F1 news LIVE: Australian Grand Prix build-up as Ferrari expect ‘significant’ power increase

Haas have been working around the clock and used one of their curfews to put together Mick Schumacher’s new car, having opted against doing so after his qualifying crash in Saudi Arabia.

Team boss Guenther Steiner explained the “tough” decision for the crew and how any more misfortune in qualifying and practice would mean a single driver on the grid once more.

“Last night we broke the curfew because the guys wanted to get ahead for this morning, so tonight we don’t have to go over it. Breaking one curfew was worthwhile to get to a good point,” he said.

“You need to bring as many parts as you can in the moment. You cannot bring more, there is nothing in stock anymore. All what you’ve got, you bring here.

“But there’s no spare chassis, no safety net here, so they need to be careful. Otherwise we’ll start again with one car!”

However, there’s better news in that Schumacher’s chassis from last time out can be repaired and rejoin the spare parts pool for the team, once it clears customs and makes its way back to base.

Former Haas racer Nikita Mazepin has hit out against sanctions on Russian athletes, but says he will not publicly disclose his views on the situation in Ukraine due to “tremendous risks” of not pleasing everybody.

Mazepin’s father owns the Uralkali firm which was dropped as sponsor by the racing firm, before the driver himself was sacked from the team.

“I don’t agree with being in the sanctions and I have said previously that I intend to fight it,” Mazepin told BBC.

“Perhaps now is not the right time because if you look at the whole situation that is happening against athletes in the general case, it is cancel culture against my country.

“That is about the sanctions.

“My feelings [on the war in Ukraine], they obviously changed as a human being and as a person that wants to live in a very peaceful world.

“But I will be honest with you, I see tremendous risks in saying anything at all about this case because I will never satisfy everyone and therefore, I will keep myself publicly quiet.”

Ferrari will increase the power of their engine after the Miami Grand Prix, according to reports.

The Scuderia have made a sensational start to the 2022 season, currently leading the drivers’ and constructors championships.

They secured a one-two finish in the opening race of the season in Bahrain as Charles Leclerc claimed victory ahead of Carlos Sainz. The following weekend in Saudi Arabia they also impressed as Leclerc clinched second and Sainz third.

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen said he will try to keep his off-track commitments in check and focus on his day job as a racer, wary that his title defence might suffer with too many distractions.

The Dutch Red Bull driver is hot property for media, sponsors and fans after his 2021 triumph, and the relaxation of biosecurity protocols could mean more demands on his time.

“Even if there is no Covid for sure I’m not going to do more... on weekends because I’m there to race, I’m not there to entertain the crowds,” he told a small group of reporters on Thursday at Albert Park ahead of Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

Mercedes won’t be looking at a dramatic turnaround in race No.3 of the 2022 Formula One season, according to Toto Wolff.

The boss has been disappointed by the team’s showings at both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia - despite standing second in the constructor championship at present, Mercedes have been well off the pace in both races.

They are ahead of Red Bull only by virtue of their opening-raceday issues, with Max Verstappen roaring back to win last time out while George Russell placed fifth and Lewis Hamilton came home in 10th.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo has said a points finish at his home race this weekend would “feel like a win”.

The McLaren team have struggled in the opening two races of the 2022 season in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Both Ricciardo and Lando Norris finished outside the points in the season opener, before Norris’ seventh place earned the team their first top-10 in Saudi Arabia, as Ricciardo failed to finish the race.

And while winning the Australian GP continues to elude the Perth-born driver, he insists scoring points would feel like a victory given where the team is currently at.

Speaking to GP Fans, he said: “Maybe we will be lucky and fight for points. I know we’re not aiming very high with that, but that’s the only thing we can go for at the moment.”