FORMULA 1 - 2013

[MIKA27]

Mercedes happy but Ferrari unhappy with new Pirelli tyres

The big news following the Hungarian Grand Prix race debut of Pirelli’s latest tyre specification is that Mercedes’ long struggles could finally be over, but their is discontent in the Ferrari camp.

Ferrari, on the other hand, thinks the move to the new specification combining the 2013 compounds with the 2012 Kevlar based construction has hurt the Italian team’s performance.

“There is no doubt that it will be better for some than it is for others,” Mercedes’ Ross Brawn is quoted by Brazil’s Totalrace, “but I still have no idea [of] where we are.”

The tempting analysis, of course, is to surmise that Lewis Hamilton’s first win of the 2013 season, from pole position in Hungary, showed that Mercedes is the big winner of the tyre shakeup.

Brawn warns: “But it doesn’t mean the same will happen in Spa.”

Even Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motor sport boss, thinks that Hungary might be evidence that Mercedes’ troubles are finally over.

“The big difference is that they didn’t have the overheating problems that we saw them have on the rear tyres in the past 18 months,” he said.

“If they’ve solved those problems, [then] Mercedes will be very strong in the second half of the season,” Hembery added.

At the same time, in a post-race media statement, Ferrari made clear that the new 2012 / 2013 tyres “definitely did not suit” the Formula 138 in Hungary.

“Pirelli’s choice contributed to artificially altering the hierarchy in the field, something that has not pleased the President (Luca di Montezemolo) or the men of the Scuderia,” Ferrari added.

“This topic will be the subject of further debate in the near future,” the statement concluded.

A slightly more cautious team boss, Stefano Domenicali, told Totalrace: “We need to understand if it has to do with the structure of the tyre, or whether it will depend on the compounds that are taken to each race.

“What is clear is that Mercedes have solved their problems with these new tyres,” said the Italian.

[MIKA27]

Marussia wants to keep same driver line-up for 2014

Marussia would like to keep its current race drivers for the 2014 season, team principal John Booth has revealed.

Recently, just as Pat Symonds was set to announce his departure for Williams, Marussia’s former technical boss admitted that 2013 drivers Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi had left the team with “tied hands”.

“We need to have drivers who also bring money,” he lamented.

But when asked if the inexperienced 2013 duo had done enough to secure their seats for another season together, boss Booth insisted: “Absolutely. “I’d like to keep them both for next year,” he is quoted by Sky Sports.

“At the moment it depends on a variety of [contract] options and things like that.”

But Booth insisted that, despite Marussia taking a “massive gamble” on two rookie drivers, Chilton and Bianchi have done a good job.

“It’s been really impressive as to how few mistakes they’ve both made,” he said.

“With two rookies it could have finished in a right old mess, but you can count on one hand the mistakes made between them.”

Briton Chilton is substantially backed by his wealthy father, while Bianchi is the cream of Ferrari’s driver development academy.

The Frenchman’s seat seems secure in light of Marussia’s new engine deal with the Italian marque.

However, Booth insists: “The two deals are totally separate. The powertrain deal has no bearing on Jules’ future at all.”

[MIKA27]

Button: That wasn't too bad

They may still be some way off the front-runners, but Jenson Button is impressed with the progress that McLaren made at Budapest.

The Woking squad were off-colour during the start of the season, but they have improved in recent weeks and Button's seventh place at the Hungarian GP was certainly one of his better displays of the campaign.

Although he knows they still have a long way to go, the 33-year-old is optimistic about their chances after the summer break.

"The result is still not what we look for, but we beat a Ferrari and we would have beaten a Mercedes if it hadn't have blown up (engine failure on Nico Rosberg's car five laps from the finish), so that wasn't too bad," said the 2009 World Champion.

"The pace we had on the soft tyre was exciting, setting a couple of fastest laps in the middle of the race.

"So I genuinely believe we have improved the car, and on a circuit I didn't think was quite right for us.

"Going into the summer break we're not too bad, and with a few little updates for Spa we should be looking at a much better result, fighting further forward.

"I know in Hungary our race was not with the guys ahead, like Lewis (Hamilton), Sebastian (Vettel) and Romain Grosjean, but we had a go.

"For a while Sebastian couldn't get past me, and it was really good fun, I enjoyed racing with the guys at the front.

"Our result was never going to be up there, but we tried our best, and you never know what can happen in a situation where you are doing one less stop than other people.

"So Sunday was a good day, and I'm already looking forward to the next race (Belgian Grand Prix on August 25)."

[MIKA27]

Ricciardo: It was a bit of a nothing race

Daniel Ricciardo endured another mixed weekend for Toro Rosso at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Australian made it into Q3 for the third consecutive race as he qualified eighth, but then fell away quite badly during the race and left the Hungaroring empty-handed as he finished P13th.

"There's lots of things to say about that but it boils down to us just not being quick enough," Ricciardo wrote in his blog on the official Toro Rosso website.

"We went for a two-stop strategy, we might have tried three and the team offered me that option over the radio but we didn't have the pace to make it work so I was happy to try two, gain track position and hope we would somehow get lucky. We didn't. Today was a lose-lose situation whatever we did: bit of a nothing race, unfortunately.

"We've had a couple like this recently, managing to string something out on one lap on Saturday. The performance in qualifying has probably exceeded where we were on the weekend up to that point. But then in the races, particularly in the early stints when we're heavy, we can't replicate anything like that performance.

"It's probably our weak point at the moment and something we have to understand because we're not quick enough. It'll come together though."

Despite his poor race pace, Ricciardo has plenty of positives to take on his four-week break, but he is also wary of the fact that other teams have stepped it up in recent weeks.

"Obviously the positive I take into the summer break is a string of races where I've qualified in the top ten," he wrote.

"I think the mentality now is that we expect to get there - I think I'm going to be an angry man if I qualify 11th or 12th now. It's an odd situation because it's the polar opposite of last year when we struggled in qualifying but were able to make something happen in the races. In 2012 appearing in Q3 had a real wow! factor.

"It's easy to get caught up in the bubble and think of this as a trend but it isn't. Looking up and down the grid there's other teams in similar situations. Force India were looking very good a while back but were firmly on the back foot this weekend. McLaren and Williams are now showing signs of progress. Things turn around quickly."

[MIKA27]

Carlos Sainz Jr says rapid test pace no proof he is ready for F1

Carlos Sainz Jr says he is no hurry to secure a Formula 1 drive, as he feels it is still too early for him despite impressing in his test with the two Red Bull-owned teams.

The 18-year-old drove for both Red Bull and Toro Rosso during the young driver test at Silverstone earlier this month.

Sainz, second quickest in his first Formula 1 outing, said the teams were very happy with his performances.

While the Spaniard, who races in GP3, admits the test was a big morale boost, he is aware that he still has some way to go before he is ready to compete in F1.

"In January I wasn't even expecting to have a day in a Toro Rosso or even try Formula 1 this year, it was not in my plans," said Sainz.

"I'm a GP3 driver. I got the opportunity to test a Toro Rosso and a Red Bull.

"This is obviously a big boost for my self-confidence, and a spur to keep pushing in all areas, but I'm still 18 years old, I'm young and there is no way I will go to Formula 1 next year.

"There's no rush. I'm patient. I know that there is still a long way to go and that just doing a Formula 1 test does not mean I'm going to be a Formula 1 driver.

"I'm really calm about it and I'll keep pushing to improve."

Sainz, currently in seventh place in the GP3 standings, did concede he feels the test was a step in the right direction.

"I felt closer but still I have a really long way to go and a lot of work to do," he said.

"In total I've only done 60-70 laps in a Formula 1 car. I'm still very green. I've got a lot of maturity and a lot of speed to come from myself, and a big learning process.

"I hope another opportunity to test a Formula 1 car will come.

"I would really like it, because once you try it, it's hard to step out...to get a run with the Red Bull guys was like winning a big lottery.

"Formula 1 is my only dream and goal. My dream is to be a Formula 1 driver and maybe one day a Formula 1 champion. I'm even more motivated after the test."

[MIKA27]

Pastor Maldonado hopes Williams now a regular F1 points contender

Pastor Maldonado is confident Williams will be able to fight for points on a regular basis after breaking the team's 2013 duck in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Venezuelan finished 10th in Hungary, ending a run of nine starts without a point.

With the team determined to keep improving the Renault-engined FW35, he expects to continue to challenge for top 10 finishes after the August break.

"I know one point is not enough, but it is a good step to start," said Maldonado.

"Now we are at the half-season [point], so we have many races to go and I hope to be in the points from here to the end.

"The potential is so huge. We just need to put everything together and we will be fighting for the points."

Maldonado believes that scoring a point is vital for morale going into the August break, which includes the mandatory two-week factory shutdown.

"At the beginning of the year we were struggling a lot and it's quite good to go into the break with a point to keep morale high," he said.

"We need to keep improving. On the aerodynamic side, there are still some points we can improve on and we are working very hard on that.

"It is a small step forward, but it is not enough. We need to keep improving, especially in qualifying."

Maldonado added that the development path of the car and the switch to the new Pirelli rubber is making it easier for him to drive the car.

After qualifying for the season-opening Australian GP, he described the car as "undriveable" and regularly complained its handling did not suit his style, but he found the car more to his liking in Hungary.

"Before, I was completely dominated by the tyres and the car. They were not working at all in my case," he added.

"Now, I think it was so clear that my level was a step forwards and I was able to fight with cars that are stronger than us."

Hungary was a genuine step forward for Williams in terms of overall performance even though the qualifying results suggested otherwise.

Maldonado ended up an unremarkable 15th on the grid, but his Q1 pace provided that Q3 was possible.

In the first segment of qualifying, he was sixth fastest and set a best time of 1m20.816s. Had he repeated that in Q2, he would have been 13th and the kind of laptime gain that would normally be expected in improving track conditions could easily have given him more than the 0.272s reduction in laptime that would have put him in the top 10.

While there was an element of luck for Williams in the race, with Nico Rosberg's late engine failure promoting Maldonado to 10th, there are genuine reasons for the team to be encouraged.

Williams cannot reverse its fortunes this year - 2013 will go down as a bad season even if qualified with a mini-revival after the break.

But at least there is evidence to back up Maldonado's hope that he can fight for points, even if only on the fringes of the top 10, in the remaining races.

[MIKA27]

Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix venue Sochi nearing completion

Organisers of the inaugural Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix say that work on the Sochi circuit is nearing completion, with almost two-thirds of the track already laid out.

Pit buildings and team facilities have also been constructed, with work now progressing onto the infrastructure needed to host F1.

The track, being created within the complex that will be used for the 2014 Winter Olympics, has been pencilled in for an October 19 race date next season.

"We're on schedule - not ahead, but not behind," Dmitry Erofeyev, head of promoter 'Formula Sochi' said.

"At the moment the pit buildings and team buildings have already been constructed, asphalt has been laid where possible, on almost two thirds of the lap.

"Works on the interior and infrastructure are ongoing."

Oleg Zabara, deputy general director of JSC Center Omega, the company responsible for the Sochi project, said the track was well on course for its October 2014 date given the current rate of progress,

"Formula One Management have set a preliminary date for the Russian Grand Prix," Zabara said, "[and] these dates are very well matched with our plans.

"Construction work is on schedule and preparation for our first F1 event won't stop even for a minute."

[Lotusguy]

While I won't miss that race, I would sure miss the umbrella girls

Korean GP also likely to be axed in near future

The Korean Grand Prix looks set to join India in being axed from the Formula 1 calendar, as Bernie Ecclestone trims the 2014 calendar to a maximum of 20 races.

It has been reported that Austria, Russia and New Jersey are to be added to the current 19-race schedule.

However, slated to be the second American race on the 2014 calendar, and punted as “set amid the Manhattan skyline”, New Jersey now appears unlikely.

Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda said a few days ago that New Jersey “didn’t happen this year because of a lack of money”.

“As far as I know,” the Formula 1 legend told Austrian broadcaster ORF, “it’s already gone from the calendar”.

And amid reports that Ecclestone will drop the Indian Grand Prix over a tax issue, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims thatthe other race unlikely to survive beyond 2013 is Korea.

“Apparently,” said correspondent Tobias Gruner, “the organisers have run out of money”.

“Ecclestone is well known for having little patience if his fees are not paid.”

The AFP news agency also reports that Korea is in doubt, saying the organiser “has lost money since it first hosted Formula 1 in 2010, and local authorities are unwilling to cover losses”.

[MIKA27]

Hamilton: I’m going to train intensely and come back stronger for second half

Lewis Hamilton has likened his Hungarian Grand Prix win to a sticking plaster for his tortured soul and promised to return in better shape after Formula 1′s August break.

The 2008 world champion’s first win for Mercedes since his move from McLaren at the end of last year was just the boost the Briton needed as the sport wrapped up the first half of the season.

Hamilton has been suffering emotionally after breaking up, not for the first time, with American singer girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger even if his focus on the racetrack has been unwavering.

Before the race he had taken inspiration by repeating Malvolio’s words in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night’: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”

On Sunday, even as the Briton celebrated one of his great victories in the searing heat of the Hungaroring, he said he had been thinking of her during the race.

“It definitely picks you up,” he told British reporters of the 22nd win of his career and first for a team other than McLaren in F1. “It will definitely keep me right on a high for a few days.

“It’s just a natural high that you get, a bit of a Band Aid that will cover me for some time.”

Hamilton knows the importance of winning before a prolonged break, the feel-good factor lifting the team and allowing them to go on holiday with their heads held high.

It happened to him at the same point last year with McLaren, when he also won in Hungary, and to that team in 2011, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

“There is no better feeling for a team to going into a break with a win,” he said. “I was lucky enough to do it with McLaren. It was always a real good boost for them to go into that period of time relaxed, knowing that we’d had a win.

“So I feel it will do the same for this team, and the for first time they have that feeling going into a break. It’s a big boost for us, and also we’ll maybe have a better chance of moving forward [in] these next few races.”

Despite the win, Hamilton is still only fourth in the drivers’ standings – 48 points behind Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel with nine rounds to go – and Mercedes are second in the constructors’ championship.

Vettel, chasing his fourth successive title, has historically been stronger in the second half of the season but so too has Hamilton and he said he would do all he could to improve his chances.

“I’m just going to train over this summer break. Normally I don’t really train much over the summer break, maybe just a little bit, but I mostly enjoy and relax,” said the Monaco resident.

“This time I’m going to train intensely, continue doing what I did last week, get my head down and come back hopefully stronger for the second half of the season.

“I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season, the second half is usually my favourite part.”

[MIKA27]

Russian GP in trouble as 2014 application deadline passes

While it was recently feared that the 2014 Formula 1 World Championship could swell to an unprecedented 22 rounds, now the make-up of next year’s grand prix calendar appears uncertain.

New Jersey is officially set to host its first race next year, but Niki Lauda thinks Bernie Ecclestone has already written off his dream of a race against the Manhattan skyline.

India has also fallen by the wayside for 2014, and reports indicate that Korea could also be shown the door, as Austria and Russia prepare to come in.

Actually, there have long been questions about the inaugural Russian Grand Prix, taking place on a circuit comprising the same infrastructure as Sochi’s winter Olympics next year.

Rumours of conflict within the organising bodies have been swirling for months, and seem to have finally to have thrown a spanner in the works.

The official application to host next year’s race must be lodged with the FIA by the corresponding motor racing federation – in this case the Russian Automobile Federation (RAF).

But the conflict with the Russian race organiser Omega means the RAF is refusing to lodge the application with the FIA, despite a July 31 deadline.

A spokeswoman for the FIA would not comment specifically on the reported Russian problem, telling Ria Novosti news agency: “The calendar is approved at the end of September.”

There are no such problems in Hungary, whose contract to host an annual race at the Hungaroring has been extended through 2021.

MIKA: See what I don't understand how the Hungarian Grand Prix keeps being renewed whilst some of the other great tracks/GP's are being pushed aside. I personally dislike the Hugarian GP, it's a boring race, venue looks old and out dated yet still, been renewed and extended until 2021!? How does that happen?

[MIKA27]

Schumacher: I’m happy for Mercedes, it’s a surprise where they are now

Now watching grand prix races from the comfort of his living room, Michael Schumacher has admitted he did not expect his former team Mercedes to make such a leap forwards in the 2013 season.

After his failed Formula 1 comeback with Mercedes between 2010 and 2012, Schumacher returned to retirement this year and was replaced by Lewis Hamilton.

In the great German’s wake, Hamilton won from pole last time out in Hungary, while Schumacher’s former teammate Nico Rosberg has won twice in 2013 so far.

“Given where we finished last season,” seven time world champion Schumacher told Eurosport, “it’s a surprise where they are now. I’m happy for them, but I could not have seen that coming.”

If that sounded like regret after three years of fallow results, 44-year-old Schumacher insisted he is “honestly” happy to have returned to retirement.

“You can’t forget that this sport is not just 20 races,” said the former Ferrari driver, whose seven titles and 91 wins are all-time F1 records.

“In those three years, so much energy [was] consumed that I would not have been able to continue at the level at which I want to measure myself,” said Schumacher.

If watching merely on television has been enjoyable for the famous German this year, it is probably because Rosberg’s top form has made people reassess Schumacher’s Mercedes career.

“People probably understand a little better how good Rosberg is,” he said.

Even so, he insists that he doesn’t regret not being at the wheel of the winning W04.

“It would not have been enough for me to win a few races,” said Schumacher. “The goal is to fight for the world championship – that was my target.”

[MIKA27]

Marlboro axes Ferrari season opening Wrooom event for media freeloaders

Ferrari’s traditional pre-season event on the slopes of Italian ski resort, held in January every year at Madonna di Campiglio will no longer take place.

Corriere dello Sport newspaper reports that the main sponsor of Formula 1 and MotoGP teams Ferrari and Ducati, Philip Morris, has cancelled the 2014 edition of ‘Wrooom’ for financial reasons.

The newspaper said that the media event has run for 23 years.

“The costs of the event are no longer sustainable,” said Philip Morris vice president Maurizio Arrivabene.

The event has been described as a ‘freeloading extravaganza for the media’ with some of the sport’s big-name scribes, over 160 in total at the last edition – wined and dined ahead of each grand prix season for the four days of the event.

[MIKA27]

Lotus ready to wait for Raikkonen’s decision on 2014 admits Boullier

Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has admitted that his team is waiting for Kimi Raikkonen to make his final decision regarding where he will race in 2014.

Earlier, it was reported that Lotus is putting pressure on the Finn to come to a quick decision about whether to stay beyond this season, or switch to another team like Red Bull.

The reports had suggested that boss Boullier wanted him to decide by the start of August.

But the Frenchman has told Russia’s Championat: “That’s not exactly what I said. I said that the decision may come by August, but that it was not my decision.”

If Lotus does lose Raikkonen, it would actually be good news for his current teammate Romain Grosjean, whose form is notoriously up and down.

Boullier said: “It’s true that a completely new driver lineup is not good. But the best option is to keep Kimi and Romain.

“Generally, it is always important to keep at least one driver – regardless of whether the regulations are changing so much or not.

“At least one,” he insisted.

Boullier also commented on the fate of Lotus reserve driver, Davide Valsecchi, the reigning GP2 champion.

He said: “If our team has no place for him, I think he has shown a good level to have a chance with another team.

“He has demonstrated his potential, he is fast and he deserves a chance in Formula 1.”

[MIKA27]

Magnussen could replace Bianchi at Marussia in 2014

Marussia has emerged as a potential destination for the McLaren-backed, and highly rated rookie Kevin Magnussen starting in 2013.

This week, Marussia team boss John Booth admitted the team would like to keep its current drivers in 2014; well-funded Max Chilton, and the Ferrari-linked Jules Bianchi.

But as the Williams-bound Pat Symonds remarked in a parting shot recently, Marussia’s “hands are tied” when it comes to needing to make its driver decisions with commercial implications in mind.

Enter Magnussen, the 20-year-old son of former Danish F1 driver Jan.

He is the cream of McLaren’s development driver programme, impressing when he drove the British team’s 2013 car at the recent Silverstone test.

Boss Martin Whitmarsh said afterwards that Magnussen deserves a place on the 2014 grid.

The youngster is leading this year’s Formula Renault 3.5 series, clearly ahead of the likely 2014 Toro Rosso driver Antonio Felix da Costa, and the new Sauber protege Sergey Sirotkin.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport said that Whitmarsh wants to place Magnussen in F1 “as early as 2014, to give him a year of training without pressure”.

“There are not many options,” correspondent Michael Schmidt said. “One possibility would be Marussia.”

McLaren already works with Marussia on the technical side, leasing its wind tunnel and simulator to the backmarker team.

Jules Bianchi was placed at Marussia this year, but Ferrari driver academy chief Luca Baldisseri hinted that a step into the midfield might be appropriate for the impressive French rookie for 2014.

“For the future,” he said, “it will be important to know if his presence in F1 will have some continuity and in that case, what could be the potential of his team.”

[MIKA27]

Hamilton’s father visiting Maranello prompts more rumours

Anthony Hamilton, the father of Mercedes driver Lewis, has been at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters this week and of course the visit has ignited more silly season rumours.

So reports Italian newspaper La Repubblica, as the already intense 2014 ‘silly season’ steps up into an even higher gear.

Hamilton snr. no longer handles the career of his 28-year-old son, who switched from McLaren to Mercedes over the winter, but the driver said in Hungary that he had been in close contact with his father recently.

Anthony Hamilton is also Force India driver Paul di Resta’s former manager, but that pairing ended acrimoniously a year ago, when Hamilton vowed to sue the Scot for wrongful termination.

Repubblica said that Hamilton snr. was at Ferrari for “private meetings”, and then continued those talks with dinner at the famous Montana restaurant.

The specialist magazine Autosprint poked fun at the Hamilton-at-Ferrari reports.

“Maybe he wanted to propose himself for Massa’s place? Or maybe he just wants to buy a 458?”

The rumours, however, don’t even stop there.

Hot on the heels of reports that Kimi Raikkonen could replace the possibly Red Bull-bound Fernando Alonso, Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport mentioned Jenson Button as a possible 2014 Ferrari driver.

Writing in Auto Motor und Sport, respected correspondent Michael Schmidt said that the ‘silly season’ has gone completely “crazy” in 2013.

Agreeing Blick’s Roger Benoit wrote: “Only Schumacher’s comeback is missing now!”

What about a 59 year old former world champion as well?

Exasperated at the spiralling sillyness of the silly season, Red Bull’s Christian Horner is quoted in Dutch reports as proposing: “Nigel Mansell is a very good driver. Why not Nigel?”

[MIKA27]

Ferrari: Raikkonen reports are media fantasy

Ferrari has dismissed as pure fantasy recent reports of a lucrative 2014 offer being made to former team driver and 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Those reports had followed suggestions that the Maranello based team might lose its current number 1 driver, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, to Red Bull.

Ferrari’s communications boss Renato Bisignani told Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo that the rumours are “the typical fantasy in this period of rumours”.

“There is not the slightest foundation,” he insisted. “We are united in this moment of loss of competitiveness and confident in [of our] return to better ways.”

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, however, reports that Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson was spotted entering Ferrari’s motor home in Hungary.

Bisignani added: “For the German journalists who called us about the [Raikkonen] news, we officially deny it.”

A Ferrari spokesman was quoted elsewhere as insisting that rumours about Ferrari quite often turn out to be completely untrue.

“For all those with short memories,” he is quoted by DPA news agency, “only a year ago everyone came up with a list of drivers who would replace Felipe [Massa].”

Meanwhile, Bisignani played down any suggestion that testing at Magny Cours this week might be compared to Mercedes’ highly controversial ‘test-gate’ test.

“We have been testing for two days with our 2011 car and the Pirelli demonstration tyres,” he confirmed.

“The FIA was informed in advance of all the details, and [Ferrari] meets the requirements to be able to do it.”

He added that the main goal of the test was to collect “data for several new programmes of the simulator”.

[MIKA27]

Sauber were confident of survival

Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn has played down claims that they were on the verge of going bankrupt before three Russian companies came to their rescue.

Kaltenborn revealed at the start of July that they were struggling financially while the Hinwil squad's owner Peter Sauber admitted the predicament they found themselves in was "embarrassing". The team, though, secured its long-term future a few weeks later by signing sponsorship deals with three Russian entities.

Despite their struggles, Kaltenborn says they were never close to bankruptcy and were confident they would find financial backers.

"Because of the extent and scope of this deal, we knew it would take a while, so we didn't really get too depressed or disturbed by what was being written," she said.

"We focused on getting our deal done. We've been working with these partners for a while. It wouldn't be right for us to think that 'if we don't get this, we can't survive'. We've gone through tough times before and we know we can survive."

Teenager Sergey Sirotkin was added to the Sauber development programme and he is set to be handed a race seat next year as part of the deal with the three Russian companies.

The move means current reserve driver Robyn Frijns, who has lost his GP2 seat with Hilmer Motorsport due to sponsorship issues, is likely to be left high and dry.

"He's [Frijns] in a difficult situation now, clearly," she added. "At this stage in his career, he really needs mileage and experience.

We're going to sit down with him very shortly and discuss the situation."

[MIKA27]

Di Resta ready for fresh start

Paul di Resta has urged Force India to regroup and get back on track after the summer break.

After scoring 59 points in the first eight races of the season, the Silverstone squad were off the boil in the last two grands prix as they failed to finish in the top 10 in Germany and Hungary.

What will be of concern to the team is the fact that both Di Resta and team-mate Adrian Sutil retired at the Hungaroring.

The Scot started 18th on the grid, but he was hoping to push for points until he was forced to pull his car into the garage with a hydraulics problem.

"I made a good start, but from there on in it was very difficult," Di Resta is quoted as saying by Press Association Sport.

"We weren't flexible enough with what we could do with strategy because we didn't have the performance on the tyres, and equally with the balance of the car.

"It's at the end of the race where you need to be scoring points, but that race didn't allow us in any way to fight the people we should have been."

The F1 community is on a four-week break now and Di Resta hopes the team will use the time to rediscover the form that helped to above McLaren in the Constructors' Championship.

"We need to get some rest," he added.

"But equally we need to get ourselves together because over the last few weekends we've missed some opportunities and other people have overtaken us.

"We've some work to do, but I've faith in the team everyone will be working hard when we return because when this unit works together you can see it rewards us in great ways.

"We need to get the car working in the zone it works in. In Hungary it was very much on edge, difficult to drive. You get weekends like that.

"Maybe the tracks haven't suited us, but we can't really single that out.

"We have to regroup, analyse properly and get to the next grand prix when hopefully it will be a fresh start like at the beginning of the year when we seemed to be punching way above our weight."

[Bartolomeo]

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has made it clear that it is Ferrari that matters at the end of the day, not the drivers.

Tension rose at the Italian stable in the wake of the Hungarian Grand Prix when Fernando Alonso told reporters that he wanted a car that "the others have" as his 32nd birthday present.

His remark did not go down well at Ferrari with di Montezemolo reportedly phoning the Spaniard to let him know all about it.

This minor rift comes amidst speculation that Alonso could be seeking a move to Red Bull Racing as Mark Webber's replacement.

But rather than sooth any ruffled emotions, di Montezemolo has made it clear in an interview with Corriere della Sera's sports editor Daniele Dallera where his priorities rest.

"Our fans should never be forgotten, they deserve respect and therefore they are entitled to get satisfaction. We must work for Ferrari and for them," said the Italian.

"Let me make it clear that it's Ferrari I'm interested in.

"Drivers, we've had a lot, some very good, some great, but drivers come and go, while Ferrari remains."

Speaking specifically about the Alonso situation, he said: "Fernando is a great driver and I understand him, he is a bit like me: he wants to win.

"He must just remember that one wins and loses together and for its part, Ferrari must give him a car capable of starting from the front two rows... It doesn't sit well with me seeing our car is not competitive.

"That's why I intervened, even if I didn't want to abuse my authority over my men. However, it had to be done. But how? We started so well, we had begun the World Championship with a very competitive car, maybe even considered the best. But something happened and instead of moving forward we went backwards.

"Therefore the right attitude, the one I am taking from now on is as follows: understand the mistakes, fix them and after this careful analysis develop the car in the right direction.

"We must put our heads down in this return match, as I describe this second part of the season after the break, a break I don't like, but we have to adhere to it."

He added: "Fernando has given a lot in these last years and I repeat, his disappointment, which came about mainly after Silverstone, where all of us expected to be more competitive, is understandable. But I didn't like some attitudes, a few words, some outbursts. And I said so...

"I reminded everyone, including the drivers, that Ferrari comes before everything, the priority is the team. Rather like a family father pointing out the need to respect some family rules: I wish to underline the concept of family values...

"Felipe is a quick driver and a great guy. But in the past days, we were very clear with him: both he and us need results and points. Then, at some point, we will look one another in the eye and decide what to do."

However, it's not just his drivers who need to pull their weight, team boss Stefano Domenicali also needs to show results which di Montezemolo believes he has done even though the team is still lacking a Drivers' title under his reign.

"Stefano was born and raised with us from all managerial points of view. But as a sportsman, he knows he needs results.

"However, when one talks about Domenicali, one truth is king: under his management we have one one Constructors' title and come very close to three Drivers' titles. Two of those we could easily have won and then people's opinion of Domenicali would be very different.

"There's one thing I remind him of very often: he has to get the most out of every individual in his organisation, never be satisfied and if necessary, take some drastic and painful decisions."

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Red Bull boss confirms that meeting in Budapest was about Alonso

Red Bull has confirmed that a meeting with Fernando Alonso took place with the Ferrari driver’s manager at the Hungaroring last weekend.

Initially, the sensational story of a potential move to Red Bull for the two-time world champion was dismissed by some, as Alonso’s manager Luis Garcia Abad also handles the career of rising Red Bull-backed youngster Carlos Sainz jr.

But when told that his meeting with Garcia was thought simply to be about the 18-year-old Sainz, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told Sport Bild: “Nonsense. Why would I talk to him about Sainz jr, who has long been in the Red Bull junior team?”

Sainz jr drives for the GP3 team MW Arden, a collaboration between Mark Webber and Horner.

Clearly, Garcia and Horner might have something to talk about other than Alonso, but Red Bull is not hiding the fact the Hungaroring meeting was about Ferrari’s number 1.

“I can’t remember if we talked about Red Bull or Spanish red wine,” a mischievous Helmut Marko, the head of Red Bull’s driver programme, told German television Sky.

With Australian Webber heading to Le Mans, Red Bull is looking for a new teammate for Sebastian Vettel next year.

Earlier, although Kimi Raikkonen is also still thought to be in the running, it was believed that Daniel Ricciardo had sped into pole position for the seat.

But Horner insists: “We have never been under pressure to take one of the junior drivers.

“We have won the world championships for the past three years, and we want to ensure we can carry on doing so in the future.”

Nothing has been heard from Alonso’s manager Garcia since the Hungaroring meeting, but still involved in the 32-year-old’s driver career is the former Renault boss Flavio Briatore.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “He has a contract and contracts must be respected. Alonso has never said [that] he wants to leave.”

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Mercedes V6 turbo engine sound unleashed; love it or loathe it?

Instructions: Best enjoyed with the sound turned up LOUD and on headphones or speakers for the full effect! Laptop speakers may lead to pale imitations of a Formula One Power Unit…

Mercedes AMG Petronas has given Formula 1 fans around the globe a unique insight into the future on its official YouTube channel.

To mark the team’s new status as a Commercial YouTube partner for the creation and broadcast of exclusive video content about the Silver Arrows team, Mercedes has offered fans a first taste of what the new 2014 power units will sound like out on track.

The audio recording of the turbocharged V6 unit was conducted using a development engine at Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) in Brixworth, UK.

This simulated lap of the Monza circuit – the definitive test of any F1 powerplant – was then synced to a lap of the circuit at the team’s Driver-in-the-Loop simulator at team HQ in Brackley, UK.

The result is the most accurate impression so far of the sound of the new power units for 2014, with a maximum rev limit of 15 000 rpm and a single turbocharger spinning at speeds of up to 125 000 rpm.

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Vergne: I was a upset that it was Ricciardo, but I am happy to stay with Toro Rosso

Jean-Eric Vergne has admitted that being left out of Red Bull’s plans initially left him upset in the beginning, but has since realised that he would greatly benefit from spending another year with Toro Rosso.

Earlier in the running to replace the Le Mans-bound Mark Webber, Red Bull made clear Vergne’s fading candidature when only Toro Rosso teammate Daniel Ricciardo was called up to test the title-leading RB9 recently at Silverstone.

“I was a little upset that it was him and not me, which is a normal reaction,” the Frenchman told the French magazine Auto Plus. ”But then the leaders of Red Bull explained things clearly to me. Daniel has more experience in F 1 than me, so it’s part of the logical process.”

“I had a long discussion with the management of Red Bull Racing and everything is now very clear between us. I do not need to read the news to find out what they think of me.”

“But then there is what is said in the media, and as a result there is a wave of negative consequences, including what Christian Horner said that was misinterpreted.”

Red Bull’s development programmes are known to be harsh, with drivers often discarded after a couple of years of support.

But the energy drink company has made clear that Vergne will keep his place at Toro Rosso in 2014.

Vergne agreed: “I would be very happy to continue with Toro Rosso in 2014. There is an interesting challenge with the new technical regulations and the arrival of the Renault engine.

“On the other hand, I would be lying to say that the opportunity to take Mark’s seat is not in a corner of my mind. I still have my chance and I’ll push hard for it.”

He said that the paddock perception that he is definitely out of the running is not necessarily true.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned about F1,” said Vergne, “it’s that the truth of one day is not necessarily that of the next.

“A series of good or bad results, and things can change very quickly, in any direction. I know exactly what I have to do,” the 23-year-old added.

At the mid-way mark in the 2013 world championship Vergne leads Ricciardo in the standings by two points.

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Abiteboul: The aggressive development plan we have for 2013 is delivering

The 2013 FIA Formula One World Championship reached its halfway point on lap 36 of the Hungarian Grand Prix, a race which Caterham F1 Team’s drivers Giedo van der Garde and Charles Pic finished in 14th and 15th places respectively.

With the 2013 season now heading towards its mid-season August break, Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal of Caterham F1 Team, reflected on the year so far and what is to come for the second half of the season for the Leafield based team.

Cyril Abiteboul: “It’s been an interesting first half of season for the team and for me personally. This is another great F1 season, with battles pretty much everywhere. As far as we’re concerned, we’ve been fighting with Marussia who have done a great job over the last year. We started the season clearly behind them, but over the last three races a comfortable gap has appeared between us and them, which shows our rate of development. That’s also helped us on a couple of occasions to race a Williams or a Sauber and that shows where we’re setting our targets.

“This progress is positive for the whole team because it shows the aggressive development plan we have for 2013 is delivering. We made the decision to carry over the 2012 car to the start of this season for a number of reasons, in particular because this time last year – which is typically the time of the year when you need to produce tooling for the next season’s car – the team was busy moving from one side of the UK to the other, and now we are back ahead of Marussia with the chance to reclaim tenth in the second half of the year.

“So far this performance gain has not turned into a point or an improved championship position as this is not completely in our hands, but each time we bring new parts to the track, not only do we potentially make progress, but we also give ourselves the chance to learn more about [ourselves], our strengths and our weaknesses and to give motivation to our staff whether at the factory or at the track. We must not forget that we are a young group, with a limited history together, but we are growing every day.

“Since moving to Leafield last August, and especially since the start of 2013, the focus was on making sure [that] the factory was up and running and putting ourselves in control of our manufacturing process, reducing lead times and increasing economic efficiency, with the right level of integration. Although some refinements are always possible, this will be fully completed right after the summer shutdown. During the second part of the year, we will push to be able to develop more and more accurately in the virtualised environment, the route that our industry is heading towards.

“In parallel with the improvements we’re making to the facilities, we must continue to invest in people, raising the experience level and making sure we are future proofed, particularly with new aero and engine regulations just around the corner. We are doing this so [that] we can take advantage of the opportunities [which] 2014 will bring and we’re already above our initial targets for next year, so much so [that] we’re looking at reviewing them for more aggressive ones! The car has been in the tunnel for a while now, and we’re seeing good numbers, all of which is being achieved while we keep progressing this year, hopefully showing without a doubt that we are on the right path to reduce the gap to the midfield.

“Away from the track, the JV with Renault is progressing well, giving us a solid, stable platform for our team and Caterham Group in the future. This also gives us a duty to be where we should be in terms of performance so we can promote the Caterham brand, which has some very busy years ahead, not least to create the global awareness level required to turn our ambitious product plans into commercial success.

“Back to racing, and looking at our drivers – as a rookie, Giedo has had his challenges, but his last race in Hungary was a good reward for his determination and his positive attitude that the team loves. He’s also going to be helped by the new tyres which will definitely suit his style better than those used for the first nine races.

“For Charles, after only one year of experience with Marussia, he immediately made a positive contribution to our development strategy this year and that’s a clear sign of his maturity and of his determination. It’s possible the new tyres take away one of his strengths over the other drivers as he was very good at tyre management, but therefore he must adapt and develop other skills in terms of pure race pace to cope with what’s to come. He demands a lot from himself and from us, and I like that. I think that sort of spirit will help push the team forwards.

“Away from F1 we are also having a challenging season in GP2. However, as this side of our motorsport activities, like the Caterham Racing Academy, is a very important pillar of our values and our future, with Mia Sharizman we have been making changes to address this and we are already preparing for next season so we do not start in the same position we found ourselves earlier this year.

“Overall, the season so far has been one of highs and lows. A personal low was Melbourne FP2 when we were nowhere. Marussia was fast, their drivers had settled very quickly and we knew that our car would not evolve for a couple of races.

“However, I have a personal high every time I walk into the factory and realise that I am part of this adventure. Starting an F1 team from scratch was a pretty crazy idea of Tony’s back in 2009, but I am happy to be part of it and am looking forward to the next chapter in our story.”

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Russia claims force majeure for late FIA application

Russia’s ambitions of holding its inaugural grand prix next year may depend on organisers being able to convince the FIA its application was lodged late due to force majeure.

Due to a conflict between race organiser Omega and the Russian automobile federation (RAF), the July 31 deadline for the official 2014 application to be lodged with Formula 1′s governing body was missed.

An email to RAF from the FIA has emerged, in which RAF is told that the deadline must be respected “except in the case of force majeure”.

But a FIA spokeswoman told the Ria Novosti news agency that missing the deadline does not necessarily mean the Russian Grand Prix will not be held.

Indeed, RAF executive director Sergei Ivanov confirmed that the application will be filed “in the force majeure format…as soon as the promoter fulfils its obligations”.

According to RAF’s vice president Igor Yermilin, however, it will be up to the FIA whether the late application is accepted.

“Of course [the reason for missing the deadline] is not force majeure,” he told Russia’s Formula 1news.ru. “This is our internal problem.

“But, most of all, there will not be very serious difficulties with the inclusion of the race in the calendar, because the Russian Grand Prix is important for everybody, from the country’s leadership to the fans.

“What is important is that the promoter understands that the grand prix is not something that can be put together in two weeks, but that it is an enormous task.

“The main problem, in my opinion, is a lack of understanding of the enormity of the project. However, I am more than optimistic. The only problem is that time is running out.”

For example, Yermilin said that senior personnel of the Russian Grand Prix were scheduled to travel to Spa, Monza and Singapore for specific training.

FIA personnel were scheduled to travel to Sochi for crucial meetings regarding the race, including safety and medical procedures.

“But today,” he said, “without a contract with the promoter, the Russian automobile federation formally has nothing to do with the Grand Prix of Russia,” he said.

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Boullier: Kimi deserves a ten

Eric Boullier reckons Kimi Raikkonen deserves a "ten out of ten" for his first half performances this season that have put him into the title fight.

As Formula One heads into the summer break, the Finn is currently second in the Drivers' standings on 134 points, 38 behind Championship leader Sebastian Vettel.

But while the Red Bull racer has four wins to his name this season, Raikkonen managed just one when he took the chequered at the season-opening Australian GP.

However, the Lotus driver has proven to be the most consistent driver having finished all ten races inside the top ten to his extend his run to 27 races in the points.

"I would have to give Kimi ten out of ten," Boullier said.

"He's done a terrific job right from the beginning of the season and his remarkable run of twenty-seven consecutive points finishes speaks for itself.

"No matter what happens he's always there, as we saw in the final few laps at Monaco. He is playing a big part in pushing the team forwards, and of course having such a popular character in the seat has its advantages too."

The Lotus team boss, though, has also been impressed with Raikkonen's team-mate Romain Grosjean, who he believes will one day be a title contender.

"For Romain it was a more difficult start to the year coming off the back of a tough season in 2012, and it maybe took him a little while to settle down and start performing to the best of his ability.

"With that in mind, it gives me great pleasure to see him learn from those experiences and to really start delivering the kind of results we've always known he is capable of. In Germany and Hungary he really put together the complete package over two consecutive weekends, and this should now be his baseline.

"He knows that if he wants to be winning races and fighting for Championships then he must deliver this kind of quality drive at every grand prix. If he can keep up this level, Romain can be a future contender for titles, I'm sure of it."