F1 LIVE: Lewis Hamilton hits out at Mercedes as Ferrari launch probe following Bahrain GP

Lewis Hamilton has yet to resolve his future fully in terms of a new contract with Mercedes, but he has insisted his plan remains to compete and win an eighth world title, as revealed during an interesting lie-detector test.

The British driver took part in the test before the 2023 season-opener at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Meanwhile, there’s a question mark over whether he’ll extend his stay with his current team amid their dismal start to the new campaign.

Hamilton has now also suggested he told Mercedes about his fears for the car this year but they were not heeded.

Elsewhere, Nico Rosberg has taken aim at the team, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is being championed as a potential new F1 chief, Max Verstappen is basking in the glory of his first win of the season and Aston Martin’s great start has been widely met with acclaim.

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F1 NEWS AND UPDATES
Lewis Hamilton hits out at Mercedes for ‘not listening’ over W14 concerns
INTERVIEW: Sky F1 presenter on life in the paddock and a run-in with Bernie Ecclestone
Red Bull’s Christian Horner backed to be F1 CEO over current boss Stefano Domenicali

Christian Horner hails ‘phenomenal’ start for Red Bull - but warns there are tougher tests to come
15:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleMax Verstappen’s pursuit of a third consecutive Drivers’ Championship got off to the perfect start at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Dutchman cruising to victory with limited opposition. It bodes well for Red Bull as they seek another season of dominance, pleasing Christian Horner - though the team principal has warned his team that there are sterner tests to come.“[It was] a phenomenal performance by the whole team [and] back at base to provide a competitive car like we’ve got to start here,” said Horner after Verstappen’s win.“It was a well-executed Grand Prix and, after last year, coming away with zero points, to have 43 on the board feels like a good response.“Let’s see in Jeddah in two weeks, Melbourne after that. I think once we’ve got two or three circuits under our belt, we’ll get a much better picture of strengths and weaknesses of our car and our opposition.“People have a very short memory in this business. You’re as good as your last race. Today we’re heroes, tomorrow it could be Ferrari, it could be Mercedes, it could be Aston Martin.”Verstappen cruises to victory at Bahrain GP as Alonso claims stunning podium

Nico Hulkenberg was going through tyres ‘like a hot knife through butter’ at Bahrain Grand Prix
14:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleNico Hulkenberg has said that the was going through tyres “like a hot knife through butter” after a 15th-placed finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix.The veteran Haas driver made contact with Esteban Ocon early in the race at the Sakhir Circuit and never fully recovered.Having qualified tenth on his return to the Formula 1 grid, a five place in-race drop represented a tough outing for Hulkenberg.“Yeah, a tricky race, especially in the first half,” he said on Sunday. “Apparently, I had some contact with someone… on Lap 1, which I didn’t even really notice. So that’s a bit frustrating, and I think I had some stuff missing from the front wing and lost a lot of load from that, and grip… so that made the first half of the race very, very tough.“We tried to hang in there but I was just going through my tyres like a hot knife through butter. I think in the middle of the race we thought there was no point continuing like that – [so I] pitted for a new front wing.”

‘I told them’: Lewis Hamilton criticises Mercedes for ‘not listening’ over W14 problems
14:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleLewis Hamilton has claimed that Mercedes “didn’t listen” to his concerns about the team’s new W14 car.Hopes for an improved campaign for the team have been dented by a slow start to the season, with George Russell and Hamilton off-the-pace throughout the season-opening weekend in Bahrain.The seven-time world champion eventually came home fifth at the Sakhir Circuit, two places ahead of his teammate.Mercedes dealt with major performance problems in 2022, with their W13 vehicle struggling particularly with ‘porpoising’, and it appears that off-season tweaks have not significantly altered the car’s competitiveness.Hamilton has now suggested that the team ignored his concerns, calling for “accountability” and a collective effort to solve their problems.“Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car,” Hamilton said to the BBC. “Like, I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need.And I think it’s really about accountability, it’s about owning up and saying ‘yeah, you know what, we didn’t listen to you, it’s not where it needs to be and we’ve got to work’.”Lewis Hamilton hits out at Mercedes for ‘not listening’ over W14

Sky F1 presenter Rachel Brookes on life in the paddock and a run-in with Bernie Ecclestone
14:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle“I’ve got to know the drivers and their personalities pretty well now. Sometimes, Max Verstappen can give one-word answers so you’ve got to keep pushing whereas if Lewis [Hamilton] gives a one-word answer, let him go because he’s not going to change. But they both know me well enough now that they know I have to push them sometimes.“But we’ve all seen things online which haven’t been very pleasant. I tend to think if you believe the good you have to believe the bad, so I’d rather not believe any of it. It’s easier just to draw a line through it and say it’s fine, everyone is entitled to an opinion.“Abuse we don’t stand for and it’s not welcome in Formula 1. I’ve definitely seen a divide recently among the fans but if I’m getting 50/50 then I’m probably doing my job right.“I don’t have notifications on for Twitter so sometimes after a race I’ll wait a few days. But also I’m always willing to learn and if someone genuinely has a point, I’ll take it on board.”In an interview with Kieran Jackson, Sky presenter Rachel Brookes reveals the challenges of interviewing drivers and why she feels it can sometimes be best to ignore social media criticism.Exclusive: Sky F1’s Rachel Brookes on paddock life and a run-in with Bernie

Lando Norris ‘will be thinking’ about move to Ferrari or Red Bull
14:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleMcLaren’s Lando Norris may already be thinking about a move to Ferrari or Red Bull, Karun Chandhok believes.Norris came home last of the 17th finishers in Bahrain after pitting six times during the course of an issue-plagued race.It represented a disappointing start to the season for the 23-year-old, tipped as a potential future world champion but yet to achieve a victory in the sport.Sky Sports’ analyst Chandhok thinks that Norris could be looking at potential destinations that may give him a better chance of fulfilling his ambitions.“I tell you who will be thinking about a move to Ferrari or Red Bull is young Lando Norris,” Chandhok said on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast.“Looking at where they’re [McLaren] at, and we were talking before the season of McLaren locking him in and Zak [Brown] doing an amazing job of contracting him [Norris] in for that four-year period.“I do wonder, and if they’re smart they would have created some sort of exit clauses.“For example, McLaren don’t finish in the top four of the Constructors’ Championship two years in a row, is there an option for Lando to look elsewhere?“Because outside of the traditional top three teams, you’ve got Fernando [Alonso] and Lando who are your top two drivers on the grid aren’t they? And the fact he [Norris] is fighting to even get a car into Q3, there’s got to be a bit of frustration there I would imagine.”

How Aston Martin eclipsed Mercedes and Ferrari after Fernando Alonso’s podium in Bahrain
13:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlonso’s success was the standout story of the opening weekend of the 2023 F1 season, the Spanish driver producing a vintage performance in an Aston Martin car that looks properly competitive.But how have Lawrence Stroll’s team engineered such a turnaround, and what might yet be possible?How Aston Martin eclipsed Mercedes and Ferrari after Fernando Alonso’s podium

Bernie Ecclestone backs Christian Horner to become F1 chief executive
13:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleChristian Horner has been backed to become the next CEO of Formula 1 – by the sport’s former supremo Bernie Ecclestone.Horner, the boss at Red Bull, is the sport’s longest serving team principal having been in charge of the current world champions since 2005.The 49-year-old executive is overseeing Red Bull’s current domination of the sport, having won both world championships at a canter last year and claiming a one-two finish at the 2023 season-opener on Sunday with Max Verstappen, the double world champion, triumphant in Bahrain.But Ecclestone – who caused controversy last year after stating he would “take a bullet” for Russian president Vladimir Putin – insists Horner should aim for the sport’s top job next.“If you had to pick anyone today, I’d say he [Horner] would be as good as there is,” 92-year-old Ecclestone told The Telegraph.Kieran Jackson has the full story on a bold suggestion. Red Bull’s Christian Horner backed to be F1 CEO over current boss Stefano Domenicali

‘An awesome first day in the office’: Rookie Sargeant enjoys strong debut
12:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe best finisher of the three F1 rookies on the starting grid at Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix was Logan Sargeant, who recorded a credible finish in 12th as he made his debut in the sport. The 22-year-old impressed in his sole Formula 2 season last year, becoming the first American to take a race victory in the series, and is hopeful that he can build on an enjoyable start to life at Williams.“I think considering it was my first race I’m pretty happy with it,” said Sargeant. “I achieved everything I wanted to, I got a clean start, a good first lap and from there just settled in and did my best to just maintain good pace, get a few overtakes, worked on my pit stops and everything went smoothly. So it was an awesome first day in the office and I’m really looking forward to Saudi.”

Fernando Alonso reveals Aston Martin plan after ‘perfect start’
12:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleFernando Alonso has hailed the perfect start to life at Aston Martin as he celebrated an “unreal” podium at the Bahrain Grand Prix.Alonso said his third place at Formula One’s season-opener would have been considered unthinkable eight months ago when he turned his back on Alpine to replace four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel.Aston Martin finished only seventh in both 2021 and 2022, but Alonso, 41, who has so often found himself in the right team at the wrong time, suddenly has a car to compete at the sharp end of the grid.“It’s a perfect start for this project,” said Alonso, who won the last of his back-to-back world titles in 2006.“We didn’t expect to be this competitive. The aim this year was to get in the mix with the midfield, maybe leading that midfield, and get close to the top three teams.“Even a podium was not on the radar. But today we found ourselves with the second best car in Bahrain, just behind Red Bull. It is unreal and unthinkable eight months ago.“We are extremely proud, and if we are strong in the next two races, we will have a very good 2023.”Fernando Alonso reveals Aston Martin plan after ‘perfect start’

Mercedes to ditch this season’s car as Toto Wolff makes frank F1 title admission
12:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleToto Wolff has revealed that Mercedes will ditch this season’s car before a race has even taken place.Defending champion Max Verstappen picked up where he left off to take pole position for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix, with Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez joining him on the front row.Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will start third and fourth for Ferrari, while Fernando Alonso took fifth spot for Aston Martin.But George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will start only sixth and seventh respectively as the Mercedes men finished more than six tenths behind Verstappen.On Friday, a gloomy Hamilton said his team are on the “wrong track”, had fallen further behind his rivals and questioned whether Mercedes’ concept will allow him to compete for a record eighth world championship.And 24 hours later, team principal Wolff remarkably conceded that the Silver Arrows, the constructor which once dominated the sport, will have to abandon their controversial zero-sidepod concept in order to challenge again.“I don’t think that this package is going to be competitive eventually,” said Wolff.“We gave it our best go over the winter and now we all just need to regroup, sit down with the engineers, be totally non-dogmatic and ask what is the development direction we want to pursue in order to be able to win races.Mercedes to ditch this season’s car as Toto Wolff makes frank F1 title admission

Rachel Brookes on life in the paddock and a run-in with Bernie Ecclestone
11:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle“I have seen it change – there’s a lot more women now working in all sports as well as Formula 1,”“I haven’t seen any barriers in F1. I think the audience sometimes has a more negative view and you have to actually persuade them that you’re there for the right reasons and on merit.“We’ve been seen as such an elitist sport in the past because of all the money, people didn’t think they could buy into it – but they do now and that’s brilliant.”For International Women’s Day, Sky Sports’ Rachel Brookes speaks to Kieran Jackson:Exclusive: Sky F1’s Rachel Brookes on paddock life and a run-in with Bernie

‘Pioneer’ Susie Wolff named managing director of all-female series
11:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleInternational Women’s Day is a useful reminder that Formula 1, and motorsport generally, has a long way to go when it comes to gender representation, but there are encouraging signs of progress despite the apparent, disappointing demise of the W Series. A number of groups are looking to develop a generation of female drivers that should make their mark on the grid, including F1 themselves - with Susie Wolff’s installed as managing director of the F1 Academy last week.‘Pioneer’ Susie Wolff named managing director of all-female series

Ferrari chief orders ‘full investigation’ into Charles Leclerc retirement
11:18 , Harry Latham-CoyleFrederic Vasseur, the new Ferrari team principal, has ordered a “full investigation” to find out what caused Charles Leclerc’s retirement in Bahrain.Vasseur succeeded Mattia Binotto during the winter and is adjusting to life at the Italian team, who took only 12 points from the season opening weekend at the Sakhir Circuit.Admitting that Leclerc’s problem came entirely unexpectedly, Vassuer has explained to the official Formula 1 website that Ferrari have not uet settled on the cause of the issue.“We never expected to have something like this because it’s the first time that we have had it and we haven’t faced the same issue at all during the six or seven thousand kilometres that we did with the engine last week, with the three teams [Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Haas], and… with the dyno. Again we did need to do a full investigation before we give you an answer,” Vasseur said.“We had an issue on the engine and we have to investigate to understand what exactly has happened. It’s not the engine itself, but it’s an accessory. I would say that it’s a shame but it’s the real picture of the situation… it is what it is.”

Who are the drivers on the 2023 Formula 1 grid?
11:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd, since we are still very much in the first phase of this nascent Formula 1 season, here’s a reminder of how the 2023 grid looks, with a number of notable offseason moves to be aware of:Who are the drivers on the 2023 F1 grid?

F1 Fantasy: How to play and top tips ahead of 2023 season
10:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleLeclerc’s retirement will also have come as a blow to any keen F1 Fantasy players hoping the Ferrari man might be able to challenge Max Verstappen for the world title this year.How are things looking, fantasy fans? Did you back Fernando Alonso to make a superb start as The Independent suggested ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix? F1 Fantasy: How to play and top tips ahead of 2023 season

Charles Leclerc reacts to disappointing start to season at Bahrain Grand Prix
10:37 , Harry Latham-CoyleMercedes weren’t the only team to endure a difficult day in Bahrain on Sunday. While running in third place, Charles Leclerc was forced to retire after an engine problem struck his Ferrari, costing the Monegasque driver a chance of points.Charles Leclerc reacts after devastating end to Bahrain Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton’s one-word answer reveals intent over F1 future
10:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleNot that Hamilton would necessarily agree with Hill’s assessment - the Mercedes driver has heavily hinted that he remains as intent as ever on chasing that eighth Drivers’ Championship crown. Subjecting himself to a lie detector test with Sky Sports, the topic of Hamilton’s future predictably came up.

Damon Hill reveals theory on Lewis Hamilton’s contract stand-off with Mercedes
10:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe seven-time world champion is also not yet believed to have committed to a new contract that would keep him on the grid beyond the end of this season. Now there may still be every chance that Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton are able to agree to terms, but fellow British Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill has his own theory on the stand-off, writing last week that it could hint at an uncertain future for Hamilton in the sport...Damon Hill reveals theory on Lewis Hamilton’s contract stand-off with Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton is in the shape of his life but it may not matter for Mercedes
10:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleMercedes’ problems will particularly frustrate Lewis Hamilton, of course, with time running out for the 38-year-old to surpass Michael Schumacher with an eighth world title and the title of the outright most successful driver in F1 history. As Kieran Jackson outlines, the British driver still appears in great shape, but that may not matter. Lewis Hamilton is in the shape of his life – but will it all be in vain?

Mercedes problems - is a ‘Plan B’ car even possible?
09:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleYes, debate continues over how Mercedes might go about salvaging what could be another lost campaign for the team that has so dominated the sport over the last decade. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s performances at the Sakhir Circuit did not suggest they will be regular race challenges in 2023, and Hamilton’s comments this morning suggest all may not be particularly well in the Mercedes camp.But is switching to ‘Plan B’ possible? Kieran Jackson, The Independent’s Formula 1 correspondent, explores the conundrum facing Mercedes.Can Mercedes even build a ‘Plan B’ car in time to salvage season?

Nico Rosberg gives damning verdict of Mercedes after Bahrain Grand Prix
09:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleNico Rosberg insists Mercedes’ car concept is “in a river” as the team revealed they are set to change course just one race into the new Formula 1 season.Mercedes decided to stick with their unique ‘no-sidepod’ design this year despite a troubled 2022 in which they only won a single race and finished third in the Constructors’ Championship.However, after a tricky testing period, the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix saw Mercedes lose around a second-a-lap compared to the victorious Red Bulls out in front, while a rejuvenated Aston Martin also had more pace than Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.As such, team boss Toto Wolff says the team will have to change their philosophy if they want to be competitive and Rosberg – who won his World Championship in 2016 with Mercedes before retiring – has concerns about how quickly Mercedes can reverse their fortunes in an era of cost-cap.“Toto Wolff said that this concept won’t go any further – that’s a big statement,” Rosberg told Sky F1.“You have to take a step back this year and then start with the new concept already preparing for the new year.“I don’t want to be in those shoes. The problem is you can’t just put new sidepods on it and then it works. The whole car is in a river. The whole car has to change.Nico Rosberg doesn’t hold back in damning verdict of Mercedes after Bahrain GP

Red Bull’s Christian Horner backed to be F1 CEO over current boss Stefano Domenicali
09:30 , Karl MatchettChristian Horner has been backed to become the next CEO of Formula 1 – by the sport’s former supremo Bernie Ecclestone.Horner, the boss at Red Bull, is the sport’s longest serving team principal having been in charge of the current world champions since 2005.The 49-year-old executive is overseeing Red Bull’s current domination of the sport, having won both world championships at a canter last year and claiming a one-two finish at the 2023 season-opener on Sunday with Max Verstappen, the double world champion, triumphant in Bahrain.But Ecclestone – who caused controversy last year after stating he would “take a bullet” for Russian president Vladimir Putin – insists Horner should aim for the sport’s top job next.Full report:Red Bull’s Christian Horner backed to be F1 CEO over current boss Stefano Domenicali

Rachel Brookes: Sky F1 presenter on life in the paddock and a run-in with Bernie Ecclestone
09:15 , Karl MatchettFor International Women’s Day, Rachel Brookes details life in the fast lane with F1 in an exclusive interview with the Independent’s Formula One correspondent, Kieran Jackson:A survey published last week by Females in Motorsport revealed women spoke for just 1.54 per cent of the run time in the new season of Drive to Survive on Netflix, totalling six minutes and seven seconds out of more than six-and-a-half hours. Curious, too, when you consider the emphasis throughout Formula 1 on increasing opportunities and visibility for women, despite a woman not competing in the sport since 1976.Yet look in the paddock or on your screens and women are present. Not enough yet, as Drive to Survive’s inadequate representation infers, but they’re in attendance. Rachel Brookes, heading into her 12th year as a reporter and presenter for Sky Sports F1, is one such face, refreshingly familiar for all UK fans of the sport.Swapping duties with Natalie Pinkham and Simon Lazenby, the 48-year-old is a well-respected and trusted voice not just for the viewers at home, but for the drivers in the paddock too. This year, she will be at 19 out of a record 23 races, starting with Saudi Arabia next week. Speaking with passion about a job she adores, Brookes is insistent that F1 is improving when it comes to female representation.“I have seen it change – there’s a lot more women now working in all sports as well as Formula 1,” she says.“It’s been really positive. One of the first things Sky did was send me out to cover cricket, they’d never had a women on the boundary edge before doing live match updates but I loved it.“I haven’t seen any barriers in F1. I think the audience sometimes has a more negative view and you have to actually persuade them that you’re there for the right reasons and on merit.“We’ve been seen as such an elitist sport in the past because of all the money, people didn’t think they could buy into it – but they do now and that’s brilliant.”Read the full interview here:Exclusive: Sky F1’s Rachel Brookes on paddock life and a run-in with Bernie

How Aston Martin eclipsed Mercedes and Ferrari after Fernando Alonso’s podium in Bahrain
09:05 , Karl MatchettFernando Alonso provided the spark to Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix by finishing third on his Aston Martin debut.The 41-year-old Spaniard fought his way past Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in the closing stages to cap a brilliant drive, as Max Verstappenled home a Red Bull one-two at the front.Lance Stroll also finished sixth - ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell - on a dream day for the Silverstone-based team.Here, we take a look at how Aston Martin have made such an improvement in the off-season - and what they could achieve this year:How Aston Martin eclipsed Mercedes and Ferrari after Fernando Alonso’s podium

Hamilton hits out at Mercedes for ‘not listening’ over W14 problems
08:58 , Karl MatchettLewis Hamilton has claimed that Mercedes “didn’t listen” to his concerns about the team’s new W14 car.Hopes for an improved campaign for the team have been dented by a slow start to the season, with George Russell and Hamilton off-the-pace throughout the season-opening weekend in Bahrain.The seven-time world champion eventually came home fifth at the Sakhir Circuit, two places ahead of his teammate.Mercedes dealt with major performance problems in 2022, with their W13 vehicle struggling particularly with ‘porpoising’, and it appears that off-season tweaks have not significantly altered the car’s competitiveness. Hamilton has now suggested that the team ignored his concerns, calling for “accountability” and a collective effort to solve their problems.Read more here:Lewis Hamilton hits out at Mercedes for ‘not listening’ over W14