As the stunning new Formula 1 cars of 2022 hit the track together for the first time at the Circuit de Catalunya two weeks ago, it seemed the sport might have finally put the controversial conclusion to last year behind it.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and his opposite number at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, faced the media together in an FIA press conference at lunch time. Both indicated they were ready to draw a line under the acrimony of Abu Dhabi, where the championship outcome swung on race director Michael Masi’s shock decision to arrange a restart in a manner which contravened the rule book and broke with past practice.
“I think ’21 has been well documented, maybe we share a difference of opinion over Abu Dhabi but that’s now done and dusted and all focus is very much now on 2022,” said Horner, who was even prepared to accept the drama had got out of hand over the course of 2021.
“What you did see last year was a fantastic competition from the first race to the…