As in every summer, there will be wild speculation in Formula 1 again in 2022. Does Mick Schumacher have to leave the premier class again after only two seasons? Will Sebastian Vettel get a new job after retiring? Is there a big earthquake at Ferrari? These are the ten hottest rumors in F1.
What’s next for Mick Schumacher? The future of the 23-year-old in the premier class is in danger: According to RTL / ntv information, Schumacher will not get a new contract with Haas during the summer break for the time being. Team boss Günther Steiner says he is no longer in a hurry to talk. So it’s clear: In the second half of the season, in the nine remaining races, Mick is fighting for his future with the US racing team.
New job for Sebastian Vettel in Formula 1? Sebastian Vettel is certain that he will no longer be in a Formula 1 car in 2023. It is possible that the 35-year-old will remain in the motorsport premier class after his departure from Aston Martin. According to “Sport Bild”, series boss Stefano Domenicali is said to have already offered him an unspecified job in Formula 1 management. There should also be inquiries from the IndyCar series.
Is Mattia Binotto on the brink of extinction at Ferrari? With a competitive car, Ferrari scores far too few points this season. Technical defects are always paired with catastrophic tactical decisions. That’s why team boss Mattia Binotto is coming under more and more pressure. Italian media herald the swan song for the Ferrari boss, who is still in the saddle, but maybe not at the end of the season.
What’s next for Guanyu Zhou at Alfa? For a long time, Alfa Romeo claimed to be very satisfied with rookie Guanyu Zhou. Nevertheless, the Chinese is probably on the ejection seat. Zhou recently confirmed that he had not yet held any contract talks with Alfa Romeo. That fueled rumors about his possible exit. Above all, Formula 2 driver Théo Pourchaire is traded as the successor at the traditional Swiss racing team.
Will Oscar Piastri get a cockpit? And if so, which one? Top talent Oscar Piastri and Alpine provided the craziest story of the season so far. The French racing team initially announced the youngster single-handedly as the new driver for 2023. But Piastri publicly denied the agreement. The Australian would rather go to McLaren and probably already agrees with the British. There he could inherit Daniel Ricciardo if McLaren agrees on a severance payment with the veteran.
Who will succeed Fernando Alonso? The departure of Fernando Alonso at Alpine came as a surprise. The Spaniard will be in the cockpit for Aston Martin in the future and will take over the car from Vettel. Since Piastri would rather go to McLaren, the French are now without a successor. Wild rumors surround Daniel Ricciardo’s return if he is actually sawed off at McLaren. That’s what the newspaper “Autohebdo” wrote.
Does Yuki Tsunoda have to give way at AlphaTauri? Yuki Tsunoda has not only been considered a problem since his accident with his teammate at Silverstone. Allegedly, the Japanese should be counted hard internally. Team boss Franz Tost recently backed him publicly, but it is unclear whether Tsunoda has a future with Red Bull’s B team. F2 ace Liam Lawson in particular appears to be an alternative for the Japanese, whose contract expires after the 2022 season.
Will Lewis Hamilton extend again? After the disastrous start to the season, things are going much better for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in the middle of the year. Since he can now drive for the podium again in the Mercedes, he apparently has fun in Formula 1 again. In an interview with the magazine “Vanity Fair” he recently admitted that even an extension of his contract, which expires at the end of 2023, could become an issue again.
Does Pierre Gasly have a release clause or not? Pierre Gasly is one of those pilots who would like to join a “better” team. Since the road to Red Bull is blocked, the Frenchman could leave the Bull cosmos. Apparently, this is made possible by an exit clause in his contract, reported by the English media. The catch: According to Helmut Marko, the RB motorsport consultant, this clause does not exist at all. Gasly will therefore also be in the AlphaTauri in his last year of contract.
Is Nicholas Latifi fighting in vain for his F1 cockpit? While Alex Albon has already signed with Williams for the new season, the second cockpit at the traditional racing team is still open. Nicholas Latifi will have to stretch a lot in the second half of the year if he wants to keep his place. Williams Junior Logan Sargeant and Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries are said to be ready to replace the Canadian.
