FORMULA 1 - 2013

[MIKA27]

Mercedes hopes to win F1 young driver test reprieve from FIA

Mercedes has enquired with the FIA about getting a day of running at the upcoming young driver test to try out Pirelli's new tyres.

The team was initially happy to accept that it would not run at Silverstone next week when race drivers join the test, as punishment for its secret Pirelli test earlier this year.

But AUTOSPORT has learned that Mercedes is awaiting a ruling from the FIA on whether or not there are grounds for it to get some running, so it can gather some data about the new tyres ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

One of its arguments is that with Pirelli's new 2012 construction tyres being introduced on safety grounds, it would not be wise for Mercedes to head in to a race weekend without having completed a single lap on them.

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff told AUTOSPORT that the matter was still 'a work in progress' and that safety was an issue.

"When it is about safety it would be good if all teams are clear whether they [the tyres] work on their cars," he said. "But it is up to the FIA to decide.

"Safety is the priority for the FIA and I am sure they would safeguard that it is the same for everybody."

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn has admitted, however, that Mercedes' only real chance of getting some running would be if the test ran into a fourth day - something that is unlikely to happen.

"If it was extended to a fourth day then we would have an argument that the fourth day - an extra day- should be made available to us as our penalty was three days," Brawn said.

"I haven't heard the latest on what [other teams] are doing with drivers as it seems to vary.

"We certainly won't be able to attend the three days and it doesn't look like it is going to be extended."

The FIA is expected to clarify its position on the young driver test later this week.

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Ferrari '100 per cent' in 2013 F1 title hunt - Stefano Domenicali

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali insists his team is still '100 per cent' in contention for this year's Formula 1 world championship.

The Italian squad has not shown race-winning pace in the last four races after Fernando Alonso's victory in the Spanish Grand Prix.

Alonso, fourth in Germany on Sunday, said after the race that only strategy had helped the Italian team fight for a podium finish.

Despite the team's lack of competitiveness, Domenicali remains fully convinced that Ferrari can turn things around in the remaining races.

"It's doable, for sure. One hundred per cent," said Domenicali.

"If you believe a team like us would say the championship is finished after half the season, that is absolutely not the case. The thing we have to do is improve the car, full stop.

"Things change so quickly that we've seen in the last couple of races. There are nine races to go, everything is still possible."

Despite admitting that Ferrari needs to take a step forward with its car, Domenicali said that most important thing was to understand how Pirelli's new tyres work in order to achieve the best possible results.

"I believe now there is a very important element that has to be considered apart from the development of that - and that is really to understand how the new tyres will affect the performance of the car," he added.

"I would say that's the most critical thing. It's essential if you want to fight for the championship."

ALONSO VS VETTEL - POINTS COMPARISON, LAST 5 RACES:

Even though Vettel retired from the British Grand Prix, allowing third-placed Alonso to claw back 15 points, the Ferrari driver has lost ground in the world championship fight since winning the Spanish GP in May.

Spain - 17 points

Vettel, 89; Alonso, 72

Monaco - 29 points

Vettel, 107; Alonso, 78

Canada - 36 points

Vettel, 132; Alonso, 96

Britain - 21 points

Vettel, 132; Alonso, 111

Germany - 34 points

Vettel, 157; Alonso, 123

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Hulkenberg and Raikkonen, The Key Drivers as thoughts turn to 2014:

There is always some movement of drivers in F1 from one season to another and there is usually one driver who holds everything up.

This year the situation is slightly different as the retirement of Mark Webber creates an opening at the sport’s top team, Red Bull. This has fired a starting gun on driver movements for 2014.

As a result there is some action in the paddock with drivers’ agents getting busy making conversation with team bosses.

Kimi Raikkonen is in the frame for the Red Bull ride, up against Daniel Ricciardo and Jean Eric Vergne. While Sebastian Vettel was effusive in his praise for Raikkonen yesterday in the FIA press conference, that could just as easily be because he knows that the Finn won’t be his team mate, as that he will.

Raikkonen has his supporters within the team, but there is a sense that, for Red Bull’s junior programme and its backers, Ricciardo is in the box seat at the moment. He said on Saturday that nothing is decided yet and Raikkonen reiterated that on Sunday.

Meanwhile Lotus are very keen on Nico Hulkenberg. He has been in discussions with them for some time. If Raikkonen stays at Lotus, it will be interesting to see whether they look to hire Hulkenberg anyway, or whether they stick with Grosjean, who had his strongest weekend for a while in Germany.

The team is never quite sure what it’s going to get with the Frenchman on any given weekend and he still has only 35% of the points of Raikkonen – although twice recently he has been instructed to let him through.

Hulkenberg provides a more consistent proposition and is highly rated by everyone he has worked with.

He finds himself in an awkward situation, with Sauber at something of a financial crossroads. The Swiss team is tight on money at the moment and the story in the paddock on Sunday was that Sauber has released him from his contract should he wish to leave.

With Felipe Massa struggling again at Ferrari, as the negotiations over 2014 start to ramp up, one wonders whether they will find a way to give him yet another chance or whether this is finally the end of the road for the Brazilian.

As lead driver in Ferrari’s ‘satellite’ team, Hulkenberg has been on Maranello’s radar this season, although he has always insisted his move there was not a holding pattern waiting for a Ferrari seat.

The interest from Lotus makes his situation more interesting and raises his stock – one way or another it seems he may finally get his chance with a leading team next year, if the cards fall right for him.

[Bartolomeo]

As a fan, I was hoping for 2-3 more laps, great finish!

Bart

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As a fan, I was hoping for 2-3 more laps, great finish!

Bart™

Would have been great indeed!!

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Lauda and Formula 1 community give movie ‘Rush’ a thumbs up

Niki Lauda says that the Formula 1 fraternity this week gave a thumbs-up to a movie about the sport’s legendary 1976 world championship season.

During qualifying at the Nurburgring on Saturday, the triple world champion was spotted in the Mercedes garage with Ron Howard.

‘Happy Days’ actor, American Howard, director of Apollo 13, was behind ‘Rush’ – a movie about Austrian legend Lauda, his fiery 1976 Nurburgring crash and his rivalry with the late Briton, James Hunt.

The film will not be released until September, but some of the sport’s leading figures – including Bernie Ecclestone and Lewis Hamilton – were given a special screening at the Nurburgring, Lauda told Austria’s Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

“The pictures are really immense,” said the 64-year-old Austrian, now co-owner and chairman of the Mercedes team.

“And the director Ron Howard was really happy because he could see how excited these Formula 1 experts were about his film,” added Lauda.

A British newspaper said that Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Adrian Newey also attended the screening.

MIKA: This will be brilliant!

[MIKA27]

Hamilton: No point thinking about title

Lewis Hamilton admits he will need some luck to not only win the Championship, but also get that elusive first win for Mercedes this season.

The 28-year-old started the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in pole position, but he went backwards as soon as the lights went out and eventually finished in fifth place.

With Sebastian Vettel winning the race and his other title rivals Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finishing ahead of him, Hamilton knows he's not really in the title battle at the moment.

"I'm not really thinking about the Championship now," he said. "There's really no point thinking about it - especially as he [sebastian Vettel] is over 60 points ahead."

He added: "We are going to need a little bit of luck on our side and a bit of elbow grease, and we might be able to do it but I don't know."

Hamilton has now claimed three pole positions for Mercedes, but while his team-mate Nico Rosberg already has two wins to his name, the Briton only has three P3s.

"It would be good to get a win but at the moment it really doesn't feel like it's going to happen," Hamilton said.

"Luck is definitely not with me but who knows? At some stage it's got to come."

Hamilton didn't hide his frustration after Sunday's race saying "I have nothing positive to say about these tyres".

Pirelli is hoping to introduce new tyres at the Hungarian GP, but while other drivers will be able to sample them at the Young Driver Test at Silverstone from July 15-17, Hamilton and his Mercedes team won't get that opportunity following their ban.

"I don't know if people fully appreciate how big a negative it is for us not to do the test," he said.

"We are going to go to Hungary when other people have gone and tested (the new tyres with) different ride-heights, different pressures, got their car ready for a long run so they arrive ready.

"We don't have any of that information so when we get there we're going to go into it blind. We shouldn't be in this position in sport, but that's the way it is."

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Vettel: It tastes very, very sweet but in the end it’s just another race

Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel is not one for tears or emotional pronouncements and even his first victory at his home German Grand Prix on Sunday was treated largely like any other race.

The 26-year-old Red Bull driver has dominated Formula 1 for the past three years and leads the standings again by 34 points but his CV was missing a victory on home asphalt and a win in July.

Now that has been chalked off it is onwards and upwards, with little fanfare and lots of single-minded determination.

“In the end it’s just another race and we try to prepare as much as we can for every race,” Vettel told a news conference, his matter-of-fact expression barely changing after his 30th career victory in F1.

“Surely winning here is very special and tastes very, very sweet, especially the way we won today with a lot of pressure from behind, but I think we did our homework.”

It was the nature of the close victory which thrilled Vettel as much as it coming at the Nuerburgring, with Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen chasing him down to the last.

“For sure he is extremely proud about what he has achieved today but he has always taken the bigger picture. We discussed it before the race and said ‘let’s go for the best we can and if that is second today it’s second’,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told reporters.

“There are just as many points attached to this race as the other 18.”

Always extremely knowledgeable technically, Vettel consumes every detail of Formula 1 while keeping the media at arms length when it comes to his private life.

He is often coy in news conferences, especially this week when asked if he would like Raikkonen to replace the retiring Webber at Red Bull, but gives credit where credit is due.

“We had a little bit of a cushion but Lotus was incredibly quick today and gave us definitely a big run for our money,” he said.

Red Bull ensured Vettel pitted to cover the third stop of third-placed Romain Grosjean and all went well in the end.

“For sure, there are a lot of expectations. Especially when you have a good car and for a couple of years you’ve had a good run, when you come to home soil people expect you to win,” said the German.

“I think the whole team, including myself, we never ever let that get to our head but it just feels very, very sweet now to have succeeded after a couple of tries.”

Vettel hit the headlines after ignoring orders and overtaking Australian team mate Mark Webber to win in Malaysia in March. That same stone-cold attitude of a champion means he is unlikely to be partying long into the German night.

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Montezemolo: I have faith, but now it’s time for fewer words and more achievements

The German Grand Prix marked the end of a double-header that, along with the inevitable stress load, seems to have generated new perspectives for the Ferrari team.

At the usual meeting that follows every grand prix Sunday between President Montezemolo, Team Principal Stefano Domenicali and the team’s engineers, the agenda included the development programme of the F138 and planning for the next two crucial dates in the diary: the Young Driver Test taking place at Britain’s Silverstone circuit from July 17-19 and the Hungarian Grand Prix on the weekend of July 28 at the Hungaroring on the outskirts of Budapest.

Even though the last two weeks have been notable for a huge effort to improve the car and to reduce the gap to the front especially in qualifying, plus the question of tyres, the team wants to respond with even more of a push.

That’s only right at a crucial moment of the season because now it is no longer just a question of tyre management or adapting to weather conditions, but also the obligation to define the direction of development of the F138.

Luca di Montezemolo told the team’s official website: “Today we looked at the agenda for the coming weeks of work to clarify the priorities along with the engineers. Now I ask of everyone a greater determination and strong concentration on every detail. I have enormous faith in the team and I expect a concrete response from everyone, because only through great will and plenty of work will it be possible to come away with the results that we all want. To sum up: fewer words and more achievements.”

Scuderia Ferrari left the Nürburgring clearly disappointed with Fernando Alonso’s fourth place and Felipe Massa’s retirement.

Those results didn’t match up to expectations and they were not attributable to external factors. But what can be seen on the faces of all the Scuderia’s men and women working at Maranello is a great desire to get going again.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali responded, ”Yet again we have had a confirmation of the importance of analysing the data and managing the tyre behaviour. That is the same for everyone but we must try to get even more out of them than the others if we want to win. That also applies to the development of the F138, an area where we must do better than our opponents.”

“Now we have some decisive weeks ahead looking towards Hungary. There is a crucial test which we must exploit to the maximum, in terms of both the performance of the tyres and the technical development of the car. Everything is still to play for because we are only halfway through the champoinship and the goals we had at the start of the year are still within reach,” added Domenicali.

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Di Resta and Hulkenberg candidates for Lotus seat in 2014

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has confirmed reports that Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta are candidates to drive for Lotus in 2014.

That is because the Enstone based team is facing up to the very real possibility lead driver Kimi Raikkonen will switch to Red Bull.

We reported earlier that Frenchman Boullier, the Lotus team boss, is scheduled to sit down with Finn Raikkonen’s management this week.

In the meantime, Hulkenberg is technically a free agent, because – while he will continue to race for Sauber in 2013 – the struggling Swiss team reportedly breached contract by failing to pay him in May and June.

“I am in contact with Nico,” Boullier, who reportedly also mentioned Paul di Resta, is quoted on Tuesday by France’s L’Equipe.

Still, Lotus has not given up on retaining Raikkonen – and the inimitable Finn might not like the sound of comments made on Monday by Red Bull’s Helmut Marko.

Firstly, Raikkonen does not like his decisions rushed, and Lotus is prepared to wait for him.

Marko said Red Bull wants to settle the name of Mark Webber’s 2014 successor “in the summer”.

“Budapest is the beginning of the summer break. Spa at the end. So it (the decision) will fall some time in August,” he told Austrian television Servus TV.

Marko is also insisting that Webber’s successor make a long-term commitment – something Raikkonen might also baulk at.

“It shouldn’t be for only one year, but for the next three years,” said the Austrian. “Continuity has distinguished us as a team.”

Further, Raikkonen despises media and sponsor work, while rumours also suggest that he spends precious little time with his engineers.

Marko, though, wants Sebastian Vettel’s next teammate to do plenty of “simulator work” whilst working “awfully hard” with the team’s technical boffins.

“There are many criteria that must be filled,” he added.

Presumably, Marko wants Raikkonen to truly want the Red Bull seat, rather than slip into the sort of top team-complacency that at Ferrari ended his first Formula 1 career.

“We have plenty of choice,” said Marko. “There is Kimi and there are many others – almost everyone would want to be with us.

“We need two strong drivers, so you also can win the constructors’ championship. The opposite is Ferrari, who put everything on Alonso and the drivers’ championship.

“But we want both,” added Marko.

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Lotus boss admits that Raikkonen’s salary was paid late

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has admitted that Kimi Raikkonen’s retainer this year was paid late.

Earlier, sources close to the team revealed that Raikkonen had not been paid his retainer since the beginning of this season.

“It was paid late, yes. But it has been paid. We have to if we want to keep him,” confirmed Boullier to the BBC.

Lotus are keen to hold on to The Finn’s services beyond 2013, but Red Bull is openly courting the 2007 Formula 1 World Champion with the possibility of replacing Mark Webber, who departs F1 at the end of the year.

Since his return to the pinnacle of the sport, after a three year hiatus, Raikkonen has witnessed first hand the dominance of Red Bull, and Sebastian Vettel in particular, while Lotus with their relatively modest budget have been little more than a thorn in the side of the world champions.

This season Lotus started well but only now, after a series of below par races, have they returned to challenge the energy drinks outfit. The question is whether they can they sustain the momentum. Insiders believe that they do not have the resources to be a title winning force.

Boullier pointed out, “Two years in a row we have closed the gap with Red Bull. He wants to know if we will keep going like that. We are in discussions about the technical package we’ll have.”

“He is mature enough to decide for himself what is the right thing to do. There are some upsides to going to Red Bull and some downsides as well,” added Boullier.

According to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, there are three drivers on their radar to succeed Webber; Raikkonen and the Toro Rosso duo of Jean Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo.

[MIKA27]

Teams count cost in performance in wake of tyre chaos

In the aftermath of the German Grand Prix, teams are assessing what impact the tyre shakeup has had on their performance during the course of the weekend at Nurburgring.

After the tyre dramas of the British Grand Prix, the most obvious loser of the move from steel to Kevlar-belted tyres was Mercedes.

In fact, the German team had earlier pushed hard for the change. So, having won two of the previous three grands prix, why the Nurburgring struggle?

The answer could be in the FIA’s clampdown on teams radically altering pressures and cambers, and switching the rear tyres from the left and right sides.

Team boss Ross Brawn agrees: “I think the ability to swap tyres was a good way of offsetting the stress of the tyre,” he is quoted by AFP news agency.

“You could use it in qualifying and then swap it, and have it in a different condition for the race.”

That was banned for the Nurburgring – where pole sitter Lewis Hamilton and Silverstone winner Nico Rosberg struggled desperately – and beyond.

Lotus, on the other hand, appeared to be the big winner of the tyre shakeup, enjoying a return to form in Germany, while the big loser was Force India, who had thrived on the previous tyres.

“There will be some winners and some losers,” deputy boss Bob Fernley told Sky. “For sure, we’re a loser.”

There will surely be more winners and losers out of the next tyre shakeup, when Pirelli will debut an all-new combination of its 2012 construction and 2013 compound tyres in Hungary and beyond.

“It will help us more than others,” predicted Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, referring to Pirelli reverting to the 2012 construction.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport also quoted McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh as admitting that he hopes that the change will help the struggling British team “quite a lot”.

“Although in the meantime, we – like others – have adjusted to the [2013] tyres,” he added.

[MIKA27]

FIA outlines conditions for Formula 1 Young Driver test

The FIA have informed Formula 1’s teams of the conditions that will apply at the Young Driver Training Test scheduled to take place at Silverstone as of July 17.

The announcement follows a meeting of F1’s Sporting Committee on Wednesday, July 3 at the Nürburgring, prior the German Grand Prix.

The conditions set out are in accordance with Article 22.4(h)(i) of the F1 Sporting Regulations, as recently amended by the World Motor Sport Council, and are as follows:

The Young Driver Training Test will remain a three-day test, from July 17-19.

Only the 2012 construction will be used for the test but with the hard, medium and soft 2013 compounds.

The test will now allow teams to field drivers who have competed in more than two F1 World Championship events provided that the purpose of them doing this is to test tyres for Pirelli.

In order to meet this requirement, all teams must ensure that any changes made to a car at these times are exclusively related to the tyre tests set out in the run plan provided by Pirelli.

An FIA observer will be appointed to ensure that the regulations are being followed.

[MIKA27]

Alonso interested in test after all

Fernando Alonso admitted that he didn't grasp the full value of the upcoming Silverstone test at first, adding that he would be interested in taking part.

Before last weekend's German Grand Prix the Ferrari driver stated that he wasn't interested in taking part in the session, which is an extension from the scheduled Young Driver Test during which Pirelli will fine-tune their tyre specifications for the rest of the reason.

"It's not a very safe thing racing on the same track with the same tyres. I don't have the feeling [that] I want to go," the two-time World Champion said on Thursday, 4 July.

"I don't intend to go."

After he was told that the Ferrari would be allowed to do more than just tyre tests, however, the Spaniard had a change of heart.

"When we arrived here on Thursday, the Silverstone test did not seem that important, because the race drivers were only meant to be testing the tyres, but, having heard what the FIA had to say, it's been confirmed that we can test updates and this makes it a much more sensible proposition," he said.

"If I get the call from the team, I'm ready to go."

The testing session at Silverstone is scheduled to take place between 17-19 July.

[MIKA27]

Ferrari fully behind Felipe Massa despite recent poor F1 form

Felipe Massa has Ferrari's full support in spite of the Brazilian's recent run of disappointing results, according to team boss Stefano Domenicali.

After a promising start to the season, Massa has scored just 12 points in the last four grands prix, having been involved in several incidents.

The Brazilian retired from the German Grand Prix on Sunday after spinning when he was running in sixth place four laps into the race.

Domenicali insists however that Ferrari is still 100 per cent behind its driver.

"For sure," Domenicali said when asked if the team was still backing Massa. "I always said that we have a lot of confidence in Felipe.

"I know this is a very critical, very tough moment because he is the first to be disappointed.

"The only thing to do is to stay always behind him and work hard with him because we need him to make sure we are fighting for the constructors' and the others are very close.

"He will feel that the team is close to him at 100 per cent."

Massa, whose contract with Ferrari runs out this year, said earlier this month that he was optimistic of securing a new deal.

"I am confident I will be here [in Formula 1]," said Massa.

"I think I have a good chance to stay at Ferrari, so we wait and see. I think I will just concentrate on the races, because the result is what counts for me."

Massa is 100 points behind championship leader Sebastian Vettel and 66 behind team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Felipe Massa seems to be doing the opposite of what he did last year.

Early in 2012, the Brazilian was under fire for his lack of competitiveness in comparison with team-mate Fernando Alonso, but after the August break Massa rediscovered his form and became a factor once more, thus securing a new contract with Ferrari.

Massa kept his momentum going at the start of 2013, and it was not until the Chinese Grand Prix that Alonso started a race ahead of the Brazilian.

Although his race performances were not quite on par with Alonso's, Massa looked like a solid driver Ferrari could count on to stay in the constructors' championship fight.

Since Monaco, however, Massa's season has taken a turn for the worse. He crashed twice in Monte Carlo, and that was followed by accidents in Canada, Britain and a costly spin in Germany.

While his pace has not been something to be particularly worried about, Ferrari still needs results from Massa to stay in the championship fight and, with his contract up for renewal, he will do himself a big favour if he can rediscover the consistency that secured him a new deal last year.

If he can't do that, however, the questions marks hanging over his future will be even bigger than last year.

[MIKA27]

Hamilton calls for patience

Lewis Hamilton admitted that he needs to be patient while he waits for his first win for Mercedes, saying that it is an ongoing process to get the best out of the car this year.

While Hamilton has produced better results for the Brackley-based outfit than many expected, the Briton is yet to win a race for his new team, while team-mate Nico Rosberg has claimed two victories already.

After last weekend's German Grand Prix, the 28-year-old admitted that he is still "struggling" to get to grips with the braking system of the W04 car.

"This year I've don't feel like I've been able to always drive my best because there's almost like a smaller operating window with this car," Hamilton said in an interview with Sky Sport's Martin Brundle.

"If you don't have it in that window the car's nowhere and you just have poor performances. From weekend to weekend I wish I could have always had it in the window but some weekends it's not been right. But I guess that will just take time with his new team.

"I'm driving a car that's been built and designed around another driver, Michael [schumacher] and Nico [Rosberg], so I'm trying to adapt all the skills and driving methods that I have to work with this one."

Hamilton is the only driver on the grid to win a race in every season he has been on the grid, but after going nine races without a win this year, time is running out for the former world champion to prolong that record.

"This is a mental game as you know and you've just got to hold it together," he added.

"There's 11 races [now ten after Sunday] to go. I know that I have a car that I can compete with these guys and we have more and more developments coming through, so I know we're there or thereabouts and I feel that I just have to bide my time and be patient because I feel it will come at some stage."

[MIKA27]

Alonso: If I said I didn’t want Newey on the team, I’d be lying

Double world champion, with Renault, Fernando Alonso has given a short life to reports and speculation that he might soon get tired of failing to win titles with Ferrari, but made no secret of his desire to see Adrian Newey recruited to Maranello.

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard said he sensed the Spaniard, who turns 32 later this month, was becoming frustrated with Ferrari’s flagging form last time out at the Nurburgring.

“It’s a long time since Alonso won a world championship,” BBC commentator Coulthard said, “and that’s not because he’s not putting in world championship level performances.

“If this continues for that much longer, you have to wonder how much longer Alonso can stay at Ferrari.”

Alonso, however, is quoted by Wednesday’s latest edition of German magazine Sport Bild as saying he remains fully committed to his long-term Ferrari contract — and perhaps even beyond that.

“I have no idea how long I’ll be in Formula 1,” he said, “but if I renew (the contract beyond 2016), then it will be with Ferrari.”

Indeed, while keen to add a third title to his tally, Alonso suggested that just as important to him is how he is perceived — as perhaps Formula 1′s best driver.

“I am satisfied with myself and with my performance,” he agreed. ”When I won my two titles, I felt the recognition of being regarded seriously as a good driver.”

“Today I am seen as one of the best drivers, although I have not won another title since then,” added Alonso.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh would agree with Alonso, comparing him with Formula 1′s reigning triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who looks set to win a fourth consecutive title in 2013.

The German “is an impressive driver”, Whitmarsh admitted. ”But he will never get the recognition he deserves, as long as he drives for Red Bull.”

Boss Christian Horner dismissed that view as “bullsh*t”, but Alonso insisted: “Yes, every great champion should drive for Ferrari if he has the opportunity.”

He said the Maranello marque is “more than a Formula 1 team”.

“Formula 1 without Ferrari is inconceivable, but that doesn’t apply to other teams that come and go.

“Some auto makers come in and then go out again,” said Alonso. “The same for some private teams and energy drink manufacturers.”

Alonso’s last comment is a direct jibe at Red Bull, and indeed he said he would welcome Vettel as his teammate in red, and Adrian Newey as the designer of his Ferrari.

“I want to work with the best people,” said the 31-year-old, “so if I said I didn’t want Newey on the team, I’d be lying.”

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Ecclestone says Sauber not the only F1 team suffering financially

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has ruled out intervening directly to help the financially strapped Sauber team survive, and admits that there are other teams surviving beyond their means in the sport.

In the not-too-distant past, Ecclestone has been known for bailing out struggling teams.

But amid reports that the Swiss team is now struggling to survive, Ecclestone said: “We have agreements that require us to treat all the teams equally.”

The 82-year-old told Swiss broadcaster SRF that “one solution” for the Hinwil based team would be to sell up.

“They’re a good team,” said Ecclestone, “and I’m sure [that] there is more than one possible buyer.

“I don’t want to imagine Formula 1 without Sauber. Ideally, they will find new sponsors in the long term, but even companies who are willing to support them in the short term would be fine,” the F1 chief executive added.

“The team deserves to be helped,” said Ecclestone. ”I don’t know exactly what their financial situation is, but I know it’s not as good as it should be.”

He said that Sauber might not be the only team in trouble.

“There are others,” said the Briton, “that are spending more money than they have.”

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Lotus boss says Grosjean’s 2014 seat not secure

Lotus could enter the 2014 Formula 1 season with an all-new driver lineup, as it has become known that Nico Hulkenberg is the leading candidate to join the Enstone based team next year, should lead driver Kimi Raikkonen switch to Red Bull.

Team owner Gerard Lopez, however, thinks the 2007 world champion will stay.

“We know that Red Bull is replacing the second driver next year, but I think that Kimi is no second driver,” he told Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

One problem for Lotus could be money, with boss Eric Boullier admitting the team fell behind in paying Raikkonen recently.

“[Raikkonen's salary] was paid late, yes,” he told the BBC. ”But it has been paid. We have to if we want to keep him.”

Even so, more than one driver is being linked with Lotus for 2014, including Williams’ Pastor Maldonado and Force India’s Paul di Resta.

“Yes, I know the rumours,” Lopez said. “Lotus is a fascinating team, Kimi has not decided what to do, and maybe we will have a place open with [Romain Grosjean’s agreement running out.

“Romain has driven well but no one can know at this point whether we will have one place open, or two, or none at all,” he insisted.

Boullier also admitted that both Raikkonen and Frenchman Grosjean could depart.

“A lot of drivers are talking to us,” he told Formula 1′s official website, “so should the ‘white sheet’ situation occur I have a plan B but I will not share that now.”

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Zylon visor saved Chilton serious injury in Germany

Max Chilton can thank the FIA’s latest safety standards after returning home uninjured from the German Grand Prix.

That is the claim of the German-language Speed Week, who reported that Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting took possession of the Marussia rookie’s damaged Arai helmet after the weekend’s action at the Nurburgring.

It is reported that, following a marshal’s death in Canada and the injuries to the FOM cameraman in Germany, Chilton was lucky to escape without an injury last weekend.

Whiting will reportedly send the British driver’s helmet to be analysed by the FIA Institute, after debris flicked up by another car – probably a pebble – struck the new bullet-proof Zylon strip that runs above the drivers’ visor.

The Zylon strip was introduced following the near-fatal injuries to Felipe Massa in 2009, when the Brazilian was struck on the head with a spring in Hungary.

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Organiser confident that Ecclestone will honour Monza contract

Monza official Federico Bendinelli insists that he is not worried that Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone might be preparing to axe Formula 1′s historic Italian Grand Prix.

Ecclestone warned recently that even key European races might be dropped to make room on the calendar for more “emerging markets”.

But he is reported to have alleviated Monza’s fears during the recent World Motor Sport Council meeting in Goodwood.

Bendinelli, a key organiser of Monza’s annual Formula 1 race, insists that he is not worried.

“I have known Bernie for 30 years,” he is quoted by Speed Week, “and his comments are often controversial. You’ve always got to expect something explosive.

“I only know that he abides by contracts, always, and ours runs up to and including 2016.

“I’m also not worried in any major way about the future, as we are already in negotiations to extend the contract.”

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Lauda says that Vettel is clearly on track for fourth F1 crown

Sebastian Vettel is clearly on track to win a fourth consecutive world championship, concedes Mercedes’ team chairman Niki Lauda, who said he always expected Red Bull’s reigning title winner to pull away in 2013.

“Vettel and Red Bull are the best package in Formula 1,” he told Osterreich newspaper.

“Sebastian isn’t the winner yet, but he is clearly on course.”

Indeed, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton conceded after the Nurburgring that he isn’t going to be able to challenge Vettel this year.

“We didn’t manage to get the tyres in the correct temperature window, because of the high track temperatures we saw in the race,” said Lauda.

“It was the usual problems that almost every team has had this year.”

However, Lauda said that Mercedes has taken a big step forward compared to last season, and is “now the second force behind Red Bull”.

As for Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, Lauda added: “He has the same problem as us.

“As we know Fernando, he has not given up, but the season is being determined, unfortunately, by the tyre issue.”

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Red Bull change pitstop procedures in wake of near tragedy

Formula 1 champions Red Bull have changed their split-second pitstop procedures after a rear wheel flew off Mark Webber’s car in the pitlane in Germany last weekend and injured a television cameraman.

A investigation carried out by the team in the wake of the Nuerburgring incident found that Webber’s car was released prematurely because a ‘go’ signal was sent accidentally by the right rear wheel man.

The report, sent to all teams and the governing FIA, revealed that the right rear nut cross-threaded as the wheel went on during a German Grand Prix pitstop that lasted less than three seconds.

When the mechanic with the wheel gun removed the nut to put another on, the gun slipped in his hand and he accidentally depressed a trigger that sent a ‘go’ signal to the man on the front jack.

The car was then cleared to leave the pits even though the rear wheel was unattached.

Red Bull said that they would revise the design of the wheelgun to ensure that, if it accidentally rotated in the mechanic’s hands, the ‘go’ signal could not be sent by accident.

The front jack man would also be instructed to hold the car, in the event of any problem, until receiving a clear signal that all wheels had been changed.

British cameraman Paul Allen, working for Formula One Management, suffered a broken collarbone and fractured ribs after being hit in the back by the bouncing 10kg wheel.

The incident has led to a clampdown on access to the pit lane during the race weekend.

The International Automobile Federation decreed this week that media would be restricted to the pit wall and only authorised team personnel and event marshals would be allowed in the pitlane during qualifying and the race.

The BBC reported that FOM has subsequently told broadcasters the measures will also apply to all free practice sessions on safety grounds.

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Vergne: I’m tempted make a trip to Lourdes for a quick prayer

Jean Eric Vergne left the German GP frustrated in the knowledge that he under-performed, and afterwards entertained the idea of making a pilgrimage to Lourdes to offer prayers in an effort to reverse his fortunes.

In his post race blog the Frenchman wrote, “I’ll put the Nürburgring behind me and move on. While I’m tempted to say the first place I’ll move on to will be Lourdes for a quick prayer, the Young Drivers’ Test at Silverstone will be the first thing on the agenda.”

Ever since Mark Webber made public his decision to quit Formula 1, and thus make available a highly coveted seat at Red Bull, the spotlight has fallen on Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo in the energy drinks backed Toro Rosso team.

Although Kimi Raikkonen is favourite for the seat, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is adamant that both Vergne and Ricciardo are in the running too.

Those scoring this duel between the Toro Rosso teammates have it close, but since Silverstone Ricciardo has edged ahead of Vergne in terms of performance.

Vergne is aware of this, “Germany was not a good weekend for me, or for the whole team. Nothing went right for me from the first moment we put the car on track to the moment the team told me to retire from the race on lap 23.”

“The car was very difficult to handle. I had no grip, I wasn’t happy with the balance, and the performance just wasn’t there. It’s very hard to understand after the good weekends we had in Monaco and Canada,” added the 25 year old.

Despite scoring a DNF in Germany, Vergne lies 13th in the points standings, ahead of Ricciardo by two points, thanks to a strong showing at Monaco where he finished sixth.

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Honda F1 operation to be based near Red Bull headquarters in UK

Honda has announced that it will base its European racing operation in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom (close to the Red Bull F1 headquarters) in preparation for participation in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship from the 2015 season.

As announced on 16 May, 2013, Honda will participate in F1, under a joint project with McLaren, as a supplier of the power unit including the engine and energy recovery system from the 2015 season.

The new facility will be the European frontline operation for Honda’s F1 participation and will rebuild and maintain the power units developed at Honda R&D center in Tochigi, Japan. Honda will also base its trackside support operations from this new European office.

This office will be located in the new engine research and development center of Mugen Euro, where Honda plans to start operations from June of 2014.

Whilst the development and manufacture of Honda’s F1 power units will take place at the R&D center in Tochigi, Japan, it was important for Honda to establish a European facility to support its racing operation. The U.K. is an ideal location; it is the home of McLaren, many F1 suppliers are U.K. based and with 7 of the 19 races taking place in Europe (in 2013), the U.K. acts as a global hub for the transportation of parts as well as team personnel.

Address:

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, within the facility of MUGEN EURO Co., Ltd.

Office operations:

F1 European frontline operations including rebuilding and maintenance of power units, and trackside support; Engineer office for WTCC activities.

Yasuhisa Arai, Senior Managing Officer and Director, Chief Officer of Motorsports, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. said: “With the confirmation of a new F1 operation base in U.K., our preparation to join F1 has become more specific and concrete. To meet and exceed the expectations of our fans, we will accelerate our development to bring back the unique Honda engine sound onto the track.”