaiting a decision.

His son, Michael Andretti, confirmed on Friday that his father revealed his Formula One aspirations to show the FIA that there is strong public support for a new team in the hope that motorsports’ governing body would come to a decision soon.

Amid preparations for IndyCar’s opener in St. Petersburg, Michael Andretti said he had expected FIA’s decision in January and that he and his father have grown restless as the application sits unresolved.

"I think we check every box," Michael Andretti said. "We’re a long way down the road with a manufacturer. There’s nothing that should us hold back from being accepted.

“But our thing is, the clock’s running, so we need to get this going ASAP. Because two years sounds like a long time. But it’s not a long time.

“We’ve got a lot to do, a lot to build. We’ve talked to a lot of people. They’re just sitting on the sideline waiting to see this thing go, and we can build a real credible team. I’m excited if we can get the approval, we can come in looking good.”