FORMULA 1 - 2013

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Why Ricciardo could be a threat to Vettel [Opinion]

Fans may be disappointed not to see Kimi Raikkonen alongside Sebastian Vettel next year, but don’t underestimate Daniel Ricciardo’s chances against the current three times champion.

At first glance it may seem that Red Bull have chosen to give Vettel a new bridesmaid, rather than have two brides in the same team. However on further investigation there are plenty of reasons why Ricciardo could pose a threat to Red Bull’s current number one.

Firstly Daniel has proven this season that over a single lap he is insanely quick. He is very similar to Seb in that respect. A few of the Aussie’s qualifying performances so far this year are very reminiscent of some of Vettel’s qualifying laps in the latter stages of his Toro Rosso career. He qualified sixth in Silverstone (which became fifth after Paul Di Resta’s exclusion). He was also sixth in Germany and eighth in Hungary.

Let’s not forget his incredible sixth place on the grid in Bahrain back in 2012.

To get those grid slots he has had to out-drive his car and beat faster cars. The talent and speed is there. It’s certainly true that his race pace is weaker compared to his one lap pace. However driving a race at the front of the grid is very different to driving a race in the middle of the pack. In the midfield it’s much easier to get involved in an incident or have your strategy wrecked in traffic. It’s always much easier to get big results when you start at the front. Often races are much more straight forward in the leading pack.

With what will surely be another strong Adrian Newey car Ricciardo will get that opportunity. Points may be awarded on a Sunday but how well you do in qualifying often dictates how well you do in a race. Seb’s incredible qualifying record is the foundation that his great success has been built on. Daniel could be the same.

If he can out qualify Seb then he can get away with a slight disadvantage in race pace (which will surely improve with time). It’s very difficult to overtake a driver in an identical car in F1. Therefore he would have a good chance of being able to hold his position ahead of his team mate on the track.

Generally Red Bull’s policy in races has always been that the leading driver gets first refusal during the pit stop phase. So that’s another advantage that Ricciardo would get if he gets himself ahead of his team-mate on the track.

There is no doubt Daniel has the speed to do that and therefore cause his new team-mate problems. It won’t be easy of course but it’s not impossible either. He may have no top team experience or done much running at the front but that’s not necessarily a debarring thing.

Other drivers have moved from midfield to top teams in the past and have got results very quickly. Kimi Raikkonen was only two points short of the world championship in 2003 in his second year with McLaren. Fernando Alonso won his first Grand Prix in his first year with Renault. Jacques Villeneuve and Lewis Hamilton made their F1 debuts in front running teams and both came close to the championship in their first year. Vettel himself also hit the ground running when he made the switch from Toro Rosso to Red Bull in 2009. He won his first race for the team at the third round in China.

There are many who think Sebastian got to choose his team-mate like Michael Schumacher did at Ferrari. If that were true then it’s more likely Vettel would have chosen Jean-Eric Vergne. He would have been less of a threat because he doesn’t have the blindingly quick qualifying pace that Seb’s new Aussie team-mate possesses. Therefore Seb would always have had the advantage of grid position, and therefore would likely stay ahead in races.

If Red Bull were just looking for a number two driver Vergne would have fitted the bill better for those reasons. In Ricciardo they have chosen the quickest candidate of the pair. Of course everyone wants to know whether he will indeed get equal treatment?

Emotionally, at least, Webber has been the number two at Red Bull for the last few years. What has to be remembered is that there is a huge difference between the pair.

Mark wasn’t a product of the Red Bull young driver programme, whereas Daniel is. One of the main reasons why Vettel has always been perceived to be favoured over Webber is that Red Bull would rather have a product of their own programme winning titles, rather than a driver who was not.

You could almost say Mark is an outsider within the team. Helmut Marko (the man who oversees the young driver programme) and Webber certainly haven’t had the best of relationships. It probably would have been considered an embarrassment for Red Bull’s star pupil to be beaten to the title by the older journeyman driver (although an extremely quick journeyman it has to be said). On the other hand Daniel has a very good relationship with Marko so that is a very important box ticked. However from next year it doesn’t matter which driver comes out on top in the team.

They are both products of the Red Bull young driver programme. Marko ought to be happy with whoever comes out on top in the team. Furthermore he will be keen for Ricciardo to make an impact to demonstrate that Vettel isn’t the only product of a programme, which has had millions poured into it over the years.

Many drivers have passed through the programme and fallen by the wayside. Analysts and pundits have accused Red Bull of damaging the well.

Jaime Alguersuari is a good example of that. He had a very promising season in 2011, yet Red Bull decided that he wasn’t good enough. He hasn’t been able to get a F1 seat since. He was a driver who had the potential to turn into a great driver had he been given the chance to grow. Too much is expected of young drivers too soon these days. If Ricciardo could win the championship with Red Bull it would answer many critics. They will then have had two world champion drivers coming up from their programme, which would certainly paint it in a better light. Daniel emerging as a top talent would be great news for Red Bull in the long run too. It means they would have a natural successor to Vettel when he eventually leaves the team.

The likeable Aussie’s main problem could be whether he has enough competitive edge to do well in a top team. He is one of the happiest drivers on the grid and it’s very rare to see him without a smile on his face. Whilst that’s great and endears him to the fans you need to have a bit of a ruthless streak in you to beat the top drivers to a world championship. Although his great personality could end up being a great plus for his chances within the team.

If fans worldwide really take to him he could become a great marketing tool for Red Bull. They won’t mind him beating Seb to the title if it ended up being a good thing for business.

In conclusion if Vettel thinks it will be business as usual with his new team-mate next year he might just end up getting a bit of a shock. There is no doubt he will start as the overwhelming favourite in the team, but Ricciardo will have some very strong weekends next year. We could yet see the Red Bull team mate battle that we have been longing for during the 2013 silly season.

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Here’s What Makes F1 Helmets So Insanely Safe

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has about as much in common with the W04 race car as your tabby does with a cheetah. Both cars have wheels, brakes, and an engine, but that’s where the similarities end. The same goes for the helmets donning the heads of F1′s hot shoes.

Mercedes snagged its two resident drivers — Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg — to go over what makes their helmets special, and it starts with a carbon fiber shell and Kevlar lining custom-molded to their skulls. Naturally, every component is fire resistant, and there’s ducting at the top to provide a bit of air flow, but that’s all they have in common with the brain bucket you throw on before your weekend track day.

Four transparent, tear-off sheets cover the impact-resistant 3 mm thick visor so suicidal bugs can be dispatched at speed. More importantly, there’s now a carbon fiber shield at the top of the visor that was mandated after Felipe Massa took a two-pound spring to the head during qualifying at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix. At 160 mph, it was the equivalent of being hit by an AK-47 round, landing him in the hospital with a fractured skull and an injury to his left eye. Schuberth, F1′s helmet supplier, has an awesome millisecond-by-millisecond breakdown of exactly what transpired during the Massa incident and how it’s informed their helmet designs.

The most interesting bit about these custom helmets is what you don’t see when the drivers are whizzing past the double ton: the aerodynamic aids. Because the driver’s head is exposed, the helmet is designed as a part of the overall shape of the race car. A few clear, polycarbonate pieces are fitted to the top and back of the helmet to keep the air flowing smoothly and eliminate excessive force when they’re gunning down the Monaco straight — more than enough energy to displace a few vertebrae.

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Domenicali: Alonso’s win at Monza in 2010 is the closest to my heart

When you are born in Imola and when your family later puts down its roots in Monza you can’t avoid getting involved in racing, whether on four wheels or two. Stefano Domenicali is no exception.

Born in Imola on 11 May 1965, the Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal now lives with his family in Monza. He has thus turned into a long-term pendulum along the route of the Via Aemilia, first from East to West then in the other direction: the steady midpoint of his pilgrimage being Ferrari’s base at Maranello – the only company for which Stefano has ever worked.

So it’s difficult to find anyone who could lay better claim for this to be their home race, given that the Domenicali family home is right in front of the park that houses the Autodromo di Monza.

This means that often – or at least whenever the Scuderia isn’t taking him all over the world – Stefano enjoys the nature of one of Europe’s most beautiful public parks.

Stefano Domenicali in 2003

“Whether by bike or on foot, the Parco di Monza is a sight to see: during the few weekends when I’m at home I always try to take a look around with my children,” he says. “In a way it’s funny that for one weekend a year the same place becomes my place of work but at least it’s the only grand prix where I can get to the track by bike in five minutes flat!”

“I grew up with the sound of engines because the San Marino Grand Prix was the most important event of the year in my home town,” adds Stefano. “That was the race that made me fall in love with Formula 1.”

“My history with Monza began in 1995, when I was already working for the Scuderia. It wasn’t a lucky start because that year the race was really cursed for us: we were dominating when first Alesi’s TV camera fell off and ended up hitting the front left suspension of Berger’s car, then Jean was forced to retire when a wheel bearing failed.”

Fortunately as time went on, plenty of sporting satisfaction came his way: of Stefano’s 17 consecutive appearances on the pit wall, eight have been won by a driver from the Scuderia.

Stefano Domenicali celebrates with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa after victory in the 2010 Italian GP

“There have been some extraordinary successes but the one closest to my heart was certainly the last one, Fernando Alonso’s win in 2010,” he says. “It was a very tense race, won with exceptional teamwork: drivers, pit stops, strategy – everything was perfect that day. Because of this, after the official podium ceremony – such a thrill to be up there together with Fernando and Felipe – we all went to that fantastic platform that is suspended above the crowd to see the sea of our fans enjoying themselves. Those are the kind of emotions that make you love this sport and which give you the determination in the hardest moments.”

“One of these coincided with another edition of the Italian Grand Prix in 2001. On Tuesday there had been the attack on the Twin Towers and everyone was obviously shocked, then on Saturday there came the very serious accident for Alex Zanardi, a true friend, at the Lausitzring, that we were watching live on television.”

Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari sports the balck nose cone in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy in 2001

“There was a very particular atmosphere in the paddock that weekend, with many people deeply upset – notably Michael who for some days even thought of missing the following race, scheduled for Indianapolis in the USA.” [immediately after the 9/11 tragedies]

“We wanted to send a tangible signal of closeness to the American people and we raced for the whole weekend without our sponsors’ logos and with the F2001’s nose painted black. For me personally it was very hard: what happened made me think how necessary it is always to keep perspective on everything that happens in the tiny microcosm of F1: outside there is a world that is much, much bigger and we must never forget that.”

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Andretti among those praising Red Bull decision to promote Ricciardo

Mario Andretti, Formula 1′s 1978 World Champion, along with several leading Formula 1 figures has backed Red Bull’s decision to promote Daniel Ricciardo.

Some, including the German newspapers Welt and Bild, have criticised the signing of young “nobody” Australian Ricciardo over a champion candidate like Kimi Raikkonen.

But Andretti insisted: “I can understand the decision absolutely. They have this training team, Toro Rosso, that has already created Sebastian Vettel.”

“So why would they have a training team if not for situations like this?” said the 73-year-old, referring to Mark Webber’s departure for Le Mans.

“This is a great signal to all young racing drivers that there is a way without having a big name,” Andretti told Welt.

Mario Andretti with Sebastian Vettel at the Red Bull factory in 2011

Additionaly, some take serious issue with the description of 24-year-old Ricciardo as a “nobody”.

“He is one of the most talented drivers,” said Colin Kolles, who was Ricciardo’s first F1 team boss at HRT.

“His driving style is similar to the young Fernando Alonso and Ayrton Senna,” he added.

However, even if Ricciardo does live up to that promise, it is unlikely he will be fully up to speed by the very first race of 2014 in Australia.

Helmut Marko has said the Australian will be given a grace period of “three to five races”, by which time he will be expected to get “at least enough points for the constructors’ championship”.

Indeed, while Marko has revealed Ricciardo’s contract is for “at least three years”, Autosprint said the deal would include an initial assessment at the mid-point of next season.

Life for Daniel Ricciardo is set to change dramatically

One thing Ricciardo can bank on, however, is a pay rise. Andrew Heathcote, rich list editor at the Australian business magazine BRW, said the driver’s current $600 000 salary will rise to “about $2 million” now that he is at Red Bull.

That is an awful lot cheaper than Raikkonen, but another factor may also have played against the laconic Finn.

“A very important consideration is the new set of rules next year,” Marko told Austria’s Servus TV.

“This requires a lot of work with the technology and in the simulator, for both drivers. This made a difference for Daniel,” he said, perhaps hinting that blase Raikkonen’s work ethic would not have been as good.

Finally, Red Bull designer Adrian Newey played down the saga about Ricciardo’s wide hips, insisting that the 24-year-old will fit in the 2014 car.

“Actually it’s slightly easier now,” said the Briton, “as he is not as tall as Mark.”

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Di Resta admits that he would love to drive for Ferrari

Paul di Resta has been in Italy ahead of the grand prix in the country. With a race cockpit at Ferrari potentially available for 2014, and silly season rumours flooding the newswires , di Resta’s pre-Monza holiday destination might actually be significant.

The Scot has been vacationing in the hamlet town of Corigliano Sessa Aurunca, which is located more than 500 kilometres from Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.

The town is reportedly the ancestral home of di Resta’s grandfather, Felice, who moved to Scotland some six decades ago.

Nevertheless, when questioned in Italy this week, the 27-year-old did not deny his ambition is to move to Ferrari.

“Driving for Ferrari would be a dream for me and my family,” he is quoted by Ansa news agency.

“I feel at home [in Italy],” he smiled. ”But for now I am focused on Force India and the Grand Prix at Monza, where I want to do well.”

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Lopez: Genii will stay in Formula 1 as long as we are interested

Team owner Gerard Lopez insists that he and his organisation are committed to Formula 1, at least for now and he is adamant that the team is not for sale.

In the past weeks, he has consistently played down the importance of the confirmed news that Lotus, the Enstone based team formerly known as Renault and Benetton, has debts of € 120 million.

He told Russia’s Formula 1news.ru that the actual number is not significant to Genii, the investment firm he leads.

So, asked if he is sticking with Formula 1 and with the name Lotus, Lopez answered: “I think so. I have already said that we will stay in Formula 1 as long as we are interested. That was the case two years ago, also last year, and nothing has changed.

“However, not everything depends on us. I cannot say what Formula 1 will be like in three to five years. Our interest depends a lot on whether we are among the best teams in the championship. To win, to fight [with] the best – this is our main motivation to stay,” he insisted.

Indeed, he said that Lotus cannot be compared to Mercedes or Ferrari, given that Genii “do not sell cars”.

Formula 1, for an investment firm, “is a platform, not an advertising space”, said Lopez.

“Generally, having an F1 team in itself is definitely not a project that can bring profits. For us it is enough that the team is just not unprofitable,” he added.

For that reason, Lopez said, Lotus is not for sale.

“We do not hide that we are looking for partners, we talk about it openly, but we are not talking about a sale of the team. It’s not the same thing,” he insisted.

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Tavares departure from Renault could impact their F1 programme

Carlos Tavares (third from left) with Red Bull and Renault managers

A major senior management reshuffle at Renault could impact the French car-maker’s Formula 1 programme in the future, according to media reports.

Renault, whose racing arm Renault Sport F1 supplies engines to multiple Formula 1 teams including world champions Red Bull, has announced that chief operating officer Carlos Tavares, a big supporter is stepping down to pursue “personal projects”.

“In order to reinforce Renault’s industrial and commercial performances, an adaptation of the management’s organisation will soon be decided and announced,” Renault added.

A report in the Business Standard reports that motor racing enthusiast Tavares’ exit coincides with “tough times” for Renault’s road car operations “in the European market”.

Another report, this time at Racecar Engineering, added: “It is almost certain that this change of leadership will have some impact on Renault’s motor sport activity.”

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Michelin reportedly tested Formula 1 tyres at Le Mans

According to reports Michelin may have been preparing for a possible return to Formula 1 next year for some time.

Speculation that the French marque is in the running to either compete against the sport’s sole supplier Pirelli next year, or replace the Italian brand altogether, gained strength recently at Spa-Francorchamps.

But according to the publication Racecar Engineering, Michelin’s preparations date back at least to June.

“At the Le Mans test day, Audi ran a fourth car on narrow [Michelin] tyres”, reported journalist Andrew Cotton.

“Michelin therefore already has live track data for a hybrid car and should be able to build tyres to the demands of Formula 1, even allowing for the extra downforce and cornering speeds of a Formula 1 car over an LMP,” he added.

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Sauber teenager Sirotkin to attend Monza race

Sauber will have a fourth driver on hand watching over proceedings this weekend at Monza.

Always present for the Swiss team at races are Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez, and also the ‘third’ or reserve driver Robin Frijns.

But Speed Week reports that, making his paddock debut in Sauber colours in Italy this weekend will be Sergey Sirotkin.

The teenage Russian, although currently without a Formula 1 super license, has signed a contract to race for the Hinwil based team in 2014, as part of Sauber’s Russian rescue deal.

Sirotkin, who turned 18 late in August, will have “only three things to do at Monza,” according to Speed Week correspondent Mathias Brunner.

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2014 Formula 1 calendar dates not yet finalised

The 2014 Formula 1 calendar appears still to be in a state of flux and is yet to be finalised.

Initially, when the new agreement between Red Bull magnate Dietrich Mateschitz and Bernie Ecclestone was announced, it was said next year’s Austrian Grand Prix would take place on July 6.

Then it emerged that the date had been brought forward by a week, to June 29.

“This is no problem,” a local hotelier told Kleine Zeitung newspaper. ”We had expected this, so we just move all the bookings in parallel.”

APA news agency now reports that yet another change to the provisional Austrian Grand Prix date for 2014 has been made.

The race at the refurbished Red Bull-Ring has now sped forward by another week, to June 22.

“According to what we know now,” a Red Bull spokesperson confirmed, “the race will – at a probability of 99 per cent – take place on the weekend of June 22.”

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Marussia on a high after Spa

Marussia are determined to make the most of any chances they get to impress during the remaining eight races of the season.

The Banbury-based squad pulled off one of the surprises of the year during qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix as Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton made it through to Q2 at the expense of the Williams and Toro Rosso drivers.

The team's decision to put their drivers on slicks before anyone else paid off as Bianchi claimed P15 on the grid with Chilton starting next to him.

Although team principal John Booth would love to replicate that success at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend he knows all the cards will need to fall into place.

"Our qualifying performances in Spa gave the whole team a real lift and served as a reminder of what we can achieve when opportunities such as those arise," he said.

"We continue to work hard at extracting the maximum from our current package and there is a great deal of activity taking place behind the scenes to ensure we leave no stone unturned. Equally, we are confident in our ability to take our chances when the right circumstances transpire, as they can make all the difference for us in the remaining eight races of the season.

"We have a few mechanical developments for Monza and we'll be combining those with some existing parts to meet the demands of lowest downforce circuit of the season. This track is a real classic and it is not surprising therefore that we have one of our biggest contingents of guests this year accompanying us."

Bianchi, who finished 18th at Spa, admits Marussia won't have it easy for the rest of the season.

"We had a very positive qualifying session in Spa which gave us all a great boost, but Sunday showed us how hard it is to hang on to the opportunities we create for ourselves," he said.

"The remaining races will be a tough challenge for us, but we know what we have to do and we are pushing hard behind the scenes to find everything we can from our current package."

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Button: Team boss job not for me

You are unlikely to see Jenson Button on the pit wall once he retires as a driver as he believes the job of a team principal is too stressful.

Button has been on the Formula One circuit for more than a decade and he still has a few years left in him as McLaren are expected to hand him a new three-year contract in the coming weeks.

However, don't expect him to follow the lead of his childhood hero Alain Prost once he decides to call it a day and end his driving career.

"My hero, Alain Prost, started a team in the late nineties and it didn't work out for him," Button is quoted as saying by Press Association Sport.

"I remember speaking to him about what it was like and he said it was the most stressful time of his life - even more so than racing with Ayrton Senna.

"He said it was non-stop. He said he couldn't sleep. He didn't sleep through that period of time. He said it was very tough.

"It's a challenge, definitely, but it's not the challenge I'm looking for in life."

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Vijay Mallya: giving F1 seats to pay drivers sends "wrong signal"

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya has warned that giving Formula 1 seats to pay drivers sends the "wrong signal".

Mallya, who co-owns the Silverstone-based squad, has a policy of not signing drivers purely on the basis of what budget they can bring.

Although Adrian Sutil is believed to bring a small amount of sponsorship to the team, performance was the major consideration in choosing between the German and rookie Jules Bianchi.

During the off-season, it is understood the team conducted a detailed analysis based on the relative performance of the two drivers.

This concluded that the rapid but inexperienced Bianchi might have cost the team a position in the constructors' championship compared to a more experience hand such as Sutil.

"It sends a very wrong signal to the team to take pay drivers," Mallya said.

"I consult my engineers and the technical director on the selection of drivers, particularly for 2013 when we had a choice of two and finally we went with Adrian Sutil.

"That was largely because the key technical people in the team said 'let's go with him'.

"I did not want them to feel that all the efforts in producing a competitive car were going to be compromised on track because I had chosen a driver who wasn't the best available drivers.

"I've not gone with pay drivers, I've gone with drivers of talent and that policy will stay."

Force India has previously recruited Paul di Resta and Bianchi as third drivers, giving both Friday practice runs to aid their development.

It announced earlier this week that GP2 title contender James Calado will now move into that role after a strong performance in July's young driver test.

"We were very impressed with James Calado," said Mallya.

"In his first time in an F1 car, apart from straightline testing, he did a great job.

"He was number one on my list [for a number three role]."

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Sauber won't retain F1 reserve driver Robin Frijns for 2014

Sauber has told its Formula 1 reserve driver Robin Frijns that he will not be retained for next year.

The reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion was signed up as the team's third driver last winter, but with Sauber's option on his contract expiring this month the Swiss outfit has decided not to keep him as part of their setup.

Frijns, who has scored one win in a bit-part GP2 campaign this year, is not racing at Monza this weekend and will not attend the race with Sauber.

"I don't know what happens now," the 22-year-old told AUTOSPORT.

"All I know is I'm sitting at home and everybody is in Monza.

"I'm a free agent. I don't blame Sauber, they have to keep themselves alive as a team and I understand that.

"Of course they have a great history with young drivers and giving them a chance in Formula 1.

"But they also have a financial situation that everyone knows about, and that is something that is out of my hands."

TOUGH YEAR

Frijns, who won three junior single seater championships in succession (Formula BMW, Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula Renault 3.5) prior to this season, said his 2013 has been very hard to deal with.

"I've had a lot of downs this year," he added. "It's annoying but there is nothing I can do about it.

"I helped Hilmer Motorsport get their first GP2 win which is a big achievement that I'm proud of.

"But other than that it has been a terrible year.

"Right now, we don't have a plan. The most important thing now is I'm free and I can do what I want.

"Hopefully someone gives me a chance to show what I can do."

With Sauber being one of the few F1 teams without the use of a simulator, Frijns's seat time as reserve driver has been limited to running at Silverstone's young driver test.

The outfit is also now in the process of preparing Russian FR3.5 racer Sergey Sirotkin for a graduation to F1, potentially as early as 2014 following a deal struck with a group of Russian investors.

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Analysis: how F1's top three teams are juggling 2014 preparations

Formula 1's leading drivers may only be thinking of victory and title hopes in Italy this weekend, but it is the looming preparations for 2014's rules that is becoming the biggest issue for their bosses.

While the championship battle approaches what could be a crucial phase for Sebastian Vettel and his rivals, back at the top teams' factories, it has become a tough juggling act matching this year's ambitions against the huge challenge of next season's new regulations.

Creating all-new cars around the new V6 turbo engines and their hybrid powerplants is a massive task - and means teams have had to focus efforts on next year much earlier than they would do if the regulations had stayed the same.

Switching resources completely over to 2014 has been easy for teams like McLaren, whose title hopes expired long ago, but the decision gets harder the closer to the front you are.

As Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn explains: "To be in a position to abandon a season is normally because you don't have a very good car. Fortunately we have a good car this year and want to keep it going.

"In 2008, when I was with Honda, we had a pretty poor car that year and it was an easy decision to say halfway through the campaign, 'let's forget it, let's leave a crew of people to run it for the rest of the year and let's focus 100 percent on next year.'

"If you are in good shape you never have that opportunity - you have to manage your resources all the time."

AUTOSPORT looks at how the top three teams are dealing with the headache of 2013 v 2014.

RED BULL 'STRETCHED' BUT STILL PUSHING

Red Bull is well aware that a run of victories at this stage of the campaign would be enough to all but kill off the world championship battle.

Doing that would then not force it into extending the development push of this year's car any more than is necessary – which will give it more time to devote to its 2014 challenger.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said that at the moment though, it was not a straightforward process to work out how best to divide its efforts.

"It is still a fine balance," he said. "That is part of the challenge at the moment of splitting resource.

"The guys back at the factory are working tremendously hard and all credit to them that we managed to achieve the result in Belgium and continued to develop this car, while facing the challenge that all teams up and down the pitlane are facing of designing and developing a completely new concept of car for next year.

"It is going to absolutely stretch us to the maximum but that is what we enjoy."

FERRARI SETS SINGAPORE DEADLINE

Red Bull's rivals are determined not to let the reigning champion have everything its own way, however, and will keep pushing for the time being to see what damage can be inflicted on Vettel's lead.

Fernando Alonso knows that at Monza he needs to capitalise on the step forward in form displayed in Belgium to deliver a victory that will properly reignite his title campaign.

As the head of the team's technical department, Pat Fry says that for now the focus is on doing all it can for Ferrari's home race and the Singapore Grand Prix – by which stage it will be able to take stock of whether it is worth investing more in the F138.

"It is always a difficult balancing act, but we are still pushing as hard as we can," explained Fry.

"We have updates of improvements in the tunnel. A few more for Monza, and another step for Singapore.

"So we will keep pushing for Singapore, see where we are and then revise things."

MERCEDES NOT GOING TO COMPROMISE 2014

One team eager not to spend any more effort on 2013 than it needs to is Mercedes, with team principal Ross Brawn adamant that its longer-term ambitions will be better served doing the perfect job for next year.

Although Lewis Hamilton's remains in contention for the title – albeit in need of a string of wins to start properly breathing down Vettel's neck – Brawn sees little benefit from devoting everything to a late season update charge.

"We are not thinking about winning the championship," he said. "Obviously I don't want that to sound like we don't want to win the championship, but we are not compromising our 2014 programme.

"Our 2014 programme is well defined; it is in a good shape, and progressing well.

"But there are big challenges remaining and we are not going to compromise that."

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Alonso and Hamilton best paid drivers in global motor sport

Fernando Alonso has emerged as the highest earning driver in the world of motor racing, with Lewis Hamilton not far behind as Formula 1 drivers take the top two spots in the big earners list ahead of their Nascar rivals.

The authoritative business magazine Forbes said the Ferrari driver earns $30 million per year, of which $2 million is made up of personal endorsements.

In second place is another Formula 1 driver, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who reportedly makes $27.5 million per year, followed by Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr, with $26 million.

Another American, Jimmie Johnson, is next best with his $24 million, trailed by MotoGP veteran Valentino Rossi ($22 million , and yet another Nascar star Tony Stewart ($18.5 million).

According to Forbes, Formula 1′s reigning triple world champion and 2013 title leader Sebastian Vettel makes $18 million per year, slightly less than Nascar’s Jeff Gordon.

And female driver Danica Patrick is not far behind Vettel with her $15 million, which is more than the $14 million reportedly earned by McLaren’s Jenson Button.

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Monza marshals threaten to strike ahead of Italian GP weekend

Marshals scheduled to work throughout this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza are threatening to strike.

Reports ahead of the Monza race weekend say the marshals are angry their minor reimbursements for travel expenses dating back to last year’s event have not been paid by the Automobile Club d’Italia.

The headline of the Milan daily Il Giorno read: “Shadow of a strike”.

One volunteer marshal is quoted as saying: “There are some who think only of the race, forgetting that someone is making money at the expense of our labour.

“Despite our passion, many of us are thinking the only way to be heard is to strike.”

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More creditors pressure Sauber with legal action

Long after news of the Swiss team’s so called ‘Russian rescue deal’, Sauber is still struggling financially.

That is the claim of the Swiss business newspaper Handelszeitung, reporting that even after Russian money apparently began to flow, unpaid team creditors continue to file formal prosecutions against Sauber.

The report said that, since July, almost 20 new creditors – demanding another almost 250,000 Swiss francs – have been added to Sauber’s official debt register.

“We have said that we are in a challenging situation,” a team spokesman is quoted by 20min.ch.

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Vettel: Number 1 or Number 2 drivers is pretty outdated in Formula 1 today

World champion Sebastian Vettel has rejected suggestions Daniel Ricciardo’s appointment as his teammate for next year and beyond makes him the undisputed Number 1 at Red Bull.

Although the German has won the past three world championships for the team, and is currently running away with a fourth consecutive title in 2013, his teammate Mark Webber has always pushed for equal status.

But with Webber now departing for Le Mans, the energy drink-owned team has decided to replace him with a younger Australian, Ricciardo, who is being promoted from the second Red Bull outfit Toro Rosso.

Ricciardo, 24, has secured the post despite Red Bull’s admission it considered signing Kimi Raikkonen.

It gives the impression Red Bull, although insisting identical equipment and support will be supplied to both drivers in 2014, wanted to give Vettel clear air with de-facto ‘number 1′ status in deference to his title successes.

He insisted that, despite their eventually broken personal relationship, he was always able to work ‘professionally’ with Webber — even after the damaging ‘multi-21′ affair of Malaysia.

Marca asked Vettel if he will be giving the veteran Australian a parting gift, to mark the end of their five-year partnership.

“Maybe a box of chocolates,” Vettel, who said earlier this year that he took victory in Malaysia because Webber did not ‘deserve’ it, joked.

“To be honest, I think we were always very successful together and he was a very difficult driver to beat. He contributed a lot to the team; really positive things. Many more positive than negative,” added Vettel.

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BMW denies Formula 1 return speculation

Sebastian Vettel drives the BMW Sauber F1.07

BMW has denied the latest round of rumours suggesting a return to Formula 1 is on the cards.

Internet reports this week said the German carmaker, having pulled out of its works collaboration with Sauber at the end of 2009, is thinking about following Formula 1 returnee Honda back onto the grid as a supplier of turbo V6 engines in 2015 or 2016.

BMW motor sport director Jens Marquardt told Germany’s Sport Bild: “The exit from Formula 1 was a strategic business decision.

“There are currently no considerations about coming back. We feel very comfortable in the (German touring car series) DTM.”

Correspondents Bianca Garloff and Ralf Bach said rumours of BMW’s return had swirled in the paddock of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa recently.

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Kubica does time in Mercedes Formula 1 simulator

Robert Kubica has revealed he tested at the wheel of Mercedes’ Formula 1 driver simulator at Brackley.

It emerged several months ago that the Pole, who since his horror rally crash and injuries in early 2011 has returned full-time to world rally’s second-tier series, has also been keeping his Formula 1 skills up to date in conjunction with Mercedes’ development programme.

“But I will not tell you how many times I’ve been there or how many laps I did,” Kubica said in May.

But the 28-year-old has now told Germany’s Auto Bild Motorsport: “In the last six months I have been in the Mercedes simulator more than once and less than ten times.

“The work gives me the opportunity to see what limitations I have and how I continue to develop myself,” added Kubica.

And he added: “I have the feeling that Mercedes is happy with what I have been doing.”

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Ferrari tifosi expecting Alonso to trigger wave of red flags at Monza

Fernando Alonso is the man who can make the red wave of Ferrari fans truly happy at Monza’s ‘Pista Magica’, Italy’s revered cathedral of speed that is also Formula 1′s fastest circuit, this weekend.

A Ferrari one-two would be a dream scenario for the ‘tifosi’, with Brazilian Felipe Massa needing his best result in almost a year for that to happen, but a win for Alonso in the final European round of the season is required – and entirely possible.

With eight races remaining, the Spaniard is 46 points behind Red Bull’s triple world champion and overall leader Sebastian Vettel with some of the German’s most dominant tracks coming up in Asia and the Middle East.

Monza is a special place for Vettel, having taking his first Formula 1 win there with tiny Toro Rosso in 2008, but Red Bull have triumphed there only once – in 2011 – and team principal Christian Horner spoke in Belgium of it as a potential ‘Achilles Heel’ for his car.

“We don’t expect, maybe, to be that strong (at Monza) but let’s see,” Vettel said after winning at Spa last month for his fifth victory of the year.

There is more optimism – and burden of expectation – at Ferrari, the most successful constructor by far at their home circuit with 18 wins over the years compared to McLaren’s 10.

Alonso won in 2010, and was third in 2011 and 2012. He also won with McLaren in 2007 and was second in 2005 with Renault.

Sunday’s race, at a circuit haunted by the ghosts of history with the decaying 1950s banking quietly crumbling beyond the modern track, will sound a last post for Formula One’s V8 engine in Europe and locals would argue that a win for the sport’s oldest and most successful team would be a fitting farewell.

“Its an important weekend for us, for the team,” agreed Alonso, who will have to be at his very best to line up on the front row for the first time in 22 races and more than a year of trying.

“Last year we were very close to repeat the victory that we got also in 2010, so we arrive fully motivated again and in Monza we would like to give some smiles and some satisfaction to the tifosi and we will try our best,” said the double champion.

Massa, whose future is under more scrutiny now that Red Bull have decided their 2014 line-up, has made only one appearance on the podium this season – a third in Spain – and has not won a race since 2008.

There will be no shortage of motivation for Massa, even without the pressure of fighting to keep his job, in a race without Italian drivers.

“I am Brazilian but my family came from Italy so this is something of a home race as I have an Italian passport and our family has something of an Italian lifestyle,” he told the Ferrari website this week.

“This all adds up to a very special race for me.”

Toro Rosso’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who will be Vettel’s team mate at Red Bull next season as replacement for departing compatriot Mark Webber, also has an Italian passport but cannot count on too much support even if he currently races for an Italian-based team.

The Monza fans are famed for their passion as well as their complete devotion to all-things Ferrari, their enthusiasm more like a soccer crowd venting its ire at anyone on the podium not dressed in red.

Lewis Hamilton was booed by them last year when he won for McLaren, with Ferrari-powered cars second, third and fourth, and cannot expect much to have changed should he return triumphant with Mercedes.

The 2008 world champion is chasing his fifth pole in succession to give himself the best shot of a repeat win to close the gap on Vettel and Alonso after being left trailing by both rivals at Spa and finishing third.

The driver starting on pole has won eight of the last 10 races at Monza and only three current drivers – by coincidence the top three in the championship – have won there before. None of them has so far won twice in Italy for the same team.

“We will use a refined version of the low-drag package introduced at Spa. We hope to see an improvement in race pace after the lessons we learned over the race weekend in Belgium,” said Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff.

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Supermarket chain on board with Red Bull at Monza

Infiniti Red Bull Racing is proud to welcome Italian Supermarket chain Simply as an official race partner for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

With more than 1,500 stores across Italy and more than 9,500 employees, Simply has been providing quality produce, convenience and high standards since 1961.

The partnership means that Simply’s logo will feature on the front wing of the RB9, as well as on the race suits of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. The agreement renews a relationship which began last year, when the Simply chain featured on the RB8 in Monza.

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Button: I want to be at McLaren in 2015, that is an important year

Jenson Button says he wants to be at McLaren until at least 2015 so he can team up with Honda again when the Japanese company returns as engine partners to the former Formula 1 world champions.

The 2009 champion still does not have a signed contract for next year, although both sides have made clear they want to continue together and Button has said he intends to see out his F1 career there.

Talks have focused on the length of the extension with Button thinking well beyond next year, when McLaren will still be powered by Mercedes and a new V6 engine is introduced in a major shake-up of the rules.

“I want to be here in 2015. That is an important year, I think,” the 33-year-old told reporters ahead of an Italian Grand Prix at which the team will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their founding by New Zealander Bruce McLaren.

“I’ve worked for many years with that Japanese engine manufacturer, it will be exciting to work with them again in the future.”

Button spent six years in Honda-powered cars, first with the BAR outfit that became the Honda team, and secured his first victory in Formula One with them in Hungary in 2006.

McLaren were at their most dominant with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna in Honda-powered cars in 1988 and 1989.

The Monaco-based Button has a Japanese girlfriend and regards Tokyo as a home from home.

Although he has been linked in media speculation to Ferrari, where Brazilian Felipe Massa’s place is under renewed scrutiny, Button left no doubt that his loyalties were firmly with McLaren despite a tough season.

The team have finished no higher than fifth in 11 races so far and a podium place, let alone a victory, looks a tall order even if it cannot be ruled out.

“I am loyal. In the past sometimes I haven’t been,” agreed the Briton.

“I think if you are with a smaller team that you can’t see a future with, it’s the right thing to always look for something better. But when you are with a team like this with the future that this team has, this is a very exciting opportunity for any driver.

“I know that Red Bull have had a great run for the last few years but it will stop,” added Button. “I think when you are in a top team, any of the three or four top teams, it’s better to stay put for the near future. But especially for me because I really do feel happy here.”

Button, who will be the second oldest driver in the sport next season after Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen, expected McLaren to come back strongly in 2014.

“I am really excited about 2015 but first of all we’ve got to look to next year and I think we can win the world championship next year with Mercedes-Benz,” he said.

“There’s still a very good partnership there with them and it will be nice to go out on a high.”

Button has finished second three times at Monza but that sort of result can hardly be hoped for now and in any case a podium finish would not redeem the season for a team more used to winning.

Despite that, the Briton has not completely ruled out a return to the most hostile podium in the sport this weekend, with the partisan and passionate Monza crowd regularly booing those who are not wearing Ferrari red.

“It can happen. But we need wet weather, we need everything on our side to make it happen. We are not quick enough, our outright speed is not there,” he said.

“You have those three teams (Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari) that are still fighting for the world championship, they are going to be pushing all the way to the end of the season whereas for us we’re concentrating more on next year’s car.

“There are parts that will be on this year’s car that will also help us next year but we are not designing certain parts for this year’s car that will be useless next year. We are limiting how much we will move forward this season.”

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Lotus announces deal with UAE property giant Emaar

Lotus F1 Team welcomes Dubai-based residential and commercial property investment company Emaar Properties to its portfolio of partners, in a new two-year deal commencing with the Italian Grand Prix [september 6th – 8th 2013].

Emaar’s portfolio includes such notable properties as The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa; the world’s tallest building. As Official Partner to Lotus F1 Team, Emaar will enjoy a presence on the team’s E21 car in addition to a range of other Lotus F1 Team marketing collateral. This new relationship builds on the team’s recent partnerships with brands such as Microsoft, Unilever ( via Clear and Rexona) and The Coca-Cola Company (via Burn).

Eric Boullier, Team Principal, Lotus F1 Team: “We are delighted to begin this new relationship with Emaar Properties; particularly as the UAE has been a fruitful location for us on track with Kimi Räikkönen winning the 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. That victory truly confirmed Lotus F1 Team as one of the foremost outfits in Formula 1 and we have continued our strong performances this season.

With this new partnership with the developer of such iconic projects as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, we are looking forward to some home support as we race in the UAE once again this year. We are also very excited to see how this partnership will further enhance Lotus F1 Team’s brand value.”

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties: “Formula 1 brings man, mind and machine together in one exciting journey to perfection. The minute attention to detail, the passion and commitment, and the determination of every participant to push the boundaries are values that have also set Emaar apart, as we challenged accepted norms to develop world-class projects such as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall.

“Our partnership with Lotus F1 Team, a remarkable team with impeccable credentials in the racing circuit, is therefore a perfect fit to our own values. As they race at the Formula 1 Championship circuits across the world, we are truly honoured to extend our support to the Lotus F1 Team, while also engaging with our international clientele and further defining the global identity of our brand.”

Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer with a significant presence in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. A provider of premium lifestyles through its world-class portfolio of integrated communities, the company also has proven competencies in shopping malls & retail, and hospitality & leisure. Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, are among Emaar’s trophy developments.

Emaar is currently expanding The Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue by 1 million sq ft expansion and also redefining the cultural scene of the city with The Opera District in Downtown Dubai, to feature the city’s first opera house and several design galleries. The company is also partnering in implementing Mohammed Bin Rashid City (MBR City), with Dubai Hills Estate, the first phase of MBR City, developed as a joint venture with Meraas Holding.

Among other mega-projects of Emaar is the King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia the region’s largest private sector-led project. Emaar is also the largest foreign direct investor in India’s real estate sector and its joint venture has a country-wide presence covering the residential, commercial, retail and hospitality sectors.