Wolff and Horner arrived at F1’s headquarters at St James’s Market on Monday awaiting the outcome of the FIA’s inquiry into last year’s controversial finale, which saw Max Verstappen take the world championship.

But two months and three days after the contentious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – a race Lewis Hamilton said was “manipulated” following Michael Masi’s handling of a late safety car period – the Australian’s fate is seemingly to be determined, while the FIA’s investigation is still ongoing.

Hamilton’s title battle with Verstappen spilled over into the paddock last season, creating an ugly atmosphere between Mercedes and Red Bull.

The Alpine Academy have confirmed their driver line-up for 2022 with the addition of Formula 3 vice-champion Jack Doohan and F3 race-winner Olli Caldwell, while Victor Martins and Caio Collet will return.

Alpine will reveal their new car for 2022, the A522, on 21 February, and the future looks bright with Australian racer Doohan after his second-place finish to Champion Dennis Hauger in F3 last year.

While Caldwell arrives after a promising campaign in 2021 with PREMA Racing in F3, notching one victory and four podiums to conclude the year in P8.

“We are only measured by our success on track and our goal as an Academy is always to win the Championships our drivers are competing in. Jack is fresh from finishing as runner-up in Formula 3 showing his raw speed in the Championship and again in his debut in Formula 2 last year,” said Alpine Academy Director Mia Sharizman.

“While Olli comes into the Academy after a solid year in F3 where he managed four podium finishes and a race win. We accept it might take a few races for the two of them to adjust to their new surroundings, but we’re confident they will hit the ground running towards the second half of the season.

“For Victor and Caio, they know it’s time to deliver and fight for the F3 title this season after a strong first year in the series. They’ve been part of the Academy for four years and have shown strong development in every season. Victor won his first race last year and Caio scored some strong results. We are excited for both seasons to start next month.”

McLaren’s chief executive officer Zak Brown maintains Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo are in great shape heading into the 2022 F1 season.

After Norris’ contract extension and Ricciardo returning home to Australia in the off-season Brown gave an update on both drivers.

“We are committed to him [Norris], he’s committed to us, he’s part of the family. It’s where he’s grown up and I think he’s obviously bought into the journey we are on,” said the American.

“He wants to be part of it, so hopefully we can win some World Championships together.

“Daniel hadn’t been home to Australia for, I think, close to two years, so he went there and quarantined for a couple of weeks and he’s come back and I think he’s raring to go.”

McLaren’s chief executive officer Zak Brown is bullish about the team’s hopes heading into the 2022 Formula 1 season as they have the “right people” in place.

After the long-term commitment of Lando Norris, joining Daniel Ricciardo on the grid, plus team principal Andreas Seidl, Brown maintains they have “all the resources they need”.

“All our CapEx projects are well under way, we’ve got two great drivers who aren’t inexpensive. Myself, Andreas and all of our leadership team have all signed up for the long term,” Brown added.

“So we have what we need, we are very focused, we have the right people, the right investment, the right shareholders, the right drivers. Now we just need a little bit of time.”

Lando Norris maintains Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen was “naturally born in the zone”.

After a maiden F1 crown, the Belgian-Dutch driver maintains he could live his life freely without the trophy as it has and will not change his life, meaning he feels less pressure on the track.

““No, no I think he’s in the zone 24/7 to be honest. He’s just naturally born in the zone, that’s just the type of guy he is, or there’s just no zone for him, everything is just life,” Norris told Talk Sport.

“If he’s second he’s definitely not going to be as happy, but I think maybe in 10 or 20 years time he’s not going to be thinking about if he was first or second.

“So yeah, it’s tough to say, Max is Max so no one really knows.”

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko maintains that the team’s RB18 launch last week was mostly due to sponsorship partners and that there are more updates to come to ensure they hit the ground running in the season opener in Bahrain.

“That was a presentation for the time being,” Marko clarified. “It’s especially important for our partners.

“The first roll-out will take place later. And until the first race in Bahrain, there will be some changes.

“We don’t reveal everything at the presentation, there are still some updates to come.”

Red Bull are still facing “two or three big hurdles” ahead of the new season.

After Max Verstappen’s world title last season, Red Bull are under pressure to continue their excellence and provide the Belgian-Dutch driver with the tools to deliver more trophies.

But Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is concerned at the challenges still ahead, telling Austrian publication Kleine Zeitung: “We faced two or three big hurdles [in preparing for 2022].

“It was the biggest change in regulations in the last 15 or 20 years. All the new designs and planning had to be done within the budget cap, and then we were fighting for a World Championship and had to move the new car forward at the same time.”

Mercedes have dropped their biggest hint yet over Lewis Hamilton future.

The Briton is yet to officially confirm his return to the sport, but the Silver Arrows have continued to hint at the seven-time champion’s return after being controversially beaten in the final lap of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes shared an image last week of Hamilton alongside a wall of messages of support to celebrate his return before the launch of the W13 and now they have gone one further by tweeting the words “44 is back”.

Max Verstappen’s confidence is “sky-high” ahead of his Formula 1 title defence.

“For Max, he was just phenomenal last year, an outstanding season. He dominated,” said Team Principal Christian Horner at the launch of the RB18, Red Bull’s new car for the 2022 season.

“The amount of laps led, 10 grand prix victories and, of course, the world championship, so his confidence is going to be sky-high.

“So he’s looking to build on those performances in 2022.”

Michael Masi’s future as Formula One’s race director remains in the balance following a crunch meeting of the sport’s major players in London on Monday.

But two months and two days after the contentious Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – a race Hamilton said was “manipulated” following Masi’s handling of a late safety car period – the Australian’s fate is seemingly still to be determined.

FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem chaired the four-hour summit and is expected to address the continued fallout from Abu Dhabi later this week.

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