What next for Hamilton? Will new cars deliver? A huge month awaits F1

The start of the new season may officially be signalled with lights out for that first race on March 20, but Formula 1 2022 really gets under way in February - a month which looks set to be hectic with its schedule, illuminating with a new era of cars debuting, and incredibly important with the future of a certain seven-time champion still not confirmed.

Ahead of a crucial period for the new campaign and the sport as a whole, we preview the big storylines, the things to look out for and the several key dates as anticipation builds.

F1 is filled with enough talking points to start the season without thinking about last year but, understandably, the fallout to December's title-deciding Abu Dhabi GP remains one of the biggest topics heading into February - when we should at least start to get more clarity on the future. That's the future of how races are run, and of Lewis Hamilton.

The FIA, F1's governing body, has launched an inquiry into the now-notorious conclusion to 2021's final race and last week revealed that the findings of the "detailed analysis" will be presented at the F1 Commission meeting on February 14 "after an open discussion with all F1 drivers".

The findings will then be published at the World Motor Sport Council meeting on March 18.

Why is that first meeting important? Well, it will likely have a big say on two key names when it comes to F1.

First, there's Michael Masi, the F1 Race Director whose handling of the late Safety Car period was criticised and whose position remains under huge scrutiny, with many teams thought to be pushing for change.

Even the FIA's executive director of single-seaters Peter Bayer - who is heading up the inquiry - stated in an interview last week: "There is a possibility there