Autosport 23/12/21

There were many remarkable moments in motorsport in 2021. There were some great passing moves, incredible finishes and, of course, lots of controversy – both on the track and behind closed doors. We’ve picked out the best and worst moments in our special cover feature on page 18, an article that was in part inspired by an email to Autosport from 2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg about his (newly crowned) Extreme E star Johan Kristoffersson! As well as selecting the top 10 drivers from the Formula 2 and F3 championships this year (p28), we look back at the first time a Verstappen raced (and beat) Lewis Hamilton (p64), while Gary Watkins talks to some drivers who seemed to have missed their chance in motorsport, only to bounce back years later. We’ve…

FORMULA 1 Mercedes last week left it until the final hours to drop plans to take further action over the controversial finish to the Formula 1 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after the FIA announced that it would be launching an investigation into the affair. Following Mercedes’ unsuccessful post-race protest over race director Michael Masi’s last-lap restart, which ended in the team’s Lewis Hamilton losing the championship to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, it lodged its intention to appeal the ruling with the FIA. The move bought Mercedes more time to evaluate whether or not to proceed with action. It announced last Thursday – just hours before the start of the FIA prizegiving and gala, where Verstappen received the world championship trophy – that it had withdrawn its appeal. This came after…

FIA Former rally driver Mohammed ben Sulayem has been elected as the new president of the FIA, taking over from the outgoing Jean Todt after the Frenchman’s 12 years at the helm. Ben Sulayem, 60, won 61.6% of the vote at the FIA’s General Assembly to defeat Graham Stoker, who served as the FIA’s deputy president for sport under Todt. Stoker recorded 36.6% of votes, while abstentions were recorded at 1.8%. Emirati ben Sulayem’s lengthy career in rallying provided 14 FIA Middle East Rally Championship titles before he moved into governance. He was the first Arab to be elected to the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, and previously served as vice-president for sport with the FIA. His election represents a break with the past, since he becomes the first non-European to serve as president…

FORMULA 1 Formula 1 concluded its on-track running in 2021 with a two-day test in Abu Dhabi last week, featuring a number of new names and next year’s 18-inch tyres. The action at the Yas Marina circuit last Tuesday and Wednesday was split between teams running modified ‘mule cars’ for the new rubber, and 2021 cars for young drivers. It represented the final chance for teams to get to grips with the 18-inch tyres – up from 13-inches – after almost two years of test running with Pirelli. The new rubber will be introduced next year as part of the technical overhaul for F1, and is designed to ensure that drivers can push throughout a stint, as well as avoiding overheating issues and offering a mix of one and two-stop strategies. The test also…

FORMULA 1 Formula 1 chiefs have confirmed that the MGU-H will be dropped from power units from 2026 as part of a new rules shake-up. The complicated technology, which generates electrical power from exhaust heat, has proven to be expensive and complex since it formed part of the turbo-hybrid rules that were introduced in 2014. With F1 eager to attract new manufacturers from 2026, the MGU-H was viewed as a key part of the discussions. The Volkswagen Group, which is poised to enter F1 with either its Audi or Porsche marques, was reluctant to enter if the MGU-H remained. During subsequent discussions between the current engine suppliers and VW, it was agreed that the MGU-H could be dropped if other elements were put forward, such as a cost cap to ensure that new…

WEC Oliver Jarvis and Alex Lynn will be rivals in the IMSA SportsCar Championship next season driving for Acura and Cadillac respectively. But the British pair will be teaming up in the World Endurance Championship with United Autosports. New Wayne Taylor Racing Acura driver Jarvis and Lynn, who will be racing a Chip Ganassi Racing Caddy, were announced last week as team-mates in one of two ORECA-Gibson 07 LMP2s that United will field in the WEC in 2022. They will share with silver-rated American Josh Pierson, who is on course to become the youngest driver to participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Both Jarvis and Lynn have made one-off appearances for United: Jarvis at Fuji in 2019 and Lynn at Le Mans this year (above). United team principal Richard Dean described Jarvis and…