Four of the ten Formula One teams; Haas, Red Bull, Aston Martin and McLaren have revealed the cars that will act as their challengers in the upcoming 2022 season.
Next week will see a further four teams consisting of Alpha Tauri, Williams, Ferrari and Mercedes reveal their cars, with Alpine and Alfa Romeo set to announce them in the last week of February.
View this post on Instagram
Haas were the first team to reveal their livery. Unlike other teams, they didn’t reveal their final product just revealing their livery on a template car which is said to be still in production for testing in Barcelona on the 23rd of February. The design wasn’t the most famous with the fans as it is very similar to the car that was showcased last year. The Russian theme of the car because of main sponsor Uralkai is present for a second year running.
View this post on Instagram
Current World Champion Max Verstappen’s team Red Bull were the second team to announce their livery. Like Haas they didn’t reveal anything about the car, only showcasing the new design. The iconic dark blue, yellow and red are once again the highlight of the car. The only major change when it comes to the design of the car from last year is the fact that the colour yellow features more than usual. The livery wasn’t the only thing they revealed, revealing a new title sponsor in Oracle. This means that from next year onwards they will officially become Oracle Red Bull Racing.
View this post on Instagram
Aston Martin were the first team to not only announce the livery but show the near finished product. The design of the car has considerably changed since the team isn’t sponsored by BWT anymore and they don’t have to include the colour pink anymore. This year the car includes a lighter shade of dark green combined with fluorescent yellow highlights around the car. They will be hoping for a better year than last year where they ultimately underperformed considering how good the team were as Racing Point.
View this post on Instagram
The new McLaren car will feature the colour grey for the first time since the 2015 season. The grey will be featured alongside a lighter shade of orange than usual and a blue which is similar to the blue used in the famous one off Gulf inspired livery they used in last year’s successful Monaco race. The F1 car wasn’t the only car revealed with the British team also revealing their IndyCar, Extreme E and E sports car.
#MaltaDaily
Chief spokesperson for the Nationalist Party Peter Agius blamed the government for shifting the burden of Malta’s FATF grey-listing onto businesses, importers, self-employed, professionals and consumers.
Addressing a press conference in front of the Malta Business Registry offices in Zejtun, Agius said that the Opposition was contacted by hundreds to complain about excessive levels of scrutiny and bureaucracy being dealt with.
Agius said that whilst the government spent €31 million to hire the MBR offices without issuing a public tender, any Maltese company that carries out transactions is being asked to provide an independent report on the company’s structure.
‘The price for this has to be paid by Maltese businesses’ said Agius. Due diligence checks are also being requested, which in the case of companies have to be carried out for each director.
Agius emphasised how this means that for several sals and purchase contracts, companies are being charged thousands of euros in additional costs. ‘This is a burden that the government has shamelessly placed on the notaries’ shoulders with penalties of up to €60,000.
With trust in local businesses diminishing, Agius said that it is an additional obligation on Maltese businesses which carries a cost, which is ultimately passed on to local consumers through a surge in prices. Some importers are being asked to pay everything upfront before delivery, with he credit facility of 20-60 days prior no longer an option.
The added scrutiny of cash transfers has resulted in the freezing and closing of hundreds of bank accounts of workers and self-employed individuals. ‘Malta’s grey-listing is the result of the incompetence and corruption of the Labour government’ said Agius.
PN candidate Graham Bencini said that the election of a PN government would send the strongest signal to the international community and bring Malta back on the white list within three months. The PN would, if elected, establish a governmental department to deal with due diligence control.
‘This would at least less the burden placed on businesses by ensuring that anyone lodging or purchasing property as well as notaries and banks would have legal certainty and a structure that helps them ascertain the necessary controls with less risk’ he said.
#MaltaDaily
