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Toto Wolff says talking about Red Bull chief Christian Horner is a waste of his time but believes Horner is “obsessed” with him; In 2022 Sky Sports interview, Horner said ‘it’s very easy to pull his chain’ when discussing Wolff

Toto Wolff believes he is living in Christian Horner’s head “rent free” and thinks speaking about the Red Bull chief is a “waste of time”.

The Mercedes chief and Horner have publicly sparred several times, with Horner making digs at Wolff during an award ceremony in December, joking that his rival was the Rookie of the Year at the Autosport Awards.

When asked about what he thinks of their rivalry during an interview with The Times, Wolff said: “I am living in his head rent-free. The guy is obsessed.

“Every second that I spend on talking about Horner is a waste of time in my life.”

The rivalry between the pair came to a head during the 2021 season when Mercedes and Red Bull were battling it out for the championship.

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There was certainly no love lost between Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and Red Bull boss Christian Horner during the 2021 title tussle

The season ended in controversial fashion, when Michael Masi made a contentious safety car decision which allowed Max Verstappen to beat Lewis Hamilton to the title.

Wolff opened up about the frustrations after the Abu Dhabi race and said the decision taken by Masi during the race breached the “principle of fairness”.

“At the end of the race, an individual (Masi, who has since been replaced) took decisions that were not reflected anywhere in the rule book and were so drastic that they made the outcome unbelievable.

“That is a moment when you fall out of love with the sport…the principle of fairness was breached.

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Take a look at some of the best overtakes from the 2022 season.

“The FIA took the guy out of the job because it was a human error. But it’s done and dusted now. I still think about it a lot, but not with anger; it is just incomprehensible how it came about.”

During the 2022 season, Wolff and Horner had disputes over bouncing cars, illegal flexible floors and the cost cap row.

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In August 2022, Martin Brundle spent time with Christian Horner at his country home to discuss all things Red Bull

Horner: It’s easy to pull Wolff’s chain!

During an exclusive interview with Sky Sports in August 2022, Horner was asked about his rivalry with Wolff and said “it’s very easy to pull his chain”.

“Toto is Toto. He’s done a phenomenal job with Mercedes. He’s obviously come into the sport from a very different background to me, he’s very much from a financial background,” he said.

“And it’s very easy to pull his chain, and you can see it. Sometimes it affects him. So of course when you’re competing, and last year was so intense and of course it was the first time he’d ever been in that situation, it’s always interesting to see how people react.

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Natalie Pinkham, Simon Lazenby, Karun Chandhok and David Croft select their favourite races, overtakes and most improved drivers and teams from Formula 1 2022.

“And when they’re smashing headphones and so on, you can see that you got to them.”

Asked if he thought he was a better team boss than Wolff, Horner added: “That’s not for me to judge…

“I’m focused on what I’m doing, you guys are judge and jury. Sometimes we get judged by Sky but that’s not for me… I’m focused on what I’m doing and he’s focused on what he’s doing.”

Logan Sargeant is the first American driver in Formula 1 since 2015 as he replaces Nicholas Latifi at Wiliams; there are three races in the United States in the 2023 Formula 1 calendar as the sport heads to Miami, Las Vegas and Austin

Entering the F1 paddock comes with an immense amount of pressure for any driver, none more so than Williams’ newest star Logan Sargeant.

Sargeant, 21, was revealed as the replacement for Nicholas Latifi at last year’s USA Grand Prix and as the only American in a sport that is taking off in the United States, he knows all eyes will be on him as he takes the next step in his career, his focus already switching to proving himself on motorsport’s biggest stage.

“Obviously it is super special to be the first American driver in a while,” said Sargeant.

“With three Grand Prixs [in America], that is going to be fun. Miami is just on my doorstep so I am really looking forward to that one.

“It is maybe a little bit of extra pressure, but, at the end of the day, I put a lot of pressure on myself and the expectations are high.

“We just need to get the job done.”

As he teams up with Alex Albon at Williams, Sargeant becomes the first American driver in the sport since Alexander Rossi in 2015, the last American to win a race being Mario Andretti back in 1978.

The pressure will be mounting as the season draws closer, but Sargeant has always made sure to remember he is living out his dream for a team who have supported him for so long.

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Sargeant finished fifth in the final F2 feature race of 2022 to secure his super licence

“It is definitely a dream come true. I feel like 16 years of hard work, the weight was lifted off my shoulders that we made it here,” he added.

“Then you immediately think, now the real work starts trying to keep my place in Formula 1 going forward.

“The stars definitely have to align and you have to be in the right place at the right time.

“Williams has supported me so much since the end of last year and they gave me so much confidence throughout the year that this seat was up for grabs if I did my job.

“Going into that last round, I needed to get my super licence and the pressure was on to maximise the weekend and we did.

“I am just looking forward to doing my best for them in the future.”

Williams team principal James Vowles denies Mercedes control rival F1 team

Newly-appointed Williams team principal James Vowles insists the team will not become a “mini-Mercedes” following his move from the Silver Arrows.

Williams announced on Friday that Vowles will take over as team principal on February 20 ahead of the new season, ending his 13-year run with Mercedes.

James Vowles (L) with Lewis Hamilton

Vowles, who departs his position as strategy director, provides a further link between the two teams, who are already tied by Mercedes having supplied Williams with engines since 2014.

Meanwhile, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is a former owner and director of the British team, and Silver Arrows driver George Russell spent three years at Williams before partnering Hamilton for the first time last season.

“I wouldn’t consider it a mini-Mercedes,” Vowles said on Friday. “Williams is an incredibly independent team in its own right, which has formed its own history, its own heritage.

Vowles had been at Mercedes since the team’s inception in 2010

“Williams is an entirely independent organisation, and furthermore, it’s one that my success is subject and dependent on me doing a good job there, and that has to be independent of Mercedes.

“It doesn’t mean that Mercedes and ourselves won’t have collaboration in some form or another, there was collaboration before I joined, but I have to do what is best for Williams from here onwards.”

Formula 1 opts not to replace Chinese GP, which was set for April 16 before its cancellation due to Covid measures; there will now be four-week gap between third and fourth races of season (Melbourne and Baku); all 23 races this year – an F1 record – live on Sky Sports F1

Formula 1 has formally confirmed a 23-race season for 2023 after opting not to replace the cancelled Chinese Grand Prix.

Discussions were held with numerous promoters about filling the April 16 slot – with Turkey and Portugal mooted – but the decision means there will be a four-week gap between the third and fourth rounds of the season.

The Australian GP takes place on April 2 and the Azerbaijan GP on April 30.

All 23 races – an F1 record – are live on Sky Sports F1.

An F1 statement read: “Formula 1 can confirm that the 2023 season will consist of 23 races.

“That means the season will kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5, and finish up in Abu Dhabi on November 26, with the brand new Las Vegas Grand Prix joining the calendar a week before the season finale.”

The Chinese GP was cancelled for the fourth year in a row at the beginning of December due to strict Covid measures.

The sport had been set to return to China for the first time since 2019 but with the country continuing to implement a zero-Covid policy, which has led to heavy restrictions and continued lockdown, F1 decided it was not feasible to hold a race at the Shanghai International Circuit.

F1 2023 starts with pre-season testing on February 23-25 before the first race of the season, the Bahrain GP, on March 5.

The 10 F1 teams will unveil their new cars in February ahead of a solitary sole pre-season test, which takes place over three days in Bahrain from February 23.

The confirmed 2023 calendar

March 5: Bahrain (Sakhir)
March 19: Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
April 2: Australia (Melbourne)
April 30: Azerbaijan (Baku)*
May 7: Miami (Miami)
May 21: Emilia Romagna (Imola)
May 28: Monaco (Monaco)
June 4: Spain (Barcelona)
June 18: Canada (Montreal)
July 2: Austria (Spielberg)*
July 9: Great Britain (Silverstone)
July 23: Hungary (Budapest)
July 30: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)*
August 27: Netherlands (Zandvoort)
September 3: Italy (Monza)
September 17: Singapore (Marina Bay)
September 24: Japan (Suzuka)
October 8: Qatar (Losail)*
October 22: USA (Austin)*
October 29: Mexico (Mexico City)
November 5: Brazil (Sao Paulo)*
November 18: Las Vegas
November 26: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

*indicates Sprint weekend

Red Bull are set to be the first team to launch their car for the 2023 Formula 1 season; the reigning drivers’ and constructors’ champions will reveal the RB19 in New York City on February 3

Reigning Formula 1 constructors’ champions Red Bull have announced they will launch their 2023 car in New York City on February 3.

With only two teams – Alfa Romeo and Haas – left to announce their launch dates, Red Bull’s RB19 is set to be the first 2023 car revealed.

The RB18 delivered a dominant season for Red Bull, ending Mercedes’ eight-year streak of constructors’ titles and helping Max Verstappen to his second successive drivers’ crown.

“The 3rd February is set to be our biggest launch yet, in the city that never sleeps, New York,” Red Bull said in a statement released on Friday.

“Not only is this going to be the first Formula 1 season launch to take place in the US, we’re also planning to make it the greatest in F1 history.”

Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri had previously confirmed that they would also launch their 2023 campaign in New York, but that event comes eight days later.

Verstappen produced a brilliant season-long display of driving, winning a record 15 races as he cruised to his second title.

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Relive how Verstappen won his second world title, as we look back at some key races from the 2022 season.

Red Bull were similarly dominant in the constructors’ contest, beating second-placed Ferrari by 205 points.

Verstappen’s dominance in 2022 allowed the team to start work early on their 2023 car, but they will also be coping with a loss of development time after being punished for breaching F1’s cost cap in 2021.

What changes are there on the cars and when’s testing?

While there is no rules overhaul for next year like there was for 2022, there are subtle changes to the rules and cars that teams can take advantage of.

The most notable is a higher ride height, which is primarily to help with porpoising but could also see teams find performance.

There is one pre-season test this year, in Bahrain, on February 23-25.

The 2023 season starts in earnest the week after pre-season testing at the same Sakhir circuit, on March 3-5.

The series will start in 2023 and F1 says it will be an ‘extra route’ for young women alongside W Series, the all-female championship that is aiming to return for a fourth season next year despite having its 2022 campaign shortened amid financial difficulties

ART, Campos, Carlin, MP motorsport and Prema have all been announced as teams for the F1 Academy – an all-female driver championship.

The five teams all have impressive pedigrees in multiple junior categories.

Last season, ART Grand Prix took Victor Martins to the Formula 3 crown, Prema Racing became F3 Team Champions, MP Motorsport secured both Driver and Teams Championships in Formula 2, Carlin finished second in the F2 Teams’ Championship with Logan Sargeant and and Campos Racing reigned supreme in Spanish F4 in 2022.

The series will start in 2023 and F1 say it will be an ‘extra route’ up the motorsport pyramid for young women alongside W Series, the similarly all-female championship that is aiming to return for a fourth season next year despite having its 2022 campaign shortened amid financial difficulties.

It is hoped the F1 Academy will quickly see a woman progress into Formula 3, and help Formula 2 and Formula 1 opportunities in the future.

The last female to race in F1 was Lella Lombardi back in 1976.

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Stefano Domenicali talks of Formula 1’s own all-female driver category, the F1 Academy, which the sport hopes will eventually lead to a woman racer on the grid.

The driver line-up and calendar will be announced in the next few months.

The F1 Academy will feature five teams, run by current F2 and F3 teams, with three cars each to make up a 15-car grid. The inaugural season will have 21 races, with seven three-race events, and is likely to include at least F1 race weekend.

Like W Series, all drivers will compete in the same Formula 4 chassis.

F1 say they will be providing funding of €150,000 (£130,000) for each car, which will need to be matched by drivers to enter. They say that is a ‘fraction of the usual costs to enter comparable series’, and the rest of the budget will be provided by the teams.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “It is exciting to be able to announce the five teams that will be racing in the F1 Academy for next year and who will be providing this fantastic opportunity to the young and talented women to begin their journey into competitive motorsport. We believe it is important that everyone has the chance to follow their ambitions and get the support and guidance needed to progress and excel.

“The F1 Academy is an important part of our plan to increase diversity and representation in motorsport and we are looking forward to the first season in 2023 and stay tuned for more news in this area.”

Jamie Chadwick hopeful W Series and F1 Academy can ‘co-exist’

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Could former W Series and IndyCar’s Jamie Chadwick be the first female since the 1970s to compete in Formula One?

Three-time champion Jamie Chadwick says she hopes the W Series “can survive and continue” alongside Formula 1’s newly-announced category for women.

“It (W Series) has been a life-changing opportunity for me over the past few years and for the other girls as well and everyone else involved in the series,” Chadwick told Sky Sports News.

“It’s proven to be a very positive platform in providing these chances for us all to go racing. I really hope it can survive and continue on next year.”

Chadwick, who will not compete in either of the all-female categories next year after signing a deal to make her American racing series debut in Indy NXT, is hopeful W Series and F1 academy can both thrive.

“From my side, I think anything we can to do to encourage more girls into the sport is key,” she said. “I think the fact that F1 have created a new opportunity for drivers to be doing that is fantastic.

“I’d love to see that alongside W Series as well, and we can see more and more young girls get involved in the sport as a result of it.”