FORMULA 1 - 2013

[MIKA27]

McLaren set for free Honda engines as of 2015

McLaren are more than likely to be Honda-powered in 2015, according to Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Reporting from Barcelona, he said McLaren has let a deadline pass whereby it could have extended its customer deal with Mercedes beyond next season.

“That can only mean Honda in 2015,” said Schmidt.

Reportedly, the Japanese carmaker – having withdrawn from Formula 1 amid the global financial crisis at the end of 2008 – will not charge McLaren for its turbo V6 engines.

Honda, however, will surely subsidise its development costs with one or two customer deals, and Sauber and Lotus are thought to have already expressed interest.

“We are studying (the idea of returning to Formula 1) as seriously as possible,” Honda president Takanobu Ito said recently.

Lotus could be on the move due to the apparently high price of staying with Renault in 2014 and beyond.

Auto Motor und Sport said Renault wants to charge its customers between EUR 20 and EUR 23 million per season, while the Mercedes engine will cost 17-19 million.

Ferrari is reportedly offering the cheapest package, with the price tag between EUR 15 and EUR 17 million.

[Bartolomeo]

Bring back the tyre wars!

I agree tires have been an issue this year but look what Ferrari did yesterday with their tires, they kicked ass, made no excuses and just got the job done.....I was surprised but pleasantly surprised on their tire performance while many other teams struggled

Forza Ferrari!

Bart

[PaulP]

The tires may indeed eliminate the parades.

[MIKA27]

McLaren dismiss team orders claims

McLaren have dismissed suggestions they used team orders at the Spanish GP to allow Jenson Button to finish ahead of Sergio Perez.

Just weeks after they went wheel-to-wheel at the Bahrain GP that nearly cost the team valuable points, the pair appeared to be on course for another intense fight over eighth place during the latter stages in Barcelona.

Perez looked to be the faster of the two McLarens and was set to challenge his team-mate in the last few laps, but he was warned with a radio message that he 'can't afford to damage the tyres too much trying to get past Jenson'.

The Mexican eased off and had to settle for ninth behind Button.

Some interpreted the message as an order to hold station, but team principal Martin Whitmarsh says they were simply trying to nurse Perez to the finish line.

"Did I fear a repeat of Bahrain? No," he said.

"Did we ask him to back off and not fight? No, we didn't. In truth, there was a battle on in prospect, but at the end Checo's tyres were completely shot.

"We could see by the tyre wear he was likely to run out of rubber by the end of the race, and he very nearly did. If you look at his tyres there is nothing there. He flat-spotted at one point because his tyre temperatures went off on the last set in chasing Jenson, and he is entitled to chase.

"It was tight, but obviously not quite as close a contest as we had in Bahrain. Even Checo said at the end his tyres were finished.

"So the message was not tactical, it was practical."

Perez also took to Twitter on Monday to throw cold water on the flames, saying: "Just want to tell everyone, the radio message was all about to save the tyres.

"Never a team order. Can't wait for Monaco."

McLaren, meanwhile, are still scratching their heads over their poor form and Whitmarsh admits they need to sort out their qualifying pace if they are going to move up the grid.

"We are fighters so we try to get more positions than we get in qualifying," he said. "We are not quick enough. We need to work harder and that is what we have got to do. Overall both drivers did a good job."

[MIKA27]

Lotus not in favour of tyre changes

Lotus believe it would be unfair on some teams if Pirelli decide to make changes to their tyres.

Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery admitted they were "too aggressive" with their compounds at the Spanish Grand Prix after they copped a lot of flak as many drivers were forced to make four pit stops.

Hembery also revealed they could make changes for Silverstone, but added "you have to bear in mind that we have a lot of teams against it and just one maybe for."

"If we make a change then you (the media) are all going to come here and say we've made a tyre for Red Bull."

Lotus are also wary of making changes as they, along with Ferrari, have done well on the current compounds with Kimi Raikkonen winning in Australia and claiming three further podiums.

Team principal Eric Boullier admits tweaks could have a negative impact on the E21.

"I think it is not in some ways fair, but we have to deal with it like we always did," he said. "Everyone has the same tyres."

He added: "People need to get the right question. The question is not the tyres: it is because we did something that allowed our car to [look after the tyres].

"It is the same for everybody. There was some slight change for here [to the hard compound] which was to please the most complaining team.

"But I don't think Pirelli is going to change anything. They were asked to build tyres lasting 20 laps and they did it. So that is it."

[MIKA27]

Drivers divided on new F1 penalty points system

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean is in favour of Formula 1′s move to enhance its penalty system, but some drivers believe the system may be inconsistent.

Last year, the Frenchman became the first Formula 1 driver in years to serve a race ban, following a string of first-lap crashes.

He admitted to RMC Sport it may seem “ironic” that he therefore supports a system that could lead directly to more race bans.

It is reported that errant drivers will earn ‘demerit’-style points against their FIA super license for on and off-track indiscretions, leading to race bans.

Grosjean said: “If there is a nice system that comes in, why not? Right now, it is the stewards who decide: it’s like boxing or judo, it’s arbitrary.”

But not everyone on the grid is so accepting. Jules Bianchi, Marussia’s rookie driver, said the new system also sounds too arbitrary.

“I’ve heard that the sanctions could vary from 1 to 3 points,” he said. “They’re going to say ‘You did it in this way, so 1 point. You did it in another way, so 2 points.”

“So it won’t be consistent,” added Bianchi.

Another opponent is Formula 1′s reigning world champion, Sebastian Vettel.

“I don’t like it,” the Red Bull driver admitted.

“I’ve seen a sketch of it (the plan) and I think you have the potential of scoring points for some things that are not entirely in our hands, and small things that at the end of the day the consequence could be very big,” added Vettel.

[MIKA27]

Costco UK Will Happily Sell You This Awesome $115,000 F1 Simulator

What do you rely on your local Costco for? Gigantic boxes of nappies? Bulk packs of chicken fingers? In the UK, when you’re stocking up on bangers and mash, you can also go home with a full-size $115,000 Formula One simulator. Although, sadly, they’re not sold in bulk packs for bigger savings.

The simulator is powered by a reasonably well-equipped Intel Core i7 processor gaming PC with 16GB of RAM and a fast SSD hard drive. And the pseudo-wraparound display is composed of three 23-inch TFT LCD displays, accompanied by speakers on either side that complement a full built-in 5.1 surround system.

But when you crunch the numbers, the electronics don’t come anywhere close to breaking the 10 grand mark. So the $115,000 price tag is mostly covering the ultra-realistic Formula One car chassis the simulator is housed in. It doesn’t actually move, but it’s made from similar materials as the actual racing vehicles, including composites like carbon fibre which help sell the simulated experience.

MIKA: Ahhhh... So that's what they did with the old HRT F1 racing team cars!

[MIKA27]

Mixed feelings for Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo was relieved that he hung on for a point in Barcelona, but he feels Toro Rosso should finish higher up the grid.

There have been plenty of highs and lows for the Australian in recent races as he finished seventh in China and followed it up with P16 in Bahrain. However, he was back in the points at the Spanish Grand Prix as he moved from 11th on the starting grid to secure 10th.

It was anything but easy though as he had to hold off the charging Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez during the closing stages of the race.

Although pleased to have picked up a point, Ricciardo believes Toro Rosso are still not extracting the full potential from the STR8.

"Coming away from the Circuit de Catalunya I'm pleased that the race finished with the reward of a point but slightly disappointed also, because I think the car has the pace to finish higher - if we can only figure out how to extract it," he wrote in his blog on the official Toro Rosso website.

"The race suggested that we're nearly there but not quite. In the beginning I thought we were nowhere. I wasn't happy with the balance of the car in that first stint - in fact I was angry because I knew the car had more potential and we just weren't using it. Then, the next two stints were really good. The car started working better, I was passing people instead of being passed. At that point I thought we were looking like scoring quite heavily. Then on the last two stints the pace dropped away again and we had to really scramble to hold on to 10th.

"With a few laps left, the team said Gutiérrez was about three seconds behind me - but a couple of corners later he was right on my gearbox. Three seconds! Where did that go? Initially, because he caught me so quickly, I thought he'd be able to walk around me - but I was able to just tick the laps off one-by-one and cover him in the areas where he might be able to pass.

"I just got it - but that last lap was tight. Coming out of Turn 10 he got nearly alongside me and we were both sideways out of there. I was desperately trying to hold on to it. It was a great relief when I crossed the line in front."

[MIKA27]

Pirelli boss calls for Formula 1 to lift in-season testing ban

Formula 1 must allow in-season testing to avoid the risk next year of tyres lasting only a handful of laps and races being cut short, according to Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery.

Under fire for the quick-wearing 2013 compounds that led to a blizzard of pitstops in Spain on Sunday, Hembery warned that a current testing ban made it harder for the Italian company to meet significant technical challenges coming in 2014.

He raised the possible scenario of a race “where you literally can only do five or six laps on every single option that we bring because we’ve totally underestimated the impact (of the new regulations).

“I don’t think we’ll have an issue with structural integrity but we could end up certainly with a compounding issue where we have completely the wrong compounds for the track or what’s going to be the influence of the powertrain on the tyre,” Hembery told Reuters. “There are championships, less visible than F1, where those sorts of things have happened and you’ve ended up having to take 10 laps off the race distance and things like that.”

Team managers held a sporting working group meeting at the Spanish Grand Prix and voted to maintain a ban on in-season testing, despite opposition from some teams. McLaren’s sporting director Sam Michael said they had decided to stay with the limit of 12 days pre-season, but testing in January was allowed and could be outside of Europe.

Pirelli currently have a 2010 Renault, up to five seconds a lap slower than current cars, for testing. They are expected to continue as sole tyre supplier in 2014, although a deal has yet to be signed.

“We have absolutely no in-season testing, we can’t have access to these cars going around now and have to run around in a 2010 car. It’s alright to sit there and criticise but you’re not exactly given the tools to do a precise job,” a defensive Hembery said at the weekend as criticism mounted.

Sunday’s race in Barcelona put Pirelli even more in the spotlight with four pitstops turning out to be the norm and a number of failures in practice and the race that saw treads coming away from the tyres. Pirelli went more aggressive with the tyres this year and have now agreed to change both the structure and compounds to make them last longer and reduce the number of pitstops.

A spokeswoman said on Tuesday that the modifications could be made from Canada, race seven of 19, next month rather than the end of June. Next year sees a switch from the 2.4 litre V8 engines to new 1.6 litre V6 units with kinetic energy recovery systems and turbocharger.

“We are getting varied data from different teams which means there are going to be some surprises,” said Hembery of the 2014 changes. “We don’t want to be as a tyre maker in a situation where we come up with some surprises when we get to Melbourne (for the start of the season). We want to know before.”

Ferrari, who have their own test track and one of the biggest budgets, have long pushed for a return to the in-season testing that was banned in 2009 to cut costs.

Hembery said Pirelli had different reasons and need to test with current cars, both now and in future.

“Next season if all we have available to us is a 2011 car, that’s going to help us with nothing when you’ve got a very different powertrain,” he said.

“I think they (the teams) are going to have to go back and revisit it (the ban). I don’t think Ferrari and some of the other teams are going to let it go,” added the Briton. “I am hopeful that we can have some sort of compromise agreement where we can have some sensible, limited in-season testing.”

[MIKA27]

Carlos Slim company already sponsoring McLaren

Carlos Slim, the Mexican telecommunications billionaire, is already investing in McLaren as a sponsor.

When Mexican Sergio Perez was signed for 2013 and beyond, speculation swirled that Slim’s Telmex empire would replace departing McLaren title sponsor Vodafone in 2014.

The future has already arrived. On the rear wing of the MP4-28 in Barcelona last weekend were the words ‘Claro Video’.

Claro, currently also a sponsor of Perez’s former team, Sauber, alongside Telmex, is a Mexican mobile phone operator in the Slim stable.

And according to Mexican reports dated Monday, May 13, Slim’s son Carlos Slim Domit has announced that Claro will also be a McLaren sponsor in 2014.

The German news agency DPA said Slim Jr made the announcement at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

[MIKA27]

'Second is now a frustrating result'

Lotus owner Gerard Lopez has praised the F1 team, saying that frustration over finishing second is a sign of how far they have come.

Kimi Raikkonen achieved his fourth top-three result of this season in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix when he brought his E21 home in second place.

And although for many that would be a cause for celebration, for Lopez is was also a cause for frustration as it was the Finn's third successive runner-up result.

"I was more frustrated than delighted," he told Press Association Sport.

"The team is doing a great job, the car is fantastic, so you are frustrated when you are almost there, but not quite for whatever reason.

"But it's good to be frustrated about finishing second, and it's a measure of how far we have come.

"In our case we've seen our frustration evolve in conjunction with our expectations.

"We used to get frustrated at not finishing in the points, then we used to get frustrated at not finishing in the top five, and now we are frustrated at not being able to fight for a win.

"So it is a good thing, but then I'm also obviously frustrated about what happened to Romain (Grosjean) because we really need both cars in the points."

Grosjean failed to reach the chequered flag in Barcelona when his E21 suffered a rear suspension failure. It was the Frenchman's first retirement of this season and brought an end to his run of top-ten results.

But despite Grosjean's woes, Loprez reckons what he saw in Spain gave him "plenty of optimism" as Lotus kept pace in the development race.

"Kimi is way ahead of where he was last year, and the car is good.

"The Spanish Grand Prix was important because as we know everybody throws the kitchen sink at their cars in terms of upgrades, as we did.

"Ferrari made a big step forward, but I actually think we did pretty well too. We are stronger than we were.

"If anybody was questioning the whole evolution thing, we've proven we are probably not that bad."

[MIKA27]

Ecclestone charged with bribery by German prosecutors

German prosecutors have charged Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone with bribery, the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reports in its Wednesday edition.

Earlier, the newspaper said the officials had completed their long investigation into the Formula 1 chief executive’s role in the Gerhard Gribkowsky corruption affair.

“Munich has filed charges against Bernie Ecclestone,” Wednesday’s article declared, adding that one of the charges is the “serious” offense of bribing a public official.

The case will surround the 82-year-old’s confirmed payment of $44 million to jailed former Formula 1 banker Gribkowsky, surrounding the sale of the sport to CVC some years ago.

“The bribery allegations could cost Ecclestone his job as Formula 1 boss,” said the Suddeutsche Zeitung, adding that the district court will now decide whether or not it hears the case.

If it does, a trial is tipped to take place this year. Ecclestone claims Gribkowsky blackmailed him.

[MIKA27]

Pirelli deny making changes to satisfy Red Bull demands

Formula 1 world champions Red Bull could benefit from changes to be introduced at next month’s Canadian Grand Prix that will make tyres tougher and longer lasting, supplier Pirelli agreed but denied that changes are being made to pacify the world champions.

And the Italian company’s motorsport director Paul Hembery hoped that would not be the case, however.

“There have been concerns from some of the teams that the changes will favour one team or another, but we don’t think that will be the case,” he told the Autosport website.

“These changes are being made for Pirelli, not for anyone else. We need to get the balance right.”

Pirelli announced earlier that changes to the structure and compounds of the tyres would be made for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, the seventh of 19 races this season, on June 9.

They had said at the weekend that the new tyres could not be introduced until the British Grand Prix at the end of June but changed their minds after a review of the situation following Sunday’s race in Barcelona.

The Italian supplier came in for considerable criticism from Red Bull, whose triple champion Sebastian Vettel saw his lead trimmed to four points over Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen, after a race fill of pitstops with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso making four on his way to victory.

Red Bull’s billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz was quoted by Austrian media as saying Formula One had “nothing to do with racing anymore” while drivers complained that they had to slow to manage the tyres.

Formula 1′s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone also weighed in, telling Britain’s Daily Express newspaper that “the tyres are wrong, not what we intended”.

Mercedes and McLaren have also struggled to get to grips with the tyres this season while Ferrari, Lotus and Force India have managed to work well with them.

Pirelli said the changed tyres would have a revised construction using elements from the 2012 and 2013 tyres to ensure both durability and performance and reduce the number of pitstops.

“We didn’t want to over-react, because by doing that we could then be helping certain teams,” said Hembery, adding that he hoped the more durable rubber would not allow one team like Red Bull to dominate.

“But of course we always face that risk,” he added.

Hembery said the pressure from Red Bull for the change had “not been excessive”.

Red Bull principal Christian Horner told the dailymail.co.uk website that the effect of the changes on his team was impossible to predict.

“I think it will be in the interests of good racing over the next few grands prix,” he added.

[MIKA27]

Red Bull boss thinks Vettel will stay with team for a long time

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he is not worried Sebastian Vettel is about to jump ship to a rival Formula 1 team.

Vettel, Formula 1′s reigning triple world champion and the 2013 title leader, has in the past been linked with a move to Ferrari.

And the most recent rumour is that Mercedes’ Niki Lauda has made approaches to the 25-year-old.

Vettel, however, remains under contract to Red Bull, even if his boss Christian Horner told Sport Bild: “What team wouldn’t want Sebastian Vettel?

“He has been part of the Red Bull family for a long time, and he’s an important part of our success. We have steadily developed along with him.

“The issue is not so much about the length of contracts, but how comfortable you feel with one another.

“Seb feels comfortable with us, and we’re comfortable with him. And I have no doubt that will be the same for a very long time into the future,” he added.

“Seb is fantastic, but I don’t think we’ve seen the best from him yet,” said Horner.

[MIKA27]

Takuma Sato not interested in F1 return bid despite IndyCar form

Takuma Sato has no plans to use this season's strong form in IndyCar as a springboard to push for a Formula 1 return.

The 36-year-old former Jordan, BAR/Honda and Super Aguri driver leads the IndyCar standings and claimed his maiden series win in Long Beach last month after switching to the legendary AJ Foyt's team.

He is now in his fourth season in IndyCar and sees the category as his long-term future.

"My whole focus is Indy now, 100 per cent," said Sato when asked if he had aspirations of returning to F1.

"F1 was great, but I think the job to be done is here.

"I'm really happy where I am and looking for a long future in IndyCar."

Sato F1 career ended after 90 starts when the Super Aguri team closed down following the 2008 Spanish Grand Prix.

He came close to a return with Toro Rosso in 2009 after testing for the Red Bull-owned outfit, but missed out on the drive to Sebastien Bourdais.

F1 OVER AFTER MISSING TORO ROSSO SEAT

Sato admits that Toro Rosso's decision not to give him the seat was a shock and that despite being in contention for a seat with the Lotus (now Caterham) team for 2010, this effectively marked the end of his grand prix career.

"It was an unfinished job in F1 for me, so I tried to come back for nearly two seasons.

"I had a huge opportunity with Toro Rosso, thanks to Red Bull.

"We had successful winter testing but unfortunately, at the end of the day, for some reason that did not happen.

"That was a really shocking moment.

"Then, after that, I had a little opportunity but it just didn't happen.

"Formula 1 is Formula 1, it's great, but Formula 1 isn't the only racing and I was always interested in Indy."

Sato is currently practicing ahead of the Indianapolis 500, a race he came close to winning last year.

[MIKA27]

Ecclestone to meet Renault boss over motorhome dispute

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone will meet with Renault chairman Carlos Ghosn in Paris on Thursday, according to Germany’s specialist Auto Motor und Sport.

Reportedly, Formula 1′s chief executive and the French carmaker are having a dispute — ostensibly about Renault’s motor home.

In Barcelona last weekend, Renault – supplier of engines to multiple Formula 1 teams including world champions Red Bull – was told to park its motor home outside the paddock.

Ecclestone said: “Renault is a supplier, and if we let them all in the paddock, there would be no room for anyone else.”

Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims the dispute runs deeper than that.

Reportedly, Ecclestone is pushing for Renault to reduce the price of its turbo V6 engine next year for customer teams, after naming the price at between EUR 20 and EUR 23 million per team per season.

The customers are complaining, but Renault is apparently refusing to budge, leading to the motor home situation and Ecclestone’s forthcoming meeting with Ghosn.

Meanwhile, Ecclestone said on Wednesday that he is unmoved by reports Munich prosecutors have filed charges against him over the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribery affair.

“They haven’t told me, that’s the only problem,” he told PA Sport news agency. ”To be quite honest with you I haven’t done anything about any of these things. I haven’t bothered.”

“If I have to get bothered, then I’ll get bothered,” the 82-year-old added.

[MIKA27]

Honda announce F1 return with McLaren

Honda have confirmed that they will return to Formula One in 2015 as an engine partner to McLaren.

Honda last competed in Formula One back in 2008 when they owned the works team Honda Racing.

However, after a disappointing few years, the company withdrew, selling their Formula One team to Ross Brawn who went on to win the Championship double a year later.

The Japanese manufacturer, though, is now set to return, however, as an engine supplier rather than team owners.

It was announced on Thursday that the company would team up with McLaren, who they previously partnered in the late 1980s, winning World titles with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

"It's fantastic news for everyone who loves Formula 1 to be able to welcome Honda back to Formula 1," said McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh. "Together, we're about to embark on a new and extremely exciting chapter in McLaren's history.

"Like McLaren, Honda is a company with motor racing woven into the fabric of its heritage. We're proud and thrilled to be joining forces once more to take on the world in Formula 1.

"Whilst both companies are fully aware that we're embarking on a very demanding journey together, we're hugely committed to the success of the partnership, and we'll spend the next 18 months working together to ensure that we're fully established and competitive ahead of our first grand prix together in 2015.

"The names of McLaren and Honda are synonymous with success in Formula 1, and, for everyone who works for both companies, the weight of our past achievements together lies heavily on our shoulders.

"But it's a mark of the ambition and resolve we both share that we want once again to take McLaren-Honda to the very pinnacle of Formula 1 success. Together we have a great legacy - and we're utterly committed to maintaining it."

Honda will supply the Woking-based outfit with 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines from 2015 onwards.

The announcement means next season will be McLaren's last with Mercedes, who they have partnered since 1995.

[MIKA27]

Tost: Ricciardo topping the list

Daniel Ricciardo is the Toro Rosso driver leading the race to step up to Red Bull next season, according to his team boss Franz Tost.

Earlier this month, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko gave his support to Ricciardo, saying he is the "better" driver to replace Mark Webber should the 36-year-old leave at the end of this season.

Ricciardo has proven to be Toro Rosso's best driver in the opening stint of this year's Championship, scoring seven points to Jean-Eric Vergne's one.

Added to that, the 23-year-old has also outqualified his team-mate four out of five times while also securing the team's only top-ten grid position of the campaign.

"Well, performance is all that matters and you definitely can see that Daniel with 11 races more under his belt - which is more than half of a season - is probably in a better situation," Tost told the official F1 website.

"Right now he has the upper hand, which we have seen in Barcelona. But that is a snapshot right now. Generally I would say that both would fit into the Red Bull concept."

However, the team boss has mixed feelings about whether either driver is ready for the job.

"At the moment I would answer with a 'yes and no'.

"Both would have to demonstrate an exceptionally good second half of the season, because don't forget we are speaking about the World Champions, so the requirement profile is quite different to being with a team like Toro Rosso.

"But don't get me wrong, both are on a very good path and everything will depend on the next couple of months as to whether one of the two of them - should the need be there - qualify for Red Bull Racing."

[MIKA27]

Button welcomes Honda's return

Jenson Button has applauded McLaren's decision to team up with Honda and their "world-beating technical innovation" in 2015.

It was confirmed on Thursday that Honda would supply 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engines to McLaren from 2015 onwards.

The deal has been welcomed by Button, who like McLaren in the 1980s has a previous relationship with Honda.

The Brit raced for the Honda-powered BAR team from 2003 to 2005 before Honda purchased the team in 2006, running it as a full works team for three years before selling it to Ross Brawn.

And it was during those years as a works team that Button claimed his maiden grand prix victory at the 2006 Hungarian race.

"I've already enjoyed a long and successful working relationship with Honda," said the 2009 World Champ.

"I first raced a Formula 1 car powered by a Honda engine in 2003, and I was a works Honda Formula 1 driver between 2006 and '08, winning my first grand prix in Hungary in 2006 in a Honda Formula 1 car, so I know exactly how passionate Honda is about motorsport, and Formula 1 in particular.

"The challenge set by Formula 1's new technical regulations provides Honda with the perfect opportunity to return to the pinnacle of motorsport.

"Honda is one of the most experienced and accomplished builders of turbocharged engines anywhere in the world, has always treated Formula 1 as a platform for world-beating technical innovation, and will surely relish the opportunity once again to showcase on a global sporting stage its engine technicians' unparalleled engineering prowess."

Button added that he was "thrilled and excited" about the new partnership, which he billed as a "fantastic opportunity for the team, but also a great development for Formula 1 fans and the sport as a whole."

[MIKA27]

Ecclestone: I am innocent. The truth will prevail in the end

Lawyers for Formula One Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone reiterated on Wednesday that he had not bribed a German banker during the 2005-2006 sale of a stake in the motor racing business, after a newspaper reported he had been charged by prosecutors.

German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Wednesday that prosecutors had charged the 82-year-old Briton, who has turned the sport into a global money maker over the past three decades, with bribery and inciting others to a fiduciary breach of trust.

“The documents with the charges from the Munich prosecutor’s office have not yet been received by the defense,” said German law firm Thomas Deckers Wehnert Elsner, acting for Ecclestone.

“Therefore, we cannot provide a statement. The defense sticks to its view that Mr. Ecclestone has neither committed bribery nor played any part in committing a fiduciary breach of trust,” added the firm, based in the German city of Duesseldorf.

The Munich prosecutor’s office declined to comment on the Sueddeutsche Zeitung report. On Monday, it said it had finished its investigation of Ecclestone, but declined to comment on what it might do next.

In an interview with German daily Bild-Zeitung, Ecclestone ruled out that he would resign as head of Formula One.

“The shareholders will have to make that decision. Once my contract with the company expires, they can replace me if they want,”

Ecclestone said, according to Bild, in a report due to be published on Thursday.

Bild also reported that Ecclestone denied the charges against him: “I am innocent. The truth will prevail in the end.”

Under the German legal system, once a preliminary investigation has been completed, prosecutors need to decide whether to press ahead with charges or drop the matter. Prosecutors could also drop the proceedings in exchange for a “non-penal payment.”

At issue is whether Ecclestone bribed a German banker in a business deal in which lender BayernLB sold a 48 percent stake in a Formula One holding company to CVC, a private equity investor that Ecclestone was keen to see as a new shareholder.

Ecclestone made payments to Gerhard Gribkowsky, BayernLB’s former chief risk officer, who has since been jailed for tax evasion.

BayernLB had ended up with the Formula One stake following the bankruptcy of the media empire of Leo Kirch. BayernLB assigned Gribkowsky with the task of hiving it off.

In June last year, Ecclestone denied the payments to Gribkowsky amounted to bribes. Instead, he told a Munich court in November 2011 that he paid Gribkowsky to “keep him quiet” after the German put him under pressure over his tax affairs, and not to smooth the sale to CVC.

CVC owned a 63 percent stake in Formula One, but has since cut that to around 35 percent in a series of deals.

Ecclestone told Reuters last month that the company behind Formula One could be floated in Singapore at the end of this year.

[MIKA27]

Alonso third highest paid sports person on the planet

Fernando Alonso is the third-highest international sports earner on earth, according to the influential US magazine Sports Illustrated.

Excluding American athletes, like undefeated boxer Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather who has already earned $90 million in 2013, the highest paid sportsman is British footballer David Beckham.

His $48 million is trailed by tennis’ Roger Federer ($43 million), followed by Ferrari’s Alonso, whose estimated $42 million in 2013 will include his retainer and endorsements.

Spaniard Alonso reportedly makes more than Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo ($35 million) and FC Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, according to the international list.

Formula 1′s next representative, coming in at eleventh on the list with almost $24 million, is Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, while the newly-retired Michael Schumacher is still raking in the income, with just under $20 million estimated.

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Stewart calls for permanent race steward to manage penalties

Formula 1 must have a permanent race steward attending all races if a licence penalty points system for drivers is to be introduced next season, according to triple world champion Jackie Stewart.

Formula 1 teams approved the licence plan at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix and it now has to be rubber-stamped by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) world motor sport council at a meeting next month.

The system will be similar to that familiar to regular motorists, with F1 drivers handed points penalties for infringements which – once 12 are racked up in a year – would lead to a race ban.

Stewart, a pioneer in campaigning for safety improvements in the late 1960s and early 1970s, told Reuters that the governing International Automobile Federation had to ensure any punishments were consistent.

“I think it’s wrong that the FIA have part-time stewards dealing with safety,” he said. “It’s not correct to have part-time stewards who have just been brought in from any other country for one or two races,” added the Scot.

“There’s got to be the same people all of the time so that there’s no risk that you are going to have peak and valley judgements that are different.

“It’s got to be unilateral, with authority, with expertise and that person should be appointed and paid for. If you are putting penalty points in, then you should be judged consistently.”

Formula One stewards currently change from race to race, with a former driver joining two FIA-selected officials. Australian Alan Jones, the 1980 world champion, was the driver representative in Spain on Sunday.

The last Formula One driver to be handed a race ban was Lotus’s Frenchman Romain Grosjean, who missed last season’s Italian Grand Prix after causing a first corner pile-up in Belgium.

Grosjean had been involved in seven incidents in the opening 12 races of 2012 but has stayed out of trouble so far this campaign.

Bans have been a rarity in the sport, however, with financial penalties more usual in recent years.

Grosjean was non-committal about the points plan.

“It’s difficult to say anything until we have a proper catalogue of what would be the penalty for different things,” he told reporters when asked about it in Barcelona last weekend.

“It’s a very difficult subject. It’s not like on the road (where) if you don’t put on your seatbelt it’s three points, if you don’t stop at the red light it’s three points. Here what would it be?”

FIA race director Charlie Whiting revealed at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March that the points-based penalty system was under discussion.

“We need to get the balance right because banning a driver is a serious issue. We need to make sure a driver genuinely deserves any ban,” he said.

“We will be monitoring offences and running a (hypothetical) system in the background to see how it would all work if put into practice. We need to do that for a while.”

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Boullier: Not many sports increase the size of goal posts mid-season

Team principal Eric Boullier has revealed Lotus are disappointed with Pirelli’s decision to change its 2013 tyres mid-season.

Amid the media furore and the complaining of prominent teams like Red Bull and Mercedes, Formula 1′s official supplier announced that it will revert to elements of last year’s tyre design for the Canadian Grand Prix next month and beyond.

But Lotus boss Boullier stressed that only “some teams” actually welcome the changes “because it can help their performance”.

Indeed, teams including Lotus and Barcelona winner Ferrari were happy with the existing Pirelli tyres.

“Unlike Red Bull,” Boullier told France’s Canal Plus, “who have a policy of developing the car based solely on aerodynamics, we are among the teams like Ferrari, who took into account the Pirelli factor when designing the car.”

“So we’re actually a little disappointed by this change,” he admitted.

“I don’t know a lot of other sports where, let’s say in football, they decide to increase the size of the goals in the middle of a season,” said Boullier.

Similarly, Pirelli’s test driver Jaime Alguersuari argues that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the 2013 tyre, praising drivers like Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso who “understand the tyres where others do not”.

“I don’t see the drama,” the Spaniard told the sports daily AS. ”When Vettel was winning in 2011 it was like this, but when things go well, you don’t complain. What is happening now is that a few understand the tyres while others do not.

“So there is Alonso with Ferrari, and also Raikkonen and Lotus (who understand). It happened to me in 2011,” former Toro Rosso driver Alguersuari continued. “I had a horrible start to the year, but from mid-season we began to understand the behaviour of the compounds.”

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Honda partnership will keep McLaren competing among the F1 elite

McLaren’s Formula 1 engine deal with Honda from 2015 is a vital step to ensure they can keep punching at the same weight as works team rivals Ferrari and Mercedes, managing director Jonathan Neale said on Thursday.

The Woking team have used engines provided by former shareholders Mercedes since 1995 but the German carmaker bought the title-winning Brawn GP outfit in 2009 and has made that its focus.

McLaren now have to pay Mercedes some eight million euros ($10.29 million) a year for engines that they previously received for free, with that figure set to increase significantly in 2015.

“Mercedes have clearly focused their efforts around Brackley (where their works team is based) and that’s completely understandable,” Neale told reporters after Honda announced their return to Formula One.

“If we are going to be compete at the upper echelons, then we need to be punching at that weight,” he added. “Getting together with a powerhouse like Honda enables us to punch at that weight.”

Honda and McLaren have a glorious past together, winning eight drivers’ and constructors’ titles between 1988 and 1992 when the Japanese carmaker provided the engines that allowed the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna and Frenchman Alain Prost to dominate.

Neale described the revived Honda partnership as a “conventional works team type arrangement” that he said was “absolutely vital” at a time of major change.

The sport is ditching the old 2.4 litre V8 engines at the end of this season for a new 1.6 litre V6 turbocharged power unit with energy recovery systems.

Honda will be competing against Renault – who power champions Red Bull – as well as Mercedes and Ferrari from 2015.

Although McLaren are alone with Honda, who quit the sport in 2008 when they handed over what is now the Mercedes team to principal Ross Brawn, there was no exclusivity deal.

“All manufacturers and engine suppliers coming into Formula One know that they do so with an expectation that, should they be required, they are prepared to supply more than one team,” said Neale.

“At the moment we are the only team working with Honda and we’ve got no illusions about how much work we have to do to be ready for a 2015 season.”

Neale was confident McLaren’s performance would not be compromised next year and said Mercedes, who also supply engines to Force India, had been assured their intellectual property would be protected with no leakage of engine secrets to Honda.

“Our relationship with Mercedes spans two decades… we are very careful about protecting each other’s intellectual property. We’ve given the undertakings to Mercedes,” he said.

“They’ve been respectful about giving us all the information that we need but not giving us more than we absolutely need to get the job done. Certainly there will be no poaching or dismantling of parts.”

Honda’s expected return has been a talking point in Formula One since 2011 and Neale said links with the manufacturer had never been broken since the 1990s.

“We’ve maintained contact with Honda… over many years,” he said. “We have the heritage collection (of old F1 cars) here and we support them in the running and parts for their heritage collection.

“A few senior players… started a speculative discussion but those conversations have really only materialised in today’s announcement in a matter of months.”

McLaren have Britain’s 2009 champion Jenson Button and Mexican Sergio Perez as their current drivers, with no guarantee either will still be there in 2015.

Neale said Button, Honda’s last race winner with their works team in 2006 and now 33 years old, clearly hoped to be.

“Jenson will drive here for as long as he wants to drive here,” he said. “He’s a great guy and he’s doing a really good job for us in some difficult times. he fits our value and our culture here really well.”

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Webber chasing Monaco hat-trick

Defending Monaco GP Champ Mark Webber is looking to achieve his third victory around the streets of the principality come next Sunday.

The Red Bull racer grew up on Australia's street circuits and carried that knowledge with him as he progressed through the ranks and in F1.

A Monaco winner in 2010 and again last season, the 36-year-old is keen to secure his hat-trick and maybe even beat the Mercedes drivers to pole position.

"It's always been a good circuit for me," Webber told Adam Cooper's F1 blog. "In F3000 I won there, and I've had a couple of wins in F1.

"I think I had good street circuit experience in Adelaide GP Formula Ford, Surfer's Paradise Formula Ford.

"I think I'm comfortable on street circuits. Well, those type of street circuits, I can't translate it to Singapore yet, I don't know why!

"I don't know what makes me feel as comfortable as I do round there.

"It's still a daunting place, don't get me wrong, I'm not sitting here saying you're on holiday round there - it's a very, very challenging venue.

"If Mercedes have their one lap pace it might be interesting, if they bang it up the front there again."